17/02/2007  Chelsea 4 Norwich 0
 
Chelsea eased effortlessly into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at the expense of Championship side Norwich at Stamford Bridge.

It was the perfect start to an important week for the Barclays Premiership champions who face Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday and Arsenal in the final of the Carling Cup next Sunday.

Shaun Wright-Phillips put them ahead in the 38th minute and top scorer Didier Drogba made it two six minutes after the break.

The scoring was completed with two goals in the last minute from substitutes Michael Essien and Andriy Shevchenko.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho opted to rest a number of his first-team regulars in preparation for their trip to Portugal but their strength in depth proved too much for Championship side Norwich.

Mourinho is adamant that he must rotate his squad if they are to remain on course for glory in all four major competitions.

Mourinho said: "Of course we need rotation if we are to try to be successful in as many games and tournaments as possible.

"So far this season we have had much less rotation than we might have hoped, but now we have the players back, we have to do it."

Chelsea almost drew first blood as early as the ninth minute when Frank Lampard was fouled by Dickson Etuhu 25 yards out.

The England international picked himself up to fire in a long-range free-kick which Norwich goalkeeper David Marshall did well to push to safety.

Moments later Marshall required lengthy treatment after appearing to hurt his ankle while trying to deal with a far-post cross from Arjen Robben. He was replaced in the 11th minute by substitute goalkeeper Paul Gallagher.

A prolonged spell of pressure should have put Norwich one up in the 16th minute when Dickson Etutu's 20-yard shot beat Petr Cech only to rebound off the foot of the right-hand upright.

The loose ball fell straight to the feet of the lurking Lee Croft just into the penalty area and a goal looked certain with Cech still on the floor.

But the City player's goalbound effort was cleared by the retreating Khalid Boulahrouz.

Norwich continued to press forward and Darren Huckerby just failed to get to a loose ball inside the six-yard box in the 26th minute after Dion Dublin's height had caused panic in the Chelsea defence.

It was another warning for the Premiership side, who hit back immediately with a long-range drive from Robben that Paul Gallagher did well to keep out.

On the half-hour, the substitute keeper was equal to the task again as he punched away a swerving drive from Lampard.

But Chelsea finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. Lampard's initial shot was blocked on the edge of the penalty area by Andy Hughes and the ball fell to the waiting Wright-Phillips.

The England winger despatched a swerving shot off into the roof of the net to give Mourinho's men the lead against the run of play.

But Chelsea's injury jinx struck again in the 43rd minute when Boulahrouz damaged his shoulder and was replaced by Michael Essien.

But it did not take long for Chelsea to increase their lead after the interval and Drogba put them two up in the 51st minute with his 26th goal of the season.

A corner by Lampard cannoned off the legs of the unfortunate Chris Brown into the path of Drogba on the edge of the six-yard box and even though the Ivorian had his back to the goal, he swivelled and volleyed home in one movement.

Drogba, his job done, was removed and replaced by Salomon Kalou in the 56th minute.

City had lost the verve they displayed so admirably in the opening 45 minutes and Chelsea were now in total command.

In the 59th minute Kalou was brought down on the edge of the penalty area but Lampard's free-kick was inches the wrong side of the Norwich crossbar.

In the 78th minute Norwich twice went close through Jason Shackell and Andy Hughes but Chelsea kept their visitors at bay thanks to some fine goalkeeping from Cech.

Chelsea made it three in the last minute when substitute Shevchenko set up Essien and the Ghanaian midfielder applied the finish. Seconds later Shevchenko made it four to complete a comfortable afternoon for for the Blues.