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FA Cup Player Ratings: Chelsea 2-0 Stoke City
Lampard and Terry lead Blues on to another Wembley semi-final...
7 Mar 2010 17:56:00
By Alex Dimond
CHELSEA
Henrique Hilario - 6 - Nervous start from the newly-capped Portuguese international, understandable after his showing against Manchester City last weekend. Communication was occasionally poor but he made a few good punches and respectable saves in a sound defensive display.
Branislav Ivanovic - 6.5 - Gave his side width and good delivery from the right. Throw-in technique isn't quite the equal of Delap's, but gave the Englishman a good challenge, much to the delight of the crowd.
Alex - 8 - Showed great awareness of defensive dangers and made a number of important tackles and interceptions throughout the game. Relished the aerial challenges thrown at him and almost always came out on top. Very impressive.
John Terry - 7 - Dealt well with Delap's throw-ins, and an assist and goal to his credit must mean this goes down as a good afternoon for the under-fire captain. Still had a couple of nervy moments that underlined the fact he is still not quite at his best.
Paulo Ferreira - 6.5 - Understandably lacked the attacking incision of Ashley Cole or Yury Zhirkov, but nevertheless provided some decent crosses on his weaker foot. No frills, competent defensive display.
John Obi Mikel - 6.5 - Seems unsatisfied unless he has committed two or three pointless fouls in a match. Succeeded on that front today, but made one outstanding early goal-line clearance that really helped his side.
Frank Lampard - 7.5 - Was quiet in attack until his goal, a beautifully hit strike that deflected in via Faye. Had control of things in midfield from that point on.
Florent Malouda - 6.5 - Showed good trickery and attacking intent throughout, generally operating in a more central role than he has done in recent weeks.
Salomon Kalou - 6 - Showed poor positioning and awareness at times, but caused problems for his opponents at times without every making a really telling contribution.
Nicolas Anelka - 7 - Lively from the start, the Frenchman looked intent on ending what is becoming something of a goalscoring drought. Didn't succeed on that front, but that was through bad luck as much as judgement.
Didier Drogba - 6 - Didn't get the better of Huth as might have been expected. Went down on a number of occasions in the first half, a worrying sign for Blues fans. Was a nuisance without ever being particularly dangerous.
STOKE CITY
Thomas Sorensen - 6.5 - Made one good early save from Anelka, and denied Lampard with a good long range effort. Was unlucky for both goals as they came with the aid of late deflections, but was far from a stellar performance.
Andy Wilkinson - 6.5 - Made two vital goal-line deflections to deny Anelka and Alex in quick succession, but then nodded Terry's header over the helpless Sorensen for the decisive second goal. A mixed bag of an afternoon.
Abdoulaye Faye - 6 - Technically embarrassing at times, he had some good moments defensively and won a number of Delap throw-ins in the opposition box. Deflected Lampard's shot for the opening goal, and was turned inside out on a few occasions by the Chelsea attackers.
Robert Huth - 7.5 - Seemed to get the better of Drogba in an intriguing physical tussle. The former Chelsea man was uncompromising in the air in what was a generally impressive performance.
Danny Collins - 6.5 - Helped organise his side's early defensive resistance, but struggled to prevent Ivanovic, Anelka and Kalou causing him problems on different occasions.
Rory Delap - 6.5 - Throw-ins were, predictably, Stoke's most dangerous attacking option. Unfortunately at times his play with the ball at his feet didn't always live up to those high standards.
Dean Whitehead - 7 - Was robbed by Anelka early on for a chance that he was lucky to see go wide. Otherwise showed some good defensive awareness, and showed the most attacking intent of his fellow midfielders. Solid.
Glenn Whelan - 5.5 - Showed some diligence defensively, but was fairly anonymous throughout and an injury forced his substitution just before half-time.
Sanli Tuncay - 5 - Nothing really came off for the Turkish forward today, with an awful free-kick the highlight on a torrid afternoon. Unsurprisingly was withdrawn by his manager on the hour.
Mamady Sidibe - 6 - Won his fair share of balls in the air, something that no-doubt was key to Stoke's pre-match plan. But seemed unable to find his team-mates with his headers and was also removed from play around the hour mark.
Ricardo Fuller - 6 - Silent throughout, the Jamaican really didn't have a lot of service to work with. Never looked like scoring until he forced a smart late save from Hilario.
Substitutes
Danny Pugh - 6 - Early substitute for injured Whelan. Showed poor awareness at times with a number of silly passes, but got in good positions at times.
Liam Lawrence - 6.5 - Gave his side an injection of purpose in midfield, but that wasn't enough to spark a real response.
Dave Kitson - 6 - Suffered the same problems of the other Stoke attackers — a lack of service.
Henrique Hilario - 6 - Nervous start from the newly-capped Portuguese international, understandable after his showing against Manchester City last weekend. Communication was occasionally poor but he made a few good punches and respectable saves in a sound defensive display.
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Branislav Ivanovic - 6.5 - Gave his side width and good delivery from the right. Throw-in technique isn't quite the equal of Delap's, but gave the Englishman a good challenge, much to the delight of the crowd.
Alex - 8 - Showed great awareness of defensive dangers and made a number of important tackles and interceptions throughout the game. Relished the aerial challenges thrown at him and almost always came out on top. Very impressive.
John Terry - 7 - Dealt well with Delap's throw-ins, and an assist and goal to his credit must mean this goes down as a good afternoon for the under-fire captain. Still had a couple of nervy moments that underlined the fact he is still not quite at his best.
Paulo Ferreira - 6.5 - Understandably lacked the attacking incision of Ashley Cole or Yury Zhirkov, but nevertheless provided some decent crosses on his weaker foot. No frills, competent defensive display.
John Obi Mikel - 6.5 - Seems unsatisfied unless he has committed two or three pointless fouls in a match. Succeeded on that front today, but made one outstanding early goal-line clearance that really helped his side.
Frank Lampard - 7.5 - Was quiet in attack until his goal, a beautifully hit strike that deflected in via Faye. Had control of things in midfield from that point on.
Florent Malouda - 6.5 - Showed good trickery and attacking intent throughout, generally operating in a more central role than he has done in recent weeks.
Salomon Kalou - 6 - Showed poor positioning and awareness at times, but caused problems for his opponents at times without every making a really telling contribution.
Nicolas Anelka - 7 - Lively from the start, the Frenchman looked intent on ending what is becoming something of a goalscoring drought. Didn't succeed on that front, but that was through bad luck as much as judgement.
Didier Drogba - 6 - Didn't get the better of Huth as might have been expected. Went down on a number of occasions in the first half, a worrying sign for Blues fans. Was a nuisance without ever being particularly dangerous.
STOKE CITY
Thomas Sorensen - 6.5 - Made one good early save from Anelka, and denied Lampard with a good long range effort. Was unlucky for both goals as they came with the aid of late deflections, but was far from a stellar performance.
Andy Wilkinson - 6.5 - Made two vital goal-line deflections to deny Anelka and Alex in quick succession, but then nodded Terry's header over the helpless Sorensen for the decisive second goal. A mixed bag of an afternoon.
Abdoulaye Faye - 6 - Technically embarrassing at times, he had some good moments defensively and won a number of Delap throw-ins in the opposition box. Deflected Lampard's shot for the opening goal, and was turned inside out on a few occasions by the Chelsea attackers.
Robert Huth - 7.5 - Seemed to get the better of Drogba in an intriguing physical tussle. The former Chelsea man was uncompromising in the air in what was a generally impressive performance.
Danny Collins - 6.5 - Helped organise his side's early defensive resistance, but struggled to prevent Ivanovic, Anelka and Kalou causing him problems on different occasions.
Rory Delap - 6.5 - Throw-ins were, predictably, Stoke's most dangerous attacking option. Unfortunately at times his play with the ball at his feet didn't always live up to those high standards.
Dean Whitehead - 7 - Was robbed by Anelka early on for a chance that he was lucky to see go wide. Otherwise showed some good defensive awareness, and showed the most attacking intent of his fellow midfielders. Solid.
Glenn Whelan - 5.5 - Showed some diligence defensively, but was fairly anonymous throughout and an injury forced his substitution just before half-time.
Sanli Tuncay - 5 - Nothing really came off for the Turkish forward today, with an awful free-kick the highlight on a torrid afternoon. Unsurprisingly was withdrawn by his manager on the hour.
Mamady Sidibe - 6 - Won his fair share of balls in the air, something that no-doubt was key to Stoke's pre-match plan. But seemed unable to find his team-mates with his headers and was also removed from play around the hour mark.
Ricardo Fuller - 6 - Silent throughout, the Jamaican really didn't have a lot of service to work with. Never looked like scoring until he forced a smart late save from Hilario.
Substitutes
Danny Pugh - 6 - Early substitute for injured Whelan. Showed poor awareness at times with a number of silly passes, but got in good positions at times.
Liam Lawrence - 6.5 - Gave his side an injection of purpose in midfield, but that wasn't enough to spark a real response.
Dave Kitson - 6 - Suffered the same problems of the other Stoke attackers — a lack of service.
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