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 th
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 go
the nod in between the posts and Jon Obi Mikel, Mohamed Sala
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 Lawrenc
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.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
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