Shrewsbury Town ... 0 Chelsea ... 4: Only one FA Cup tradition was honoured here. Disabused of the idea that they could be Chelsea's equals for a floodlit evening, Shrewsbury Town struggled through 90 disconsolate minutes before they savoured the warm applause of a crowd that knew there was nothing to fault in the Third Division team's participation in the fourth round. Kevin McCarra reports from Gay Meadows.
Chelsea were never in danger of suffering the embarrassment that is meant to lie in wait for affluent footballers visiting threadbare grounds.
Gianfranco Zola's technique and enthusiasm were solace enough for the crowd, illustrating in the most delightful manner the abyss that separates the clubs.
The Italian started the season by seeming to chase away a few of his 36 years. That could not last and he was without a goal in 13 appearances, but this was the perfect place to show that he had simply paused to rest.
His first goal came in the 40th minute, and the men around him reflected some of his adroitness.
Shrewsbury never got close to Claudio Ranieri's team.
The barriers they had erected in the Everton match were all dismantled here and their goalkeeper, Ian Dunbavin, was frequently the sole impediment to Chelsea.
Eidur Gudjohnsen could not run round him when through in the 17th minute, and, also before the interval, Frank Lampard was unable to volley past him from close range.
That was about the only second of frustration that the England midfielder had to endure.
Lampard was in such good form that Ranieri must have been scared that he would use up too much of it here, and he made way for Jody Morris as early as the 56th minute.
Chelsea were then 2-0 ahead but even when they had just Zola's opener to their name, the head coach was at one with the crowd in his conviction that the game was over.
Celestine Babayaro, booked for a foul on the swift Luke Rodgers and agitated thereafter, was prudently withdrawn at half-time.
Chelsea luxuriated in their superiority to the extent that the left-back's replacement was Carlton Cole, a forward who would soon score.
Shrewsbury's strikers never stood a chance of being as vivacious as they were against Everton, even if Nigel Jemson, during a tie where interest sometimes sagged, provided a little tension when lining up a free-kick. When he eventually drew an exciting save from Carlo Cudicini, though, Chelsea were 3-0 in front.
They had put themselves at ease when Emmanuel Petit's pass broke from Graeme Le Saux, as he was barged, and rolled helpfully into Zola's path for an elementary finish.
The veteran has a sunny disposition, but he might have rebelled if Ranieri had curtailed his contribution here. The coach was wise enough to settle back and enjoy a full 90-minute show from Zola.
After 53 minutes, he tricked Darren Moss and crossed for Cole to head home.
Having helped to end the contest, Zola earned the right to be impish. When Chelsea broke out after 75 minutes, Petit rolled the ball to him and he chipped Dunbavin for the third.
With 10 minutes to go, Jody Morris concluded the scoring with a left-footer from 20 yards. If he was trying to rival Zola, it was a rare moment of competition last night.
Guardian Service
SHREWSBURY: Dunbavin, Moss (Drysdale 76), Artell, Wilding, Smith, Jagielka (Lowe 58), Atkins (Murray 57), Jamie Tolley, Woan, Rodgers, Jemson. Subs Not Used: Kendall, Redmile.
CHELSEA: Cudicini, Melchiot, Gallas, Terry, Babayaro (Cole 46), Zenden, Lampard (Morris 56), Petit, Le Saux, Gudjohnsen (Gronkjaer 62), Zola. Subs Not Used: de Goey, Huth. Booked: Babayaro. Goals: Zola 40, Cole 53, Zola 75, Morris 80.
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
