16/02/2003  Stoke 0 Chelsea 2
 
Chelsea showed they have added grit to their glamorous 
image and are reaping the rewards in the process.

A place in the FA Cup quarter-finals was secured thanks to 
a collective determination to get the job done against 
spirited lower division opposition.

And, like Shrewsbury before them, Stoke found out that 
Chelsea under manager Claudio Ranieri are no soft touch.

Even without inspirational pair Gianfranco Zola and Marcel 
Desailly, the Premiership aristocrats were much too strong for 
the home side, currently struggling at the wrong end of 
Division One.

Chelsea took their time to break down the opposition but 
once Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made the breakthrough there was 
only going to be one winner.

Substitute Jesper Gronkjaer added a superb second to make 
sure last season's beaten finalists marched on.

Chelsea were a little bit slack at the start, however. 
Defender John Terry forced goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini to 
look alert with an over-hit backpass in the fourth minute. 
Cudicini was able to return it to his team-mate and there 
must have been concern from Stoke supporters that no real 
pressure was exerted.

Mario Stanic almost put Chelsea ahead after eight minutes 
when he peeled away from his marker when Graeme Le Saux 
delivered a corner from the right.

However, there was little power on Stanic's header and 
goalkeeper Steve Banks was able to gather safely.

Stoke rallied and two minutes later Lewis Neal picked out 
James O'Connor with a good ball.

But under pressure from Terry he hurried his effort and 
dragged it wide of Cudicini's post.

Stoke were settling into the game and Neal sent the ball 
over the bar in the 15th minute from inside the area after a 
fine cross from Karl Henry.

Chelsea looked dangerous on the counter, though, and 
Hasselbaink clipped a shot wide following a cross from Graeme 
Le Saux.

Chelsea carved out another opening in the 27th minute when 
Eidur Gudjohnsen sent a diagonal ball into the path of Enrique 
de Lucas but he blasted a shot over the bar.

Then Mario Melchiot skipped down the right and found Frank 
Lampard, only for his effort to be blocked.

Chelsea were beginning to stamp their authority on the game 
and de Lucas fired in a shot from just outside the area that 
went narrowly wide.

Stoke, however, were making a decent fist of it going into 
half-time considering their lowly league position.

Full-backs Henry and Marcus Hall were always willing to get 
down the line and link up with the strikers.

Chelsea started the second half brightly and Stanic whipped 
in a shot that drifted wide.

Gudjohnsen was then released by Stanic but the striker took 
his eye off the ball and looked at the assistant referee 
instead.

But no flag was given and a good opportunity was lost with 
Stanic left with a feeling of frustration.

Chelsea went ahead in the 51st minute when Hasselbaink 
fired a shot beyond Banks and into the corner.

The goal came after Stanic played the ball in and Sergei 
Shtaniuk's attempted clearance only fell at the feet of the 
Chelsea striker.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis decided to switch things around 
and brought on Bjarni Gudjonsson for the tiring Henry.

Chelsea, though, stepped up the pace and Banks did well to 
turn away a shot from Gudjohnsen in the 64th minute.

Gudjohnsen was then left in a heap after a clash of heads 
with Shtaniuk but he recovered after treatment.

Stoke were struggling to get back in the game with strikers 
Chris Greenacre and Chris Iwelumo unable to make much 
impression.

The arrival of Bjarni Gudjonsson did, however, give them an 
extra threat and he looked lively out wide.

Stoke pushed forward again O'Connor found himself in a good 
position but only succeeded in firing wide.

Gronkjaer added a second goal after 76 minutes with a 
blistering run and finish following a delightful ball from 
Gudjohnsen.

Stoke goalkeeper Banks looked to have the post covered but 
was beaten by the pace of the shot.

Banks, however, did well to push away a shot from 
substitute Carlton Cole a minute before time.