Didier Drogba scored just after half-time and was involved in
the crucial winner but the Blues were made to work very hard
by their lowly opposition in the League Cup
Chelsea overcame Shrewsbury Town 2-1 in the League Cup
fourth round after an incredibly well-fought match against
their lower-league opposition.
After an even first half in which the Blues' attacking midfielders
misfired and the League Two side came the closest to scoring,
Didier Drogba broke the deadlock just after the break.
The Shrews looked to have earned extra time when substitute
Andy Mangan netted with 77 minutes on the clock only
moments after coming on but pressure from Drogba forced an
own goal from Jermaine Grandison four minutes later to seal
the deal.
Jose Mourinho lifted the League Cup trophy twice in his first
spell with Chelsea and named a solid line-up to show that he
clearly means business once more. However, the Premier
League leaders were made to work hard for their place in the
quarter-finals.
Shrewsbury went into the game on the back of four straight
League Two wins and had already beaten Premier League
side Leicester City and two Championship clubs in this
competition. Their confidence and self-belief was evident in an
even first period and the manner of the defeat was ultimately
harsh on the home team.
Mourinho made seven changes to the side that started
Sunday's 1-1 draw at Manchester United, with 18-year-old
Dane Andreas Christensen making his debut at right-back.
Kurt Zouma and Nathan Ake were other youngsters called up,
while Petr Cech got the nod in between the posts and Jon Obi
Mikel, Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle also came in.
Shrewsbury suffered a setback when James Wesolowski went
down in the warm-up, meaning a late step up for Liam
Lawrence in midfield.
Cech had to be alert in the opening stages as Nathaniel
Knight-Percival was on target with a far-post header from a
corner and Ake received an early booking for a rash challenge
on Bobby Grant.
With the rain driving down, the underdogs had a penalty
appeal for handball against Drogba turned down from another
set-piece as they more than held their own up to half-time.
Drogba did have the ball in the net at the other end but a flag
was already up for offside and it was a far from comfortable
first period for the visitors.
Chelsea started the second half much more positively, though,
and Schurrle and Salah combined to set up Drogba , who took
full advantage when firing a low volley past Jayson Leutwiler
on 48 minutes.
Schurrle then had a 30-yard rocket tipped over the bar, but
Shrewsbury did threaten a response when Jean-Louis Akpa
Akpro's shot deflected just wide.
Leutwiler did well to keep out a fierce Drogba effort as
Chelsea began to dominate proceedings but the visitors were
stunned when Mangan levelled from close range after
Grandison headed down a corner.
Hopes of an upset were soon dashed, though, when substitute
Willian whipped in a cross from the left wing on 81 minutes
and the unfortunate Grandison steered the ball into his own
net under pressure from Drogba.
Akpa Akpro did threaten with a late header but there was to
be no second reprieve for Shrewsbury.