Chelsea - 2 Huddersfield - 1: It was never going to be a wild caviar day. For seven late minutes, after Huddersfield equalised, it looked like a Yorkshire pudding day. In the end Jose Mourinho, denying relief, must have been glad not to have egg on his face, a replay on his plate and a set of signed Chelsea shirts on his hands. Eidur Gudjohnsen's winner enabled him to hand the shirts to game and grateful opponents. As a winner the manager's generosity rings charmingly true.
As underdogs come, they do not come much lower than a terrier, give or take a shih tzu. As terriers go, the Terriers went under with dogged spirit. Asked if he fancied any of their players, Mourinho said: "Because of their heart, yes, but for quality we have enough good players." Having shaken each Terrier by the hand he left the field, arm round shoulders, with Peter Jackson, though they did not swap overcoats. The visitors were impressed.
They were also pleased. "We did not disgrace ourselves," said Jackson. "We've come to one of the best teams in the world and given them a game. We were on top for three minutes but then showed them too much respect."
Mourinho said: "Our pace went down and their self-belief came up in the second half."
Jackson, asked what he felt when they drew level, said: "We might have to get some expensive wine in." He has not got expensive players in. Jackson, sacked by a previous administration, before administration itself, was recalled in 2003. His entire squad cost less than Frank Lampard gets in a month.
Huddersfield have not won in seven league games since they beat Worcester in the second round, yet are still fifth in League One. Chelsea had won all six in that time. "This would have been our finest day," said Jackson. But their finest cup day remains at Stamford Bridge: they won the last final before Wembley there, in 1922. And they still have one more league title than Chelsea.
Chelsea won the last final at Wembley in 2000 and are keen to carry on where they left off. The builders are as likely as anyone to stop them. Mourinho does not play games to lose. Though he summoned seven rare starters, "the quality of players selected means there has to be a Chelsea win. If they cannot cope with this responsibility, they are here for nothing."
Several may worry. Robert Huth let his machismo run away with him, once forbearing to check Mark Hudson's welfare after his boot had laid him out with a bloodied head; Chelsea were one up. And Shaun Wright-Phillips has lost his way and confidence by inaction. England's purpose is not being well served there by Chelsea.
The ace in Mourinho's second hand was Lassana Diarra, a 20-year-old Frenchman making his first senior start in the holding role. "He's a bit like Claude Makelele but runs more and is like Michael Essien in attack," said Mourinho. He also tackles more fairly.
The manager may moan that Essien misses the two legs against Barcelona but his victims may miss a leg of their own. Diarra's nimbler athleticism has a safer appeal. He truly stood up to the plate.
Before Carlton Cole headed in as Phillip Senior had a junior moment in goal Diarra had shot from 25 yards and, overlapping in a slick one-two with Damien Duff, flicked a sitter into Wright-Phillips's stride that the winger blasted over, one of three he missed before half-time.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher, having tested Carlo Cudicini on 75 seconds, beat him on 75 minutes as Tom Clarke and Michael Collins found Wayne Bridge unsupported. Then Diarra, in his own half, sprang from a thicket, fed Arjen Robben and Jackson could forget about getting a set of Huddersfield shirts embroidered for Chelsea at the Galpharm Stadium. Mourinho resumed the smooth-coated air of an overdog.
Guardian Service
