BIRMINGHAM 0 CHELSEA 2: MATA'S THE SPECIAL ONE FOR DI MATTEO

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BIRMINGHAM 0 CHELSEA 2: MATA'S THE SPECIAL ONE FOR DI MATTEO

CHELSEA fans called for the Special One as they watched their side clinch a spot in the last eight.

With sacked Andre Villas-Boas’ seat still warm, the travelling supporters chanted for the return of Jose Mourinho.


Second-half goals from Juan Mata and Raul Meireles saw them safely through to the quarter-finals and temporarily shone a ray of sunshine on the turmoil at the club.


The prospect of revered Real Madrid boss Mourinho makng a romantic return is one that clearly appeals following AVB’s disastrous nine months in charge.


The supporters also let owner Roman Abramovich know in no uncertain terms that former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez would not be a welcome move.


That sideshow apart, caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo had the more pressing business of trying to forget the carnage and steer the side to a home clash with Leicester on March 18.


And they were made to work all the way by plucky Brum.


Mata had threatened to break the deadlock in the 50th minute but was just stopped in his tracks by a terrific tackle from Pablo Ibanez.


But four minutes later the Spain star’s perseverance paid off as he eased the jitters and fired the increasingly-nervy Premier League side into the lead.


Birmingham were carved open down the right by Ramires, who caused mayhem in the home box with a low cross which reached Salomon Kalou.


For a moment, Kalou looked to be getting in his way, but Mata took over and fired a shot through a forest of defenders in front of the Chelsea fans.


It was just the tonic they needed and six minutes later a blistering shot from Meireles as good as put the tie beyond reach.


He blasted a drive into the roof of the net after great work from Ramires and Branislav Ivanovic to suddenly leave Brum deflated.


Chelsea even missed a penalty on 69 minutes, Colin Doyle saving Mata’s spot-kick after Fernando Torres had been bundled over by Guirane N’Daw.


Suddenly the Chelsea fans were chanting about the prospect of going to Wembley and a sunnier horizon.


Di Matteo made four changes from the side that lost just down the road at West Brom on Saturday – the result that sealed AVB’s fate.


Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Daniel Sturridge were all on the bench alongside surprise inclusion John Terry after he made a speedy recovery from knee surgery.


Birmingham had seven players out cup-tied or injured but ended up giving Chelsea plenty to think about.


They underlined that the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge was no fluke as they caused a string of problems early on.


Chelsea threw the first punch with Mata forcing Doyle to turn his deflected close-range shot around his left-hand post.


But after that the Championship side asked the most questions in a goalless but entertaining first half.


Nikola Zigic brought gasps from both sets of fans with an acrobatic 40th-minute header which forced Petr Cech to jackknife through the air to fingertip the ball out from underneath his bar.


Zigic then had to be patched up after being caught in the face by David Luiz’s boot which left him with blood pouring from a cut eye.


He showed his frustration with a reckless tackle which threatened to cut Gary Cahill in half and had the defender squaring up to him. The giant striker was booked but Chelsea knew that they were not going to be given an easy passage.


They came into the replay on the back of a dismal three wins in 12 matches which signalled the end for Villas-Boas.


When Torres screwed meekly wide, it summed up just how much they have gone off the rails, but Mata and Meireles gave them a happy ending.