FA Cup: Birmingham 0 Chelsea 2

Chelsea made a winning start to life after Andre Villas-Boas with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Birmingham in an FA cup fifth-round replay.

With caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo taking charge following Villas-Boas’ sacking on Sunday, goals from Juan Mata and Raul Meireles on Tuesday helped Chelsea progress to the quarter-finals, where they will meet Leicester at Stamford Bridge March 18.

John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba were all named as substitutes on a strong bench, while Fernando Torres started up front with Salomon Kalou and Mata.

After a tight first half at St Andrews, Chelsea went ahead in the 54th minute when a superb run and cross from Ramires caused havoc in the Birmingham penalty area, with Mata on hand to tuck the ball away and give Chelsea a 1-0 lead.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Branislav Ivanovic crossed from the right and Ramires laid off to Meireles, who hit a first-time shot from just outside the penalty area that flew into the top corner.

Birmingham came under pressure again in the 68th minute, and Chelsea were awarded a penalty when Torres was fouled by Guirane N’Daw after working a neat one-two with Ivanovic.

Mata stepped up to take it, but his shot was well saved by Colin Doyle in the Birmingham goal, and with neither side able to find the net again, Chelsea progressed courtesy of the 2-0 win.