Swindon 2-0

Independent:

Swindon 0 Chelsea 2

If Jose Mourinho's first spell in charge of Chelsea was synonymous with the era of the "untouchables", the theme since his return this summer has been more about the "undesirables".
Mourinho has never been shy in letting players know just who is not in his good books and there was an impressive cast list of victims for this Capital One Cup third-round tie. Chief protagonist was Juan Mata, Chelsea's Player of the Year as voted by the fans for the past two seasons, but surprisingly playing second fiddle to Oscar this term.
There were many other significant names playing a supporting role, including David Luiz, who was left out of the squad against Fulham at the weekend, and players who have seen little action at all, such as Michael Essien, Ryan Bertrand and Cesar Azpilicueta. This was their chance to prove a point in front of their harshest critic.
Mourinho admitted earlier in the week that he does not know what his best team is, so clearly some places in the first XI are still available. For the hosts, League One Swindon, it was an opportunity to add to the angst of these individuals and going into the game boasting a seven-month unbeaten home record certainly gave them cause for confidence.
As always in cup ties like this, the gulf in class on paper was vast. Chelsea made 10 changes to form their "B" team and yet it was worth around £185m in transfer fees. In contrast Swindon's starting XI cost £550,000 – just over three weeks' worth of Fernando Torres' wages.
For the opening quarter, it appeared as if the men in blue were failing their audition and Swindon were happy to capitalise. One strong tackle from Yaser Kasim demonstrated their hunger for the occasion and, unfortunately, brought a premature end to Marco van Ginkel's evening as he limped down the tunnel.
A nervous clearance straight into touch from debutant keeper Mark Schwarzer and a reckless casual back heel from Luiz sparked some sign of frustration from Mourinho on the sidelines. But there was too much quality on show for Chelsea to be subdued for long and it was Mata who typically provided the spark that had not only been missing on the night, but arguably for most of the season so far.
A sublime through ball for Torres put the striker in on goal and only a superb save from Wes Foderingham denied him. Just two minutes later, Foderingham made another fine stop from Mata, but the rebound ran kindly for Torres to stroke the ball into the empty net.
Torres, like Mata, has good reason to be upset, given that he is the only forward to have found the net for Chelsea this season and yet has also been left out in the cold following Samuel Eto'o's arrival. He also played a major part in Chelsea's second, setting up substitute Ramires, who was replaced at half-time by John Terry, to chip home neatly.
However a sloppy second-half showing, which included a Dany N'Guessan header for Swindon being ruled out for offside, may mean Mourinho will still call on the "A" team for the tougher test at Tottenham on Saturday.

Man of the match Torres.
Match rating 6/10.
Referee M Oliver (Northumberland).
Attendance 14,924.

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Guardian:

Chelsea's Fernando Torres starts destruction of Swindon Town ambitions

 Dominic Fifield at the County Ground

In the end a cast of Champions League and even World Cup winners, assembled at a cost of around £180m, eased beyond League One opposition although José Mourinho departed Wiltshire thinking less about what he had learned and more about what he had lost. Marco van Ginkel will undergo a scan on a potentially serious knee injury while Ramires is also doubtful for Saturday's trip to White Hart Lane. Progress came at a cost.
The Brazilian had replaced Van Ginkel, the youngster having collided with Alex Pritchard to limp from the fray within 10 minutes of the start. The coaching staff's initial assessment was pessimistic and his loss to potential ligament damage was compounded by that of Ramires at the interval, with the Brazilian suffering discomfort at the top of his thigh. "He'll be a major doubt for the Tottenham Hotspur game," confirmed the assistant first-team coach, Steve Holland. "So we've ended up with two potential casualties."
That represented unwelcome news on an evening that was supposed to be about swelling the manager's first-team options. Mourinho had billed this as an opportunity for those cast into the shadows to demand more time in the limelight and, albeit predictably, some of his more forward-thinking players excelled.
Juan Mata, on a third start under the Portuguese, will have enjoyed conjuring in the No10 role denied him in the first-choice lineup by Oscar, while Fernando Torres seared beyond his markers at times to score one goal and set up the other.
Yet those positives were rather dulled by the losses to injury, most likely leaving Frank Lampard and Mikel John Obi as starters at Spurs, with Swindon's refusal to wilt ensuring the contest ended more as an exercise in pragmatism. David Luiz was thrust into midfield to replace his compatriot and a disrupted back-line was occasionally undone by the home side's sprightly performance and reliant upon Chelsea's oldest debutant in Mark Schwarzer. The Australian's sure handling, denying Pritchard, Yaser Kasim and Dany N'Guessan, belied a man approaching his 41st birthday.
By then the game had been won with a couple of first-half goals, for all the home side's huff and puff thereafter, with Torres in particular having left the management possibly pondering his inclusion at White Hart Lane. The Spaniard had already benefited from one slipped pass from Mata, with Wes Foderingham summoning a fine reflex save, when Ramires' trademark leggy burst left Swindon defenders lunging in desperately. The Brazilian skipped eagerly across the penalty area then fed Mata. His shot was pushed away at full stretch by the goalkeeper, only for Torres to beat retreating markers to the ball and convert from a tight angle.
The £50m forward remains the only Chelsea striker to have registered this season, though it was the reminder that he can also supply when offered time and space that really took the breath away. His turn of pace and glorious pass for a rampaging Ramires moments later secured the win, the midfielder clipping over Foderingham to convert. "It's the speed at which they do everything, executing their passes and their runs," said the Swindon manager, Mark Cooper. "That's what gets them out of tight places and sets them apart."
Mata's display was encouraging in its own way, the staff quick to point to a tackle near the byline deep into stoppage time as evidence that the penny has dropped. "The message to all our attacking players from day one has been they need to contribute offensively in terms of production: making goals, scoring chances, being a threat, but also contributing out of possession and defending," said Holland.
"Juan's made Fernando's chance early on, was involved in the goal, and then in injury time he's conceded the final corner of the game supporting Ryan Bertrand at left-back, which is how he was all night.
"There's no such thing as a luxury player these days. You can perhaps carry a luxury player in certain fixtures, but not many. And at the business end in major trophies, playing Bayern Munich or Barcelona, you need 10 players who can all contribute out of possession.
"But we're very pleased with Juan's contribution, with and without the ball. Similarly, Fernando's scored, had two other good chances and worked very hard for the team all night. That's the standard we're looking for across every position."
Those constituted the positives. The rather slapdash nature of Willian's display, the loss of one young fringe player and the potential absence of a key midfielder at Spurs represented a grimmer reality.


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Mirror:

Swindon 0-2 Chelsea: Juan Mata and David Luiz star as Blues cruise into fourth round

Jose Mourinho was proved wrong by Juan Mata and David Luiz on Tuesday night.
The Chelsea boss had urged the pair to respond on the pitch after being dropped from the first team.
They did, showing they are too good not to be in Mourinho’s starting XI for more challenging competitions than this.
Fernando Torres and Ramires were the scorers but it was Mata who ran the show to ensure there was no giant-killing at the County Ground.
Mata and Luiz were recalled to a starting line-up which cost £182m even if a Capital One Cup tie against League One opposition felt a long way from Champions League nights.
Swindon quickly tried to make their mark and Marko Van Ginkel was forced off early on after heavy challenges in midfield. He was replaced by Ramires. But if Robins boss Mark Cooper hoped that might put the frighteners on Mourinho’s men he misjudged Mata’s determination to prove his point.
The brilliant Spaniard was instrumental for the Blues and was in the mood to show the Special One he should still be the main man at Stamford Bridge. Mata’s superb pass released Torres in the 27th minute but the striker was denied by keeper Wes Foderingham.
Two minutes later, Mata was again involved. This time he latched onto a Ramires pass and when Foderingham made another fine save, Torres tapped in the rebound.
Chelsea assistant first-team coach Steve Holland admitted he had been impressed by Mata on the night: "He made Fernando's chance and was involved in the goal. Those two moments - goal-making and goal-scoring actions.
"And then in injury time he's conceded the final corner of the game supporting Ryan Bertrand in the left-back spot, which is how he was all night."
"Tonight, for sure, we're very, very pleased with Juan's contribution with and without the ball."
Chelsea’s second came on 35 minutes when Torres produced a superb turn and drag back before playing in Ramires for a clinical finish.
Swindon could have given up hope but battled hard in the second half and Chelsea’s reserve keeper Mark Schwarzer made a brilliant point blank save from a Dany N’Guessan header.


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