Gianfranco Zola epitomised the gulf in class between Chelsea and Shrewsbury as
the Third Division side's gallant run in the FA Cup finally came to an end.
Having seen off Everton in the third round, it would have been astonishing if
the side with the worst defensive record in the Third Division - 49 goals
conceded in 26 matches - had been able to survive against the high-flying
Londoners.
Zola, with his first goals in 13 games, ended the resistance of Shrewsbury's
defiant keeper Ian Dunbavin, with substitutes Carlton Cole and Jody Morris
finishing the job the Italian had started.
Shrewsbury will not be too disappointed - a fee of £300,000 from the first
game at Gay Meadow ever to be screened live on national television will ease the
pain - and there was enough promise on show to give manager Kevin Ratcliffe hope
his side can put their under-achieving league form to rights.
Chelsea never looked troubled and with Frank Lampard ruling the roost in
midfield, the visitors forced the pace from the opening seconds.
Boudewijn Zenden cut in from the right and struck a shot which had Dunbavin
scrambling across his goal and the Shrewsbury keeper was relieved to see the
ball bounce wide.
Eidur Gudjohnsen should have done better with a clear header from Lampard's
cross then Graeme Le Saux let another chance go begging for Chelsea after Zola
had scampered down the right and slid over a lovely pass.
Lampard did get an effort on target, but straight at Dunbavin, who was then
quick off his line to stop Gudjohnsen putting the visitors ahead.
With 25 minutes gone, Shrewsbury won a free-kick in the same position from
which Nigel Jemson had scored against Everton in the last round. The Shrews'
skipper took the free-kick again, but this time Carlo Cudicini plucked his shot
out of the air.
At the other end, Lampard fired just over from the edge of the box, then
Dunbavin pulled off a miraculous save to deny the same player. Zola's header
dropped to Lampard no more than eight yards out and when he crashed in a volley,
it looked certain Shrewsbury's defence was to be breached at last - but
Dunbavin's superb reactions earned cheers from around Gay Meadow.
Dunbavin was then in action to deny Zola, sticking up a hand to palm over the
little Italian's chip.
The Shrewsbury keeper pulled off another top-quality save to prevent Zenden
scoring, but his line was finally breached five minutes before the break.
Emmanuel Petit began the move, spreading possession to Le Saux on the left who
was caught by Darren Moss just as he was about to pass and the ball fell
somewhat fortuitously for Zola to clip home from 12 yards.
Gudjohnsen was then narrowly wide before Dunbavin dived low to tip away
Lampard's fierce drive.
Cole came on at half-time and nearly scored with his first touch, hammering a
drive from 20 yards past the post. Shrewsbury's veterans Mark Atkins and Ian
Woan both had glimpses of goal which allowed them a shooting chance, but neither
player could find the quality to beat Cudicini.
The Chelsea substitute did make his presence felt in the 53rd minute. Lampard
went on another rampaging run, Zola picked up possession and jinked past Moss
before delivering a cross of such inviting precision that Cole's powerful header
past Dunbavin was almost a foregone conclusion.
Dunbavin was in the thick of the action again, blocking William Gallas'
thunderous volley then Luke Rodgers' pace nearly earned him a goal for the home
side, but Cudicini came sliding out to rescue Chelsea.
Cole had a shot deflected wide after Jesper Gronkjaer's run caused panic in
the Shrews defence then Petit sliced a 20-yard drive high and wide of the goal.
Cole blasted a shot so high it dropped into the River Severn before Zola
showed him how it was done with 15 minutes left. Petit rolled a pass to the
Italian who, from a position on the right-hand of the box, chipped Dunbavin so
perfectly that even a slight touch from the keeper failed to prevent it dropping
into his net.
Jemson so nearly gave the home fans something to cheer about, first forcing a
brilliant save out of Cudicini with a free-kick then from the ensuing corner
missing from point-blank range.
Morris made it four 10 minutes from time with a tremendous goal out of
nothing, sweeping left-footed into the top corner from 30 yards.
Teams
Shrewsbury: Dunbavin, Moss (Drysdale 76), Artell, Wilding,
Smith, Jagielka (Lowe 58), Atkins (Murray 57), Jamie Tolley,
Woan, Rodgers, Jemson.
Subs Not Used: Kendall, Redmile.
Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Gallas, Terry, Babayaro (Cole 46),
Zenden, Lampard (Morris 56), Petit, Le Saux,
Gudjohnsen (Gronkjaer 62), Zola.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Huth.
Booked: Babayaro.
Goals: Zola 40, Cole 53, Zola 75, Morris 80.
Att: 7,950
Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
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