By dixon9
March 8 2009

Didier Drogba confirmed that he is well on the way back to his best yesterday with a classic finish setting up Chelsea’s pass into the semi-finals of the FA Cup yesterday at the Ricoh Stadium. Alex sealed the win with a simple finish after a precision cross from Quaresma.

Drogba had already given a warning of what was to come by out-muscling the Coventry defence during a foray into the box early on before scoring in the 15^th minute after shrugging Scott Dann off the ball.  It was a classic Drogba finish and served to subdue Coventry spirits.

Hiddink: 

"Didier is dangerous. He is working very hard and he is good for the team.  

"There are still some little things that he needs to improve on, but he is working on them in sessions outside of training which he likes." 

Strong line-up

Hiddink had surprised many by selecting a strong line-up and It showed that his coaching staff had done their homework as we attacked Coventry predominantly down the right-hand side where the slower Hall had replaced the more talented Fox.  To make matters worse for Hall, he had been left exposed with a lack of support too often at times and was visibly seen to be complaining to his team-mates and the Coventry bench. 

Control

Chelsea pretty much dominated possession with the only tangible flashes of danger coming from the masked raider Leon Best who, playing with a fractured cheek-bone, wore similar protection to that of John Terry during the latter stages of last season. 

In the second half, Gunnarsson had also caused the odd missed heart-beat for the Chelsea faithful  with his long throw-ins but the most damaging result was one ball that slid along the edge of Cech´s six-yard box which thankfully received no attention from the Coventry forwards. 

There were big cheers on 62 minutes as Michael Essien began warming up and then came on to the pitch a few minutes later - 6 months out - and could we do with him now?! 

Chelsea were relaxed and had been passing the ball around nicely – probably with one eye on their Tuesday appointment in Turin - and soon the outcome of the match was to be put beyond question from a rapier-like break away from defence. 

Second-half substitute Quaresma was sent away by Drogba and after racing down the right-wing his perfect cross was met by Alex of all people who was left with a simple side-foot finish.   

There were further opportunities as Coventry were forced to push their lines up.

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Lampard was put through by Malouda but was foiled by Westwood who was very quick off his line and 80^th minute substitute Di Santo almost got on the end of a Quaresma cross. 

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Morrison could have pulled on back after turning Alex but the ball squirmed too far ahead of him before he could get his shot away.

Break-away controversy 

There was some controversy about our second goal as Coventry manager Chris Coleman had complained about the manner in which both Drogba and Alex had been let back onto the pitch before our break-away and the Welshman also wasn’t very happy about the referee’s apparent differing attitudes towards the players: 

“I was disappointed with him, as were my players - his attitude towards us and towards them,” 

“That is not why we lost but he was smug towards us, the way he was talking to my players, my senior players.”  

“For the second goal Chelsea had two players off the pitch for treatment,”

“You are not supposed to wave them back on until you see where the ball is going to bounce and so they gain no advantage. 

"You can’t wave them back on in a situation like that and who scores the goal - Alex.”  

Summer decisions

Whilst Coleman reflects on his perceived unfair treatment Chelsea fans will probably think on two principle matters; Drogba is “back” - should he be let go in the summer? (The camp will be divided on that one for sure) and will we be able to sign Quaresma on a permanent basis?  The Portuguese winger is showing that he could be the ingredient we have been lacking this season. 

We now go into the draw for the semi-finals at 6:45pm this evening and will face either Man Utd, Arsenal/Burnley or Sheff Utd/Hull City (one round behind) or Everton/Boro. 

Coventry: Westwood, Wright, Dann, Turner, Hall, Henderson, Gunnarsson, Doyle (Beuzelin 59), Eastwood, Best, Morrison.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Ward, Osbourne, McPake, Simpson, Thornton.

Booked: Beuzelin.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Mikel (Essien 65), Ballack, Malouda, Drogba (Di Santo 80), Kalou (Quaresma 46).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Carvalho, Belletti, Mancienne.

Goals: Drogba 15, Alex 72.  

Att: 31,407  

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Goals: 

http://www.eplmatches.com/index.php/2009/03/07/coventry-vs-chelsea-fa-cup-highlights/ 

Goals Download (better quality):

http://www.chelseavideos.co.uk/Drogba/Drogba%20v%20Coventry%20FAC%2009.avi 

http://www.chelseavideos.co.uk/Alex/Alex%20v%20Coventry%20FAC%2009.avi 

Note: I am temporarily doing match related articles as Since 66 is unfortunately unable to do so at this time.