23/01/2007  Chelsea 4 Wycombe 0 (agg: 5-1)
 
Two first-half goals from the much-maligned Andriy Shevchenko and a Frank Lampard brace put Chelsea into the final of the Carling Cup.

The Ukrainian forward, singled out as the cause of dressing room unrest at Stamford Bridge because of his close relationship with owner Roman Abramovich, ended Wycombe's cup dreams with goals in the 22nd and 43rd minutes before making a third for Lampard in the second half.

It took his tally for the season to eight and, somewhat ironically, it may have achieved more for harmony at Stamford Bridge than any wise words of peace from the board or coach Jose Mourinho.

Brave Wycombe were no pushovers and Paul Lambert's side made the champions work hard for their place in next month's showpiece final but, in the end, Chelsea's class in front of goal proved to the difference.

Shevchenko had been so incensed by suggestions that he was snitching to Abramovich about his team-mates, that he was forced to issue a statement via his official website last week, claiming he was being made the scapegoat for Chelsea's poor form.

The striker had also supposedly been at the heart of Mourinho's alleged bust-up with Abramovich over the lack of new signings. The Russian billionaire is understood to have rejected his coach's request for funds to buy a new striker and told him to get more out of the Ukrainian instead.

There was a certain inevitability that it would be the previously misfiring Shevchenko who earned Chelsea a place in the final against either Tottenham or Arsenal.

Indeed, he could have put them ahead as early as the first minute but when he headed Ashley Cole's cross wide of the target, it looked as though he would be in for another torrid time.

But in the 22nd minute, with Chelsea yet to engineer another clear opening, Shevchenko was given the kind of gift that even he, in his disappointing first season in England, would have found hard to waste.

Tommy Doherty, who spent much of the game bickering with German Michael Ballack, tried to pass the ball across his own back line only to place it at the feet of the waiting Ukrainian.

Such presents are rarely spurned in the modern game and Shevchenko must have felt the burden of the last few weeks lift from his shoulders as he watched his shot beat the advancing Ricardo Batista and nestle in the net.

It was cruel luck on Lambert's League Two minnows but they rallied in admirable fashion and almost grabbed an equaliser three minutes later.

Doherty, trying to atone for his error, put Tommy Mooney clear on goal but the veteran striker failed to connect with the ball properly and he sent it spinning wide of the target.

It was a costly miss as Didier Drogba carved out the second for Shevchenko two minutes from the break. The Ivorian was allowed to cut inside from the left flank and his through ball eluded the Wycombe defence before landing at the feet of Shevchenko.

The former AC Milan hitman needed no second touch this time and lashed an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net.

But still Wycombe refused to lie down and Petr Cech was forced to save at the feet of Jermaine Easter with seconds of the first half remaining.

Had Easter, scorer of Wycombe's equalising goal in the first leg, managed to lift the ball over the Czech international, Lambert's side may have given Chelsea something to think about in the second period.

But despite taking the game to their Premiership opponents for long spells, they were caught out by a sucker punch in the 69th minute.

There appeared to be little danger for the giantkillers as the ball bobbled loosely in the middle of the park but when Shevchenko sent the ball high towards Lampard, the game was as good as over.

The England midfielder nicked the ball from the path of the onrushing Batista, then cleverly flicked it beyond substitute Sam Stockley before calmly knocking it into an empty net.

Lampard took his tally for the season to 15 in stoppage time when he converted a pass from Drogba.

It was a harsh scoreline for Lambert's willing workhorses who must now make promotion from League Two their priority while Chelsea can look forward another visit to the Millennium stadium and, more importantly, the prospect of renewed harmony within their ranks.