FA Cup - Chelsea ease past QPR

Sat, 28 Jan 13:58:00 2012

Chelsea defeated Queens Park Rangers 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round at Loftus Road courtesy of Juan Mata's controversial second-half penalty.

2012 FA Cup Terry Ferdinand - 0

The Spaniard stroked home his spot-kick on 62 minutes after Mike Dean deemed Clint Hill to have pushed Daniel Sturridge in the area.

With the build-up to the game dominated by the race row involving John Terry and Anton Ferdinand following October's league clash, the Football Association released a statement a few minutes before kick-off announcing that there would be no pre-match handshake between the two sets of players on request of both clubs 'in an attempt to further diffuse tensions'.

The move ended the debate about whether Ferdinand would shake Terry's hand.

The two defenders both started the match for their respective sides. Akos Buzsaky was in the QPR team after his impressive showing against Wigan a week earlier, and new signing Nedum Onuoha started on the bench. Fernando Torres was in the Blues starting line-up, flanked by Mata and Sturridge. Gary Cahill, who joined the club from Bolton earlier this month, was on the bench.

The predicted on-pitch animosity after allegations of a racial slur by Terry against Ferdinand never really materialised and instead the crowd at Loftus Road were subjected to a sterile Cup tie.

Mata was an intermittent threat for the Blues and his low shot after a slip from Luke Young forced Paddy Kenny into a diving save early on.

That was as close as either team came in the first half. QPR were happy to contain, with Chelsea unable to find that injection of pace that their attacking play has often lacked this season.

A brilliant back-heel from Mata found Ramires in the area before half-time but the Brazilian put far too much pace on his cross. It was an exceptional piece of skill from the Spaniard and a rare highlight in a turgid first-half.

Federico Macheda replaced groin injury victim Heidar Helguson at half-time but the Italian striker could not galvanise his side.

Torres produced a hard-working display. The Spaniard found Sturridge on the edge of the area, but the former Manchester City youngster ballooned over the bar.

QPR had to wait until the 59th minute for their first real chance of the game as Shaun Wright-Phillips dribbled around Ashley Cole and shot at Petr Cech who pushed his goalbound effort away.

Ramires then broke quickly for Chelsea and Mata's cross into the box for Sturridge was over-hit - but referee Dean blew for a push on the striker by Hill. Contact was minimal, and Mark Hughes voiced his disapproval at the penalty award.

Mata's spot-kick was struck confidently into the bottom right-hand corner to give Chelsea the lead.

QPR could not get any service to their front players and struggled to find a rhythm as the Blues remained in control.

However, with Chelsea playing out time Young came close to equalising seconds from the end when his well-struck effort was pushed away by Cech.

This was a dour encounter and the result may have come at a cost for Chelsea as the impressive Ramires was stretchered off with a knee injury in the 77th minute.

Stewart Coggin - @SCoggin_journo / Eurosport

Comment 44 - 63 of 63

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  1. oi losers did you see the draw oh sorry you aint in it­ as usual, still you idiots could not find birmingham­ with a sat nav, its in the middle on the country JOHN­ TERRY IS CAPT OF, THAT FOR THE HOOP MUPPETS IS ENGLAND,­ STILL NEXT YEAR YOU WILL BE PLAYIN LOWER LEAGUE­ FOOTBALL SO I'M SURE YOU'LL FIND IT! ONLY ONE­ TEAM IN LONDON CARE3 ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3 ONLY­ ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3 ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3­ ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3 ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON­ CARE3 ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3 ONLY ONE TEAM IN­ LONDON CARE3 ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3 ONLY ONE­ TEAM IN LONDON CARE3 ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3 ONLY­ ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3 ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3­ ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3 ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON­ CARE3 ONLY ONE TEAM IN LONDON CARE3

    From osgood9, on Mon 30 Jan 2:15

  2. (No 59) Deal with it like Chelsea did when Barcelona­ cheated to beat you, or deal with it like when­ Liverpool beat you in the champions league ??

    From BILL, on Sun 29 Jan 19:47

  3. Penalty no, dive yes, Chelsea cheats yes. 2 out of 3­ aint bad. Did QPR turn up, no i don't think they­ did. The league is more important. this was a dyer­ match with not much action, apart from the over acting­ dive that won the penalty. Hughes need to get players­ in now.

    From steveald2001, on Sun 29 Jan 16:16

  4. This was a typical modern day football match with yet­ again a player cheating to win the game for his side.­ Players in the Premiership get paid a bucketful of­ money because they are supposedly talented. Really?­ Talented at what? How to win the game and con the­ referee! I wish it WAS about skill and football. This­ mornings paper headlines should be screaming CHELSEA­ CHEAT THEIR WAY INTO THE NEXT ROUND, but instead, no­ doubt, the referee will get it in the neck - what an­ advert for the game. And before you Chelsea fans scream­ for my blood, save your energy, you will be wasting­ your time. I am not a disgruntled QPR but a exasperated­ footy fan.

    From M, on Sun 29 Jan 12:39

  5. Chelsea win... DEAL WITH IT!

    From Coach Dragon, on Sun 29 Jan 9:15

  6. Dirty QPhahaha got what they deserved, you don't­ touch a striker in the box.... end of!

    The dirty­ challenge on Ramires by Ferdinand was­ terrible,disgusting.

    "Somebody told me that the­ nasty man said a bad word about me, boooohoooo, I am­ going to sulk and tell my mummy. And and and I am not­ going to grow up and shake the nasty man's­ hand...boooh booooh. Maybe if I do this then the media­ might notice I play football and not only my big­ brother who the nasty man replaced as England Captain­ booooooh booooh".

    From Coach Dragon, on Sun 29 Jan 9:14

  7. neither chelsea nor qpr fan but dat was not a penalty­ refferee;s also support teams ,d**** they mayb he was1­ of dem!u stupid m****** through 2 da 5th round 4 nothin

    From kloe80, on Sun 29 Jan 8:06

  8. 54--And JC is a bitter muppet!

    From Truth!, on Sun 29 Jan 5:03

  9. He pushed him. Penalty. I am a not a Chelsea fan.

    From Lief, on Sun 29 Jan 4:54
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    john terry you know what you are

    From yid army, on Sun 29 Jan 4:42
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    JT is a racist c.u.n.t...
    Chelsea is a worthless club.

    From J C, on Sun 29 Jan 4:41

  12. after watching chelsea play a game like this, there­ is no doubt in my mind, coach avb should be fired. a­ disgrace, they play backwards much more than forwards.­ he doesn` t have a clue of how to inspire the players.­ terrible coaching,

    From Pearless J, on Sun 29 Jan 4:33

  13. I have noted how many R's fans are moaning about­ the pen (backed up of course by the biased,­ anti-Chelsea media). As said allready, what goes around­ comes around. Remember that your winning pen was also­ rather soft, but you had the anti-Chelsea pundits­ claiming it was ok!
    If you wish to be what we are-- A­ MASSIVE CLUB--then you need to stop whining and take­ this on the chin. You were beaten by a better club, and­ didn't today have a prejudiced ref working for you.­
    To all fellow followers of the Mighty Blues, may I­ suggest that like me, you complain to ITV about thier­ incredibly biassed news report on the game. Anton­ Average is portrayed as Mother Teresa while JT is­ treated like Blofeld. Considering there is a court case­ to follow, this is very one-sided reporting.

    From Truth!, on Sun 29 Jan 2:54

  14. JT outstanding again today always leading from front,it­ was sad to see QPR not turning up maybe the day was to­ bigger occasion them.

    it was good to see the most QPR­ fan turn up in fancy dress....they all turned up has­ blue seats

    From ANDY, on Sun 29 Jan 2:36

  15. Yeap, was a very soft penalty, but guess that makes up­ for the soft penalty awarded to QPR and the two not­ given to Chelsea in the league meeting!...

    From Moose, on Sun 29 Jan 2:34

  16. Was the league game not decided by a dodgy penalty­ given for a push that was minimal too? What goes around­ comes around. Stopping moaning.

    From Leigh, on Sun 29 Jan 2:33

  17. Well done Chelsea, kick the insecure man out of the­ next round.

    From a fed fan, on Sun 29 Jan 2:31

  18. Well done Chelsea!
    Football speaks better then­ words
    Hopefully now mor,rons off any colour will shut­ their gobs up
    Glory, glory Chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Mr Uncle Vovan, on Sun 29 Jan 2:29

  19. No handshakes? Well done FA, cowering to the last. As­ with the Suarez case, they go absent when they have­ to make a reasoned decision.

    From PETER, on Sun 29 Jan 2:27

  20. I half agree with A , but the F.A. are turning the game­ into a farce. Todays decision to give Chelsea a pen is­ a joke , Richards hand ball another joke. Never thought­ I would say this , but technology needs to come into­ the game , and its the F.A. 's fault with their­ meesing about with the rules.

    From David, on Sun 29 Jan 1:43
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