08/01/2005  Chelsea 3 Scunthorpe 1
 
Scunthorpe shocked Chelsea by taking the lead at Stamford Bridge - but the below-par Barclays Premiership leaders hit back to win this FA Cup third round clash at Stamford Bridge.

The League Two promotion hopefuls had shocked the Londoners in the eighth minute when Paul Hayes gave them the lead.

But Mateja Kezman equalised in the 26th minute, before Scunthorpe captain Andy Crosby struck at the wrong end in the second half.

Scunthorpe did not bow out with a whimper though and substitute Cleveland Taylor hit the post and forced Carlo Cudicini into a fine save before Eidur Gudjohnsen settled the tie four minutes from time.

Brian Laws' underdogs started brightly and had considerably more possession than some of Chelsea's Premiership opponents have enjoyed in the opening five minutes.

In the seventh minute, Scunthorpe won a corner to the delight of their travelling fans and it required a firm header from young debutant Steven Watt to clear the danger.

But a minute later the visiting fans were celebrating a shock opener when Matthew Sparrow's low cross found Hayes on the edge of the six-yard box.

The striker turned makeshift centre-back Alexei Smertin with ease and fired a low shot through the legs of Cudicini to give the League Two side a sensational lead.

The response from Chelsea was immediate but United's tenacious defending blocked all their attempts to engineer a clear path to goal.

Chelsea were rattled by the minnows' dream start, making numerous errors before Scunthorpe won another corner in the 20th minute.

Although the home side cleared their lines, manager Jose Mourinho was out of the dugout.

Scunthorpe almost increased their lead when Peter Beagrie's corner was met with a powerful header from Andy Butler - an effort which was goalbound until it hit team-mate Michael Rankine on the chest.

And Chelsea punished the visitors for their misdemeanour in the 26th minute when Mateja Kezman levelled after Gudjohnsen's left-wing centre was not cleared.

The Serbian striker met the rebound with a right-foot volley which was far too powerful for Paul Musselwhite to prevent from hitting the roof of the net.

But United bounced back almost immediately and another Butler header forced Cudicini into a flying save at the foot of his left-hand post.

Chelsea started to impose themselves as the first half drew to a close, with Didier Drogba forcing Musselwhite to tip a curling 20-yard effort round the far post in the 35th minute.

Six minutes before the break Geremi was rightly booked by referee Dermot Gallagher for felling veteran Beagrie - and when the ball fell loose to Ian Baraclough on the edge of the penalty area, his shot flashed inches wide of the left-hand upright with Cudicini struggling.

The Premiership side had lacked the guile and creativity to breakdown a resolute United defence and it took an own-goal to give them the lead for the first time in the game.

In the 58th minute, Tiago found Drogba on the left with a long crossfield pass and the Ivory Coast striker outstripped Cliff Byrne for pace before delivering a hopeful cross into the centre which Crosby could only turn past the flatfooted Musselwhite.

Scunthorpe felt they should have had a penalty in the 69th minute when substitute Taylor appeared to be brought down by Glen Johnson - but Gallagher waved away their appeals.

Three minutes later, Taylor was presented with a gilt-edged chance on the edge of the six-yard box when Hayes had headed the ball to him in an unmarked position - but the young striker's effort was saved one-handed by Cudicini.

The Londoners had another lucky escape seconds later when Beagrie's cross was missed by Cudicini - but Butler just failed to capitalise on his error at the far post.

Taylor then hit the post with a header from another Beagrie cross as Scunthorpe refused to give up on their dreams of pulling off a cup shock.

But Gudjohnsen killed off their hopes with a third goal from close range five minutes from time.