Chelsea cruised to victory over League One side Nottingham Forest to book their place in the FA Cup fifth round. against either Blackpool or Norwich at home.

The Blues opened the scoring when Andriy Shevchenko’s close-range volley deflected off Forest’s John Curtis.

Didier Drogba added another goal with a curling 25-yard free-kick and Mikel Jon Obi then poked the ball home just before half-time.

Forest’s best chance came courtesy of Junior Agogo, who fired his shot across goal from 12 yards out.

Some say the FA Cup is a leveller but that was not the case at Stamford Bridge.

Forest, who are third in League One, never got going and failed to put the Blues under much pressure.

Before they could find their feet, the visitors found themselves a goal down when Shevchenko followed up his midweek brace against Wycombe to fire in from five yards.

From BBC Sport

Under-fire Andriy Shevchenko was on target twice last night as Chelsea booked their place in the Carling Cup final with a thumping 4-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers at Stamford Bridge.

The result ensured a 5-1 aggregate victory over the League Two outfit and a Cardiff showdown with either Tottenham or Arsenal.

Whichever of those north London sides progresses they are likely to offer a far sterner test for Jose Mourinho’s side who enjoyed a comfortable evening away from their Premiership problems.

Sheva started the match after being left out of the weekend’s defeat to Liverpool and could have been on the scoresheet after only two minutes had he made better contact with a header from an Ashley Cole cross.

Mourinho, who ignored Shevchenko after Saturday’s loss at Liverpool, hinted at a truce with the player. He said: “I was happy with Andriy’s performance - he gave me more than I demanded. He will now play in Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest. His attitude was good. He is learning and he showed he gets the message.”

Twenty minutes and another fluffed opening later, Shevchenko finally got off the mark punishing Tommy Doherty’s weak backpass with a cool finish past Ricardo Batista. One of Wycombe’s rare chances then followed with Tommy Mooney crashing a volley high into the crowd at the far post.

But any hope of salvaging a draw, as they had at Adams Park in the first leg, soon evaporated for the visitors as Shevchenko added a second for the Blues two minutes from the break. Lampard echoed Shevchenko’s scoring feat picking up a second-half brace from a host of chances. The England midfielder rounded the keeper to slot home a third on 69 minutes before decorating the win with a sweetly-struck fourth a minute into injury time.

From In The News UK

Liverpool dented Chelsea’s Premiership title challenge in impressive style with Andriy Shevchenko coming off the bench once again. (73 minutes)

Dirk Kuyt took advantage of Peter Crouch’s touch to put the skids under injury-hit Chelsea after three minutes.

Jermaine Pennant’s brilliant dipping volley effectively sealed the points for Liverpool after 17 minutes in boss Rafa Benitez’s 100th league game.

Chelsea staged a minor recovery after the break, but Liverpool could have added a third as John Arne Riise struck the bar with a long-range drive.

Now talk of more unrest at Chelsea is hanging in the air and it remains to be seen if there is any transfer activity in the last 10 days of the January window.

From BBC Sport

Former Chelsea striker Pat Nevin has been pouring forth his wisdom on the current turmoil surrounding Chelsea. He says on the BBC today: ‘It is clear that this is the most difficult period since Mourinho arrived and in any big, complicated business that is fuelled by high finance, there will be a reaction.

All Chelsea fans will hope any differences will be put aside - and any supporter who is not in the inner sanctum is wondering whether all the stories of unrest and rumours of a breakdown in the relationship between Mourinho and owner Roman Abramovich are true.

Striker Andriy Shevchenko’s position is the subject of much debate. If he was not bought by Mourinho then that is a concern. Some might say Mourinho could have blocked the deal if he didn’t want to buy him but my guess is that as a manager he could say: “Buy whoever you want because it’s your club - but I don’t have to play him.”

I think this is the case at other clubs but Shevchenko’s case is more subtle because he was expected to play - given his outstanding record and ability - and expected to do well.’

He continues, ‘The situation has been complicated by Shevchenko’s struggle for top form. If Mourinho did leave, I think it would be a devastating day for Chelsea.

One of the questions that has been asked is - what is more important, Mourinho’s management or Abramovich’s money? In the long-term, it is the money, which is a painful thing for me to say because Mourinho is the best manager the club has ever had.’

Where the carousel will lead now is anyone’s guess, but for the moment, at least, it looks like Shevchenko and Mourinho are both staying at Chelsea.

FRom BBC Sport

The never ending “Shevchenko back to Milan” rumours have resurfaced following the revelations that there has been some argy-bargy between Mourinho and the Chelsea board.

The Chelsea manager accused the Stamford Bridge board of refusing to back him in the January transfer window.

Reports have already suggested Mourinho could leave in the summer after a fall-out with owner Roman Abramovich. If this were the case, unamed sources have stated that Milan MD Galliani has already pitched in for the unsettled Ukranian.

And Mourinho said: “I’ve identified the players that I want but they will not come. It’s club reasons and I don’t have to tell you why.

“I have asked for players and it’s not my choice that no-one is coming.”

Mourinho was thought to be keen to bring in a defender and a forward during the transfer window.

But the outspoken boss says if he is unable to bring in any new faces then he will not allow any of his squad to depart.

He added: “The information I have is that nobody is coming and if that’s the case then nobody is leaving.”

What this would mean is that Sheva would be staying at Stamford Bridge, at least till the summer.