By dixon9
January 27 2008

We progressed relatively easily to the last 16 of the FA Cup at the JJB Stadium yesterday and what’s more, we seem to be getting into the habit of winning with a dogged determination and refusal to be shut out the running of any competition this season.

Many of us couldn’t have imagined being still on course in January but we can definitely assume a “So far, So good” attitude; 4 points off the leaders in the league with the cushion of key players to return, top of our CL group, a slot in the League Cup Final and now, in the latter stages of the FA Cup. 

True, there is still time for the wheels to come off but I believe we can only get a lot stronger and recent results reflect just how much real strength in depth we have in this Chelsea squad. 

With the likes of Ballack, Lampard and Terry to return from injury and the ACN players in Drogba, Essien, Mikel and Kalou, Grant and co will have a host of options to choose from as strategy is planned during this 2^nd half of the season. 

Notable cover for Terry and Drogba has come in the shape of Alex and Anelka respectively and these two were exceptional yesterday along with Sidwell (Yes, Sidwell!) who seems to be finally shaking off the shackles of timidness shown so far this season. 

The playing surface wasn’t the best at Wigan – in fact  would go as far to say it was as bad if not worse than the old Stamford Bridge pitches of the past which we now seem happily to have solved with the introduction of new technology. 

There was a strange worn strip much like a 110 yard cricket wicket straight down the middle of the pitch which had something to do with the convex shape of the pitch and the heated cover system used at the JJB stadium.

  

Wigan were as organised and determined as ever but looked unlikely to cause us any real damage with Sean Wright-Philips seeming to relish more and more the midfield role he’s carved out for himself. This was also a match made for Sidwell who tackled well and passed with confidence. 

Our first came in the 53^rd minute with Anelka opening his account for us with an excellent finish after eluding the offside trap and prodding home from Belletti´s measured looping pass.  It was a superb finish and the Frenchman deserved nothing less. 

Apparently, we are playing “just like Bolton” at the moment although I suspect his view and his isolation up front will change drastically with the return of key players – particularly Drogba. 

Wright-Phillips commented on Anelka after the final whistle: "He's an absolutely great player. You saw what he did today and it was a great finish."

Heskey was denied almost immediately after by the legs of Cech although we soon returned to our game of keep ball albeit with most of the game taking place in our own half, happy to contain and hit on the break as we did earlier in the week at Goodison Park.

There was an ugly incident when Brown deliberately flung out and arm on the inrushing Makelele despite the two being a good 15 yards from the ball. 

It was a deliberate and cynical block of the type which has been rewarded with a red card on other occasions this season but as usual, if you play in a Chelsea shirt you can forget about refereeing consistency in these matters.

Wright-Phillips scored the 2^nd near the end after superb work from Anelka. 

Our new striker shook off the attentions of his marker with a clever switch in direction and squared the ball with the classic “Death Pass” for Wright-Phillips to finish with a side-footed shot which went through the legs of Kirkland.

Wigan did reply with a cracking finish from Sibierski which Cech (nor any other keeper) could have stopped but this was too late for Wigan.

Their late goal and the annoying 1 match ban for Carvalho after picking up a yellow were pretty much the only blots on our copy book.

GOALS VIDEO:

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/wigan+1+chelsea+2/video/x46q30_wigan-12-chelsea-rlesume_sport

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Palacios (Sibierski 77), Taylor (Koumas 58), Bent, Heskey (Aghahowa 85). Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Boyce. Booked: Bramble, Scharner, Palacios, and Aghahowa.

Goals: Sibierski 87.

Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Bridge, Malouda (Ferreira 80), Makelele, Sidwell, Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole, Anelka (Pizarro 90). Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Sinclair, Ben-Haim. Booked: Alex, Carvalho.

Goals: Anelka 53, Wright-Phillips 82.

Att: 14,166

Ref: Uriah Rennie (S Yorkshire).