26/01/2003  Shrewsbury 0 Chelsea 4

Gianfranco Zola epitomised the gulf in class between 
Chelsea and Shrewsbury as the Third Division side's gallant 
run in the FA Cup finally came to an end.

Having seen off Everton in the third round, it would have 
been astonishing if the side with the worst defensive record 
in the Third Division - 49 goals conceded in 26 matches - had 
been able to survive against the high-flying Londoners.

Zola, with his first goals in 13 games, ended the 
resistance of Shrewsbury's defiant keeper Ian Dunbavin, with 
substitutes Carlton Cole and Jody Morris finishing the job the 
Italian had started.

Shrewsbury will not be too disappointed - a fee of £300,000 
from the first game at Gay Meadow ever to be screened live on 
national television will ease the pain - and there was enough 
promise on show to give manager Kevin Ratcliffe hope his side 
can put their under-achieving league form to rights.

Chelsea never looked troubled and with Frank Lampard ruling 
the roost in midfield, the visitors forced the pace from the 
opening seconds.

Boudewijn Zenden cut in from the right and struck a shot 
which had Dunbavin scrambling across his goal and the 
Shrewsbury keeper was relieved to see the ball bounce wide.

Eidur Gudjohnsen should have done better with a clear 
header from Lampard's cross then Graeme Le Saux let another 
chance go begging for Chelsea after Zola had scampered down 
the right and slid over a lovely pass.

Lampard did get an effort on target, but straight at 
Dunbavin, who was then quick off his line to stop Gudjohnsen 
putting the visitors ahead.

With 25 minutes gone, Shrewsbury won a free-kick in the 
same position from which Nigel Jemson had scored against 
Everton in the last round. The Shrews' skipper took the 
free-kick again, but this time Carlo Cudicini plucked his shot 
out of the air.

At the other end, Lampard fired just over from the edge of 
the box, then Dunbavin pulled off a miraculous save to deny 
the same player. Zola's header dropped to Lampard no more than 
eight yards out and when he crashed in a volley, it looked 
certain Shrewsbury's defence was to be breached at last - but 
Dunbavin's superb reactions earned cheers from around Gay 
Meadow.

Dunbavin was then in action to deny Zola, sticking up a 
hand to palm over the little Italian's chip.

The Shrewsbury keeper pulled off another top-quality save 
to prevent Zenden scoring, but his line was finally breached 
five minutes before the break.

Emmanuel Petit began the move, spreading possession to Le 
Saux on the left who was caught by Darren Moss just as he was 
about to pass and the ball fell somewhat fortuitously for Zola 
to clip home from 12 yards.

Gudjohnsen was then narrowly wide before Dunbavin dived low 
to tip away Lampard's fierce drive.

Cole came on at half-time and nearly scored with his first 
touch, hammering a drive from 20 yards past the post. 
Shrewsbury's veterans Mark Atkins and Ian Woan both had 
glimpses of goal which allowed them a shooting chance, but 
neither player could find the quality to beat Cudicini.

The Chelsea substitute did make his presence felt in the 
53rd minute. Lampard went on another rampaging run, Zola 
picked up possession and jinked past Moss before delivering a 
cross of such inviting precision that Cole's powerful header 
past Dunbavin was almost a foregone conclusion.

Dunbavin was in the thick of the action again, blocking 
William Gallas' thunderous volley then Luke Rodgers' pace 
nearly earned him a goal for the home side, but Cudicini came 
sliding out to rescue Chelsea.

Cole had a shot deflected wide after Jesper Gronkjaer's run 
caused panic in the Shrews defence then Petit sliced a 20-yard 
drive high and wide of the goal.

Cole blasted a shot so high it dropped into the River 
Severn before Zola showed him how it was done with 15 minutes 
left. Petit rolled a pass to the Italian who, from a position 
on the right-hand of the box, chipped Dunbavin so perfectly 
that even a slight touch from the keeper failed to prevent it 
dropping into his net.

Jemson so nearly gave the home fans something to cheer 
about, first forcing a brilliant save out of Cudicini with a 
free-kick then from the ensuing corner missing from 
point-blank range.

Morris made it four 10 minutes from time with a tremendous 
goal out of nothing, sweeping left-footed into the top corner 
from 30 yards.