Steaua Bucharest 0-1

Independent:

Steaua Bucharest 1 Chelsea 0
Gloom for Rafa Benitez as Blues warm up for FA Cup quarter-final with European defeat
Matt Mcgeehan

Rafael Benitez's Chelsea suffered a lacklustre defeat to Steaua Bucharest in their Europa League last-16 first-leg clash at the National Arena.
In the first of two games in four days and the Blues' 50th game of a turbulent season, last season's Champions League winners went behind after 34 minutes when Ryan Bertrand was penalised for pulling back Raul Rusescu, who converted the spot-kick.
Just like Sunday's opponents Manchester United, Chelsea warmed up for the FA Cup quarter-final with a European defeat, but at least their rivals were defeated by Real Madrid. The result in the Romanian capital will only serve to increase the pressure on interim manager Benitez.
Chelsea began the season in contention for seven trophies and the Europa League is the unexpected eighth after their embarrassing Champions League group stage exit which prompted Benitez's unpopular appointment.
Two chances of silverware remain, but chief executive Ron Gourlay this week insisted a top-four place in the Barclays Premier League and Champions League football next term is the priority.
It is just as well as now they must beat United and overturn a deficit to Steaua in next week's return to keep their trophy hopes alive.
John Terry would not have expected to be playing a key role in the second-tier continental competition this term, but in Bucharest the captain was brought in as one of five changes to the side which beat West Brom.
Due to his recent fitness travails, it must be questionable if the skipper will start at Old Trafford, when the Blues bid to continue their FA Cup defence.
Terry was an unused substitute in Prague in the last round, something which sparked stories of dissatisfaction which were swiftly quashed before dressing room tensions resurfaced.
Steaua, 12 points clear domestically, had shown their ability by overcoming a first-leg deficit to beat Ajax on penalties and Chelsea needed to start better than in the previous round.
An expectant partisan crowd made Benitez feel at home, jeering every time Chelsea had possession as the hosts refused to be intimidated.
Scarcely did they have reason to boo as the hosts enjoyed far superior territory and possession, including three corners in the first 15 minutes and a tame shot wide from the impressive Alexandru Chipciu.
The Blues sat deep and were attempting to play on the counter-attack, with Oscar through the middle, Hazard on the left and Yossi Benayoun on the right behind lone front man Fernando Torres. However, they struggled to string three passes together on a bumpy pitch.
At one point Torres - targeted by a laser pen in the first half - latched on to Petr Cech's long clearance on the right flank, skipped by his marker on the byline, before tackling himself as he prepared to cross to his arriving team-mates.
Chelsea's first corner came after 24 minutes - with Branislav Ivanovic heading Frank Lampard's set-piece wide - and they threatened little in the 10 minutes that followed before going behind.
Left-back Iasmin Latovlevici, earmarked as a dangerman by Benitez on the eve of the match, crossed with the outside of his right foot towards Rusescu, whose attempts to reach the ball were thwarted by a pull from Bertrand.
Referee Sergey Karasev booked the left-back, playing in place of Ashley Cole, and Rusescu sent the resulting spot-kick under Cech.
The Blues were roused into action and had a chance for an equaliser within five minutes following neat interplay between Benayoun and Hazard, but the Israeli's shot was turned around the post by Ciprian Tatarusanu.
The goalkeeper saved a Torres effort on the turn and John Obi Mikel had to be alert to stop Chipciu on the counter, with the Blues exposed.
Time and again the hosts troubled the Blues early in the second period, with David Luiz and Terry forced into some last-ditch interceptions.
A lofted Lampard pass would not drop for Torres in the area, before Juan Mata replaced Benayoun with Chelsea in desperate need of a spark.
Hazard volleyed over after a hopeful Lampard cross fell to him at the back post before the ineffective Belgian was replaced by Marko Marin, the only forward option remaining on the Blues bench.
Tatarusanu saved from Marin after he cut inside on to his right foot and Luiz fired a 30-yard free-kick over soon after.
Terry's brief role as an auxiliary striker ended when he committed a foul challenging the goalkeeper - and he finished the contest on the defensive.

=============

Guardian:

Lacklustre Chelsea succumb to Steaua Bucharest's first-half penalty
Dominic Fifield at the Arena Nationala

Europe was supposed to set Rafael Benítez apart but at present it is merely adding to his angst. Chelsea were beaten again here and must now turn over a deficit in next week's return leg in London if they are to force passage beyond Steaua Bucharest into the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Recovery is not beyond them in the tie but, with a wounded Manchester United to come on Sunday and their own confidence bruised, a pervading sense of anxiety persists.
Nothing has been simple about this traumatic season, so perhaps this latest setback was partly to be expected. The reigning European champions rarely imposed themselves on an occasion that cried out for dynamism, their urgency reserved for the period just after they had conceded the game's only goal and then, later, as Steaua retreated in on themselves. Benítez pointed to the excellence of the home goalkeeper, Ciprian Tatarusanu, as evidence of dominance but, in truth, this was never impressive.
Rather Chelsea can appear jaded when games are drifting and the onus is on them to inject pace and creativity into a contest. They looked sluggish for periods, perhaps grateful that Steaua had not torn into them from the outset, but their own head of steam was belated and rather fitful. Tatarusanu denied the substitute Marko Marin at his near post, the German having been found wonderfully by John Terry's raking pass to the far side. But that, seven minutes from time, was as close as they came as they chased an equaliser late on. This was the 50th game of a slog of a season that has been accompanied by too many disappointments already. It felt too mundane, too nondescript, too familiar.
Even the sense of injustice at the award of the decisive penalty was half-hearted. The visitors had appeared relatively content in a mishmash of a goalless opening until the moment Iasmin Latovlevici found rare space down the left to fling over a fine cross towards Raul Rusescu, looming above Ryan Bertrand at the far post. The full-back, one of a quintet of changes from Saturday's victory over West Bromwich Albion, was panicked by the striker's presence and tugged him down as he sprang to connect, with the Russian official acknowledging the offence.
"It was a soft penalty to give with so many officials around the goal, but, if it was, why no red card? Strange," said Benítez. His opinion was echoed by his opposite number, Laurentiu Reghecampf. Steaua had prevailed against Ajax in the previous round on penalties, so there was no surprise that Rusescu thumped the spot-kick emphatically through Petr Cech's attempt to save, and the visitors were breached. Somewhere amid the vociferous home support, around 500 travelling supporters high up in the gods offered a collective snarl of frustration.
What chances the visitors created thereafter were battered away by Tatarusanu. Arguably the clearest came in the immediate aftermath of Rusescu's reward, Eden Hazard competing for a bouncing ball and, once he had controlled possession and with Steaua defenders complaining about his high boot, exchanging passes expertly with Yossi Benayoun. The Belgian's return liberated his team-mate with a clear sight of goal, only for Benayoun to scuff his shot from the edge of the area, allowing Tatarusanu to save at full stretch. The goalkeeper was not quite as irked by Fernando Torres' volley just before the break, even if the striker chiselled out the opportunity impressively to force a save at the near post. One of these days such an opportunity might actually fly in for him.
Yet this was more of the same for the Spaniard (pictured), all the huff and puff going unrewarded until it gave way to exasperation, his endeavour forever undermined by a heavy touch, an anxious delivery or, quite simply, a poor decision. The game had drifted past the hour when Frank Lampard's deliciously arced diagonal pass fell to him as he edged unopposed into the area. Yet where once he would have cushioned, spun and snapped off a shot at goal, he chose instead to lay the ball off into space at his back. Steaua gratefully scrambled it clear.
The forward's industry remains but his bite is blunt to the tune of one goal in 18 matches. He had been targeted by a fan with a laser during the first half – how he must have wished the local could have used it to direct him towards goal – and his body language had taken on a familiar defeatist look by the end. Chelsea must hope it does not rub off on others.
What positives that could be gleaned centred on Terry's strong performance – the captain will hope he has proved he can feature at Manchester United on Sunday, even if the recent trend is to deny him two outings within a few days – as well as the reality that Steaua did not add further to their lead."We know these ties can be more difficult if you do not score in the away game, so we have to do everything in the home match," added Benítez. "We are disappointed but we still have the belief we can go through. As for Sunday [in the FA Cup], that is another challenge." That will be game 51 of a season that remains trying.

=================

Telegraph:
Steaua Bucharest 1 Chelsea 0:
Paul Kelso

Chelsea’s season keeps getting harder. The European champions, whose defence ended earlier than any previous holders, are now in danger of dropping out of the booby prize early too.
A 1-0 first-leg defeat to Steaua Bucharest is not irreversible next week at Stamford Bridge, but to the players, manager and owner of a proud club it was another embarrassment in a chastening season.
It will also further test faith in Benitez, who rotated his squad ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Old Trafford, but against committed opponents backed by a fiercely partisan crowd found himself short of a cutting edge.
Benitez made five changes from the side that beat West Bromwich Albion last Saturday and saw two of them exposed. Steaua’s goal came courtesy of a penalty conceded by Ryan Bertrand, selected ahead of Ashley Cole, and Juan Mata’s replacement Yossi Benayoun failed to take Chelsea’s best chance of the game.
In a game of few clear chances on a poor pitch they were costly mistakes. Chelsea may not relish the Europa League but no one could accuse Steaua and their fans of not taking it seriously.
As Champions League winners, Chelsea have a target on their back, and by the end the 54,000 inside the National Arena were in raptures as their team did a lap of honour.
The exception was a knot of several hundred Chelsea fans who had no chance of making their displeasure heard above the din.
This result will not have changed their view of Benitez, but the other glaring flaw in this side, Fernando Torres, is not a problem of his making.
It is not news that Torres struggled to make an impact — he has now scored just once in 18 appearances - but it is barely credible that despite the millions at Chelsea’s disposal they have only two strikers, and only one eligible for this competition.
Benitez said that he had no regrets about making changes as his squad clocked up their 50th game of the season, and argued tenuously that the penalty award was harsh.
Bertrand was penalised after being caught on the wrong side of Raul Rusescu, and throwing his arm across the striker’s chest to block his attempt to get on the end of a cross.
Referee Sergey Karasev did not hesitate to award a penalty and a yellow-card, though there was a clear case for red, a point Steaua’s coach Laurentiu Reghecampf made after the game. Rusescu picked himself up and drilled the spot-kick confidently past Petr Cech’s right hand.
“I think it was a difficult game, a great atmosphere for them, and a soft penalty,” Benitez said. “Their goalkeeper made some good saves and, obviously, we have to do our best at Stamford Bridge.
"It will be difficult because they are well organised and are good on the counter-attack but we have to have confidence that we can do well at Stamford Bridge.”
He defended Bertrand, and said his side created the better of few chances: “Ryan was playing before, against Sparta Prague, and was doing really well.
“We didn’t create many chances ourselves, but they weren’t either. If you consider that Petr [Cech] wasn’t making any saves, it was their goalkeeper who was actually making the great saves.”
After narrowly overcoming Sparta Prague it was immediately obvious Chelsea faced a challenge of a different order here.
Tickets for the game sold out in five hours and the hostility was evident when Chelsea emerged for the warm-up with the stadium only a third full.
The atmosphere was revved up even more before kick-off as the giant screens showed highlights of Steaua’s win on penalties against Ajax in the last round, a warning of their quality.
Chelsea came under immediate pressure but gradually asserted themselves.
John Terry, restored to the team, and David Luiz were busy but effective in protecting Cech, and Chelsea had the home team at arm’s length when the first moment of genuine quality brought the goal. Benitez had identified full-back Iasmin Latovlevici as a threat before the game and his wonderful cross, fired in with the outside of his left foot, was enough to expose Bertrand.
Chelsea came close in the 38th minute when Ciprian Tatarusanu saved well from Benayoun whose rolled finish was accurate but lacked the pace to beat the goalkeeper.
With Chelsea struggling as an attacking force, Benitez inevitably called on Mata with 25 minutes to go, and then Marko Marin for Hazard.
It almost did the trick. Marin worked an opening in the 82nd minute, cutting inside Latovlevici. His shot from a narrow angle was firm but straight at Tatarusanu. David Luiz came close with a free-kick from 35 yards shortly afterwards but it dipped over the bar, on a similar trajectory to Chelsea’s season.

===============

Mail:

Steaua Bucharest 1 Chelsea 0: Rusescu's penalty ensures defeat No 13 to leave Blues facing Europa League exit

By MATT BARLOW

Rafa Benitez can cling to the idea Chelsea might win this competition, but here was defeat No 13 of the season to enhance the feeling that this is a campaign drifting towards an inevitable end under its interim manager.
On they go to Manchester United on Sunday in their favourite competition, but the FA Cup holders could be out of everything by this time next week — and at least that would put them out of their misery.
Here they were beaten by a spirited if limited Steaua Bucharest team who celebrated wildly after securing the first-leg lead with a first-half penalty from Raul  Rusescu following a foul by Ryan Bertrand, and might have won by more.
Benitez made his customary five changes to the team but showed no hint of regret about it and, in fairness, it was ultimately a strikeforce worth more than £100million which failed to score an away goal in Romania.
‘We are disappointed but we still have the belief we can do it at home,’ said Benitez.
This is true. This time last year, Chelsea were reversing a 3-1 defeat in Napoli in the Champions League but they are not the same team. They look deflated and mentally tired after the 50th game of another intense, emotional and complicated season. Steaua in contrast are on an upward curve, back on top of Romanian football after a barren spell.
Twelve points clear at the top of the league, closing in on their first domestic title since 2006 and flying the flag abroad, as they did when they won the European Cup in 1986, they performed a full lap of honour at the end.
Having beaten Ajax in the last round, there was a sense of giddiness about Chelsea coming to town, typified by the club’s eccentric owner Gigi Becali, who said he was hoping to see Roman Abramovich and compare suits.
Becali did indeed look very smart as he beamed down from the posh seats.
But Abramovich was not in Bucharest. The Stamford Bridge board members have become a little less visible in recent weeks, although technical director Michael Emenalo did make the trip.  Perhaps it was as well the majority missed this one,
Steaua were hungry and energetic, quick to each ball and roared on by a noisy crowd firmly up for the occasion.
The home team coped better than Chelsea with a heavy surface, controlling the game for long periods, without really troubling Petr Cech too often.
Cech was well protected by central defenders John Terry and David Luiz — the best players in blue shirts.
Unusually, Terry played on the right, not his preferred left, another clue that his influence may be fading. The captain produced a strong display, but it was Ashley Cole’s absence which was keenly felt in the 34th minute.
Bertrand has been very dependable when he has been asked to step in, never more than when he started in the Champions League final in Munich, but there was a hint of inexperience about the penalty the 23-year-old conceded.
Rusescu managed to wriggle past  Bertrand and was goal-side of the left back as Steaua’s Iasmin Latovlevici teased in a splendid cross from the right with the outside of his left foot.
Bertrand tried to recover, dropping an arm across Rusescu’s shoulder and this was all the encouragement needed for the striker to collapse.  As Russian referee Sergei Karasev awarded the penalty it was hard to escape the feeling Cole would not have fallen into the same trap.
It was ‘harsh’ according to Benitez but, having been judged to have hauled down Rusescu as he was about to nod the ball into the net, Bertrand was  fortunate not to be sent off. Rusescu  converted his spot-kick for his 23rd goal of the season and Chelsea responded well, forcing goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu into action for the first time as half-time loomed.
Tatarusanu saved to his right from Yossi Benayoun’s low drive and to his left from Fernando Torres, but the  danger was evident. As Chelsea started to search for an away goal Steaua were more dangerous on the counter-attack.
John Mikel Obi made a timely tackle in his own penalty area to end one such break and Cristian Tanase smashed a volley wide after the interval when he ought to have hit the target.
Torres, as is his way these days, toiled hard. Signs of strength and admirable industry were blended in with poor  control and heavy-legged dashes.
One moment summed it up, when a ball landed at his feet, in a central  position, just inside the penalty area.
With keeper Tatarusanu exposed, it begged to be hit at goal, but Torres cushioned it back towards his own goal in the hope someone might be there to shoot. No-one was.
Benitez threw on Juan Mata and Marko Marin. An away goal would have transformed the mood but a Marin effort was saved and Luiz’s 25-yard  free-kick went wide.
It is a seventh defeat in 29 games for Benitez, but at least it was so noisy it was impossible to hear the Chelsea fans making their feelings known.
Steaua: Tatarusanu, Rapa, Szukala, Chiriches, Latovlevici, Bourceanu, Pintilii (Prepelita 58), Popa, Chipciu, Tanase (Tatu 82), Rusescu(Gardos 90).

Subs not used: Stanca, Filip, Iancu, Adi.
Booked: Pintili.
Goals: Rusesco (pen) 34.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Bertrand, Lampard, Mikel, Benayoun (Mata 64), Oscar, Hazard (Marin 75), Torres.

Subs not used: Turnbull, Cole, Ferreira, Cahill, Azpilicueta.
Booked: Bertrand, Mikel.

Referee: Sergei Karasev (Russia)

=================

Sun:

Mark Irwin

A WORD of warning for all our Romanian chums queuing up to come to Britain in the New Year — not everyone gets £180,000 a week for doing nothing.
Only Fernando Torres.

It is not difficult to understand why the good people of Bucharest think we are such a soft touch when they see an underachiever like Torres being so spectacularly rewarded.
So it worth pointing out the £50million Chelsea striker is not part of our benefits culture and does have a job.
He just does not do it very often.
In his two-and-a-bit years on the Chelsea payroll, Torres has ‘earned’ somewhere in the region of £19m for the square route of eff all.
In his defence, the tax he has paid on that fortune has probably bankrolled an NHS hospital or two.
But he has also contributed to the unemployment figures by bringing about the sacking of three Chelsea managers who were unable to squeeze a decent performance from Roman Abramovich’s pet project.
Now Rafa Benitez is heading for the dole queue after failing to rekindle the confidence of the player he turned into a superstar at Liverpool.
For, after an encouraging burst of form following Benitez’s appointment as interim manager in November, Torres has quickly reverted to type.
His only goal since Christmas came against League One Brentford and although he tried to claim the Ramires shot that brushed in off his back at Middlesbrough last week, even Benitez was not giving him that one.
He was only playing last night because Demba Ba is ineligible for the Europa League and Chelsea do not have any other strikers in their squad.
And it is a fair bet that when they head to Old Trafford for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final, Torres will be back on the subs’ bench.
For if Chelsea had been carrying any kind of goal threat in Bucharest they would not now be facing elimination from their SEVENTH different competition of the season.
It was a year ago on Monday Andre Villas-Boas was sacked and a team seemingly in chaos engineered the most unexpected finale to a season in its history... it is very hard to see a similar turn-around this time.
In their 50th game of the season, it was all Chelsea could do to give themselves a fighting chance of salvaging this tie next Thursday at the Bridge. With a 54,000 sell-out crowd whistling every Chelsea touch, this was always going to be a real test of character for Benitez’s players.
So it was a good thing they had Euro veterans John Terry and Frank Lampard to steady their nerves.
For while Steaua were able to dominate in terms of possession, they could rarely find the final pass to seriously threaten Petr Cech’s goal.
The runaway Romanian league leaders overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit to beat Ajax on penalties in the previous round and were clearly no mugs. But there was a steely determination about much of Chelsea’s play which suggested that, maybe, they are treating the Europa League seriously.
Branislav Ivanovic had the chance to head them into a 24th-minute lead but nodded wide from Lampard’s corner.
Just when it was starting to look like Chelsea were taking control, they were caught out in the 34th minute.
Iasmin Latovlevici’s cross found Ryan Bertrand isolated on the wrong side of Raul Rusescu inside the six-yard box and as he tried to retrieve the situation he pulled the striker to the ground. Rusescu’s penalty was hard and low and even though Cech went the right way he could not get a strong enough touch to keep it out.
Chelsea could have been level within four minutes when Eden Hazard’s pass presented Yossi Benayoun with time and space in the area.
His precise shot was heading for the bottom corner but lacked the power to beat keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu.
They had another chance just before half-time when Torres’ shot on the turn was pushed behind.
Marko Marin was also denied by Tatarusanu late on but by then Chelsea were happy to get to the whistle with just a one-goal deficit to salvage.

DREAM TEAM STAR MAN - JOHN TERRY (Chelsea)

CHELSEA: Cech 6, Ivanovic 7, Luiz 7, Terry 8, Bertrand 5, Benayoun 5, Mikel 6, Oscar 6, Lampard 7, E Hazard 6, Torres 5. Subs: Mata (Benayoun 65) 6, Marin (Hazard 75) 6. Not used: Turnbull, Cole, Cahill, Ferreira, Azpilicueta. Booked: Bertrand, Mikel.

STEAUA: Tatarusanu, Rapa, Szukala, Chiriches, Latovlevici, Bourceanu, Pintilii (Prepelita 58), Popa, Chipciu, Tanase (Tatu 82), Rusescu (Gardos 90). Not used: Stanca, Filip, Iancu, Adi. Booked: Pintilii.
REF: S Karasev (Rus) 7.

===================

West Bromwich Albion 1-0

Independent:

Chelsea 1 West Bromwich Albion 0
Narrow win leaves Rafael Benitez tense... but not past tense

Steve Tongue

Historically, Chelsea teams have rarely made things easy and they did not do so for either their manager or a divided crowd here yesterday. Promising beginnings and a goal tapped in by Demba Ba suggested West Bromwich Albion might be swept aside, but failure to score a second one spawned impatience and put the spotlight and pressure back on Rafa Benitez later on.

Those supporters apparently craving a defeat to hasten his exit became torn between that and wanting Frank Lampard to acquire his 200th goal for the club, which would be only two behind Bobby Tambling's club record. Neither outcome materialised, just a vaguely satisfactory victory that carried the team into third place before Tottenham's derby against Arsenal this afternoon. Assuming Benitez is given more time – and no assumption carries any degree of certainty at this club – he must now negotiate two games with Steaua Bucharest, the clear leaders of the Romanian League, an FA Cup tie at Old Trafford next Sunday, and then the continuation of a favourable run of fixtures that should keep Chelsea in the running for a top four finish.
Defeats by Albion hastened the downfall of the two previous Chelsea managers, Roberto di Matteo and Andre Villas-Boas – the latter a year ago today. Those games were both at the Hawthorns where Chelsea have recently struggled, although Stamford Bridge has never been a successful hunting ground for yesterday's visitors, whose last League success here was as long ago as 1978. Another one would have been undeserved, for they could easily have been three goals behind at half-time before threatening only late in the game to capitalise on the increasing tension around the ground.
With their leading scorer Romelu Lukaku unable to play against his parent club, Shane Long was flying solo in attack and found that a demanding assignment against Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz. In the end Petr Cech needed to make two saves all afternoon, both from direct free-kicks. "When you're only one goal behind you've always got a chance," said the West Bromwich manager Steve Clarke, a far more popular figure here than Benitez after 12 years as a player and eight as coach. His disappointment and complaint yesterday was: "We went to sleep at a set-play."
Benitez picked Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata, much as Di Matteo had often done, and their interchanging and interpassing in the first hour at least was often a delight. Half a dozen chances materialised before the interval and Albion would have been beyond salvation but for some good work by their goalkeeper Ben Foster, who has made himself available for England again and was being watched by his former West Bromwich manager Roy Hodgson. Early on he saved at close range as Ba crossed for Oscar; the Brazilian then set up Mata to volley wide before a goal arrived to settle the crowd and the team for a while.
Luiz had won a corner with a fierce free-kick that Foster just managed to turn round a post after a deflection. From the short corner between Lampard and Oscar to which Albion were slow to react, Oscar's deep cross was headed back by Luiz for Ba to tap in. Mata was just wide after more incisive passing, and after Oscar's volley from a corner – looking like another smart training ground move – was blocked, so were shots from Mata and Cesar Azpilicueta from a move involving all three of Chelsea's midfield musketeers.
Amid this domination, Albion's only threat was Steven Reid's 25‑yard free-kick in the sixth minute, turned over the bar by Cech. There was nothing else from the visitors until a similar effort by their own controversial figure, Peter Odemwingie, in that uncomfortable last 10 minutes. His shot was dipping under the bar until Cech turned it for another corner, from which he was almost beaten by a misplaced header from his own full back Azpilicueta.
What Chelsea had needed was a goal round the hour-mark to avoid any tension. It was promised; Lampard was denied his 200th goal because Mata was rightly given offside, and when Jonas Olsson bundled into Hazard no penalty was given, offering Benitez the chance for some theatrics.
So impatience spread and the chants with it, the most hostile of them countered by support for the team, though never the manager. Fernando Torres received an equally mixed reception, coming on for the last three minutes, by which time Oscar had missed two more chances to calm everyone down.

=======================

Observer:

Demba Ba sees Chelsea to victory over West Bromwich Albion
Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge

A smattering of homemade cardboard placards were hoisted up in the stands here, with one banner, that looked as if it had even been professionally produced, draped from the top tier of the Shed End, to accompany the usual choruses of disdain directed at the dug-out. And yet, as Jonas Olsson skewed the visitors' final opportunity high and wide to prompt the final whistle, Rafael Benítez could actually reflect with relative satisfaction upon an afternoon that had felt destined to be fraught.
Chelsea had eased beyond West Bromwich Albion, a side who have made a habit of guillotining the London club's managers in recent times, and restored themselves to third in the league, if potentially for only 24 hours. All the points Benítez had made in his monologue at Middlesbrough in midweek, and reiterated again on the eve of this game, still stand. His team did look nervous in the latter stages when anxiety reared again in the stands, and there were periods when the crowd had seemed preoccupied in condemning his presence. But the home support always counter-balanced that abuse with hollered support for their team.
This, if anything, ended up as a relatively measured protest at his stewardship, with the locals ever conscious that the home players – some of whom have proved rather too fragile this term – need reminding of their backing. "The fans, today, were behind the team, the atmosphere was very positive," said Benítez. "The players played good football. Everybody was happy. I was really pleased with the fans getting behind the team, and the players played with more confidence. It was clear it was very positive." His point has been made, the message now demanding focus on the 10 league games that remain.
Privately he could not have been oblivious to the abuse that was flung his way. The bellowed command to "Stand up if you hate Rafa", or the reminders that "You're just an interim" flared whenever the game drifted. He was booed loudly when he picked up a ball that had dribbled over the touchline into his technical area and returned it to César Azpilicueta. Yet, even if he smarts at the indignity to which he is being subjected, the Spaniard might just grudgingly put up with those catcalls if his side impress. This was a third league win in seven matches, and was timely given that on Sunday the sides closest to his own collide at White Hart Lane. This weekend was an opportunity to make up some ground.
They could be grateful for West Brom's lack of ambition. If Chelsea had been vulnerable and there for the taking in the build-up, with John Terry again on the bench having featured in midweek, they could actually ease themselves into the fray as the visitors sat deep and rarely encroached themselves into enemy territory. This was an exercise in possession football for long periods, and it was only in the last 10 minutes that Steve Clarke's side really strived for a reward of their own. Peter Odemwingie, who came on just after the hour mark with the travelling support largely accepting of his involvement, forced Petr Cech to turn over a free-kick from distance. From the resultant corner, the goalkeeper reacted smartly to push away Azpilicueta's inadvertent flick. Yet those were still isolated ripostes amid Chelsea's composure on the ball. The scoreline hardly reflected the hosts' authority.
Their attacking trio of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and, in particular, Oscar dazzled in spells, the young Brazilian's touch a delight with this display maintaining his own impressive recent form. He might have scored in the opening attack, Ben Foster pushing away a shot from point-blank range with the goalkeeper later well positioned to gather Oscar's close-range header and crunched volley. Roy Hodgson was watching here and will have been warmed by Foster's display, the 29-year-old now available again for England and surely in contention for the squad to confront San Marino and Montenegro, to be announced on Thursday week. His shot-stopping caught the eye all afternoon. "He's probably made Roy happy, even if he's given him a nice problem to deal with," said Clarke.
Even so, he was partly at fault for the contest's only goal. Frank Lampard and Oscar exchanged passes at a corner just before the half-hour mark, the Brazilian swinging over a centre to the far post that Foster misjudged with David Luiz nodding back into the six-yard box. Demba Ba side-footed into the unguarded net to register a first goal since mid-January and Chelsea had their lead.
Space proved elusive thereafter, Olsson and Liam Ridgewell blocking shots smartly and Foster redeeming himself with a succession of fine saves. Perhaps a second goal would have served as a distraction for the crowd. Instead, the meandering and one-sided nature of so much of the game invited attention to refocus on the manager patrolling his technical area, the chants invariably starting up in the lower tier of the Matthew Harding stand and drifting round to be echoed in the Shed End.
Had West Brom equalised then it might have degenerated into the poisonous frenzy that had been anticipated, but the polite applause that greeted the final whistle rather summed up an odd occasion. "It's a good win," said Benítez. "We've still got 10 league games to play, a long race, and we're in a good position. We still feel we can do well."
Did he have a message for the fans who will travel to Steaua Bucharest for Thursday's Europa League last-16 tie? "That I enjoyed today's game," he said. Given what might have ensued, to see him depart the stadium with a smile was remarkable.

==================

Telegraph:

Chelsea 1 West Bromwich Albion 0
By Jason Burt, Stamford Bridge

This was tame rather than toxic; there was no Bridge of bile for Rafael Benítez. The protests were there but not everywhere. They were frequent but they were not sustained. Even some of the banners appeared half-hearted: “Divided we fall: Rafa out”, “The Interim One” and “Rafa Benitez: we’re just not that 'In-Ter-Im’”. Quite.
There were chants, of course, for Jose Mourinho, some choice words aimed at Benítez – who was booed when he touched the ball to retrieve it for a throw-in – but the 'interim manager’ has had far rougher rides than this in recent times. And far rougher rides on this touchline. An imploration to “stand up if you hate Rafa” fell largely on deaf ears.
It helped that West Bromwich Albion were equally tame – until they scented that an improbable draw could be gained in the final quarter after Chelsea spurned a host of chances that their fine inter-play had earned. Oscar was tricky and bright but profligate; Juan Mata sublime; Eden Hazard dangerous as the talented triumvirate pulled the strings behind Demba Ba, who scored the only goal and provided a much-needed cutting edge.
Nothing short of victory could have been contemplated and it lifted Chelsea back into third place. A draw or, perish the thought, defeat and Benítez may well have not lasted the weekend. But then he did not expect to take charge of this game after his outburst aimed at the fans – and the club, despite his subsequent attempts to deny otherwise – following the FA Cup win away to Middlesbrough on Wednesday.
Benítez had expected to be sacked at the training ground on Thursday and while his future at the club remains highly fluid – would he be able to survive a bad performance away to Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League on Thursday or a heavy FA Cup defeat to Manchester United next Sunday? – the intention right now, as of last night (although it is probably worth an hourly check), is to keep him in place until his contract expires at the end of the season. Probably.
Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, was not here but he will have been told about the performance and the lack of protests and having considered whether to pull the plug on Benítez, right now it appears the Russian billionaire will wait.
Maybe, most likely, it is simply the lack of a viable alternative for the rest of the season and there does not now appear to be much support to bring back Avram Grant, who has been under consideration and crossing his fingers.
Post-match and Benítez took the predictable but still curious approach of attempting to almost air-brush what he had said out of history.
Asked whether the Mourinho chants hurt – and there is no love lost between the pair – Benítez replied: “The main thing was they were behind the team. I was thinking about Demba Ba scoring the goal.”
Did Benítez regret what he said on Wednesday? “Where are we now?” he replied. “We are in a press conference after a game we’ve won with a lot of good football and confidence, let’s enjoy it.” And on it predictably went.
Of course, it helped his cause and his polite bullishness that Chelsea had won. Goodness knows what he could and would have said had that not been the case although there does also appear to be a gathering storm with John Terry once again confined to the sidelines despite being fully fit. That is one to watch.
The chanting started two minutes in but soon Chelsea were racking up chances: Oscar weakly steered Ba’s cross straight at Ben Foster, Mata volleyed across goal and Oscar headed straight at the West Brom goalkeeper before Ba struck. From a corner, Frank Lampard and Oscar exchanged passes and the latter crossed deeply for David Luiz to head back from the far post. Ba swept the ball home.
There was no reaction from Benítez but it brought home relief. There was a superb volley from Oscar, which was blocked, while Foster hacked away Ba’s improvised back-heel. Oscar then spurned another chance – this time his volley, from Ba’s header into his path, was well held by Foster as Hazard ran in. Soon after a low shot from Oscar was also held by Foster, who has declared his interest in returning to international football and will have impressed the watching England manager Roy Hodgson.
But then it was Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech who was being tested. “We stayed in the game until the last minute but we could not get the clear-cut chance,” lamented West Brom head coach Steve Clarke, who will have rued the absence of the ineligible loanee from Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku.
Having tipped over Steven Reid’s powerful first-half free-kick Cech was not called into action until he had to push over another free-kick, this time from substitute Peter Odemwingie. Then he did even better in beating the ball away from point-blank range after César Azpilicueta had inadvertently directed a corner at him. It would have been an own goal: and Chelsea have scored enough of those already of late. Did Benítez have a message for the fans? “I enjoyed today’s game,” he said.

=======================

Mail:

Chelsea 1 West Brom 0: Benitez smiles on as Ba boosts Blues against back drop of boos and banners
By Patrick Collins

After the traumas of the past week, the mood of Rafa Benitez was difficult to predict last night. Some looked for remorse and regret, others anticipated dignified defiance.
But nobody was prepared for the sight of Chelsea's interim manager tap-dancing through a stream of leading questions with a wide smile and a twinkle in his eye.

'I am really pleased with the way the fans got behind the team … the players are confident, they're playing very good football … the game was fantastic … everybody was happy … I'm trying to enjoy today.'
The more pointed the question, the more bland was his answer. I doubt that he knows too much about cricket, yet he has perfected the patient art of playing the ball back to the bowler.
So assured was his performance that we could almost persuade ourselves that we had not heard the chants which blared out inside the first four minutes: 'F*** off, Benitez. We'll sing what we want.'

And the drone of 'Jo -say! Jo -say!' the Shed's homage to the poseur over the water.
And since we never heard those insults, then we could not have seen the placards, few in number but crude in tone: 'Not Wanted, Never Wanted, RAFA Out' and 'The Interim One', along with the cliché of the mock-up P45.
Clumsy efforts all, apparently created by the same, unsteady hand.
Benitez treated them all with the same mocking disdain.
He had said his piece up at Middlesbrough, now he wanted to move on; whatever the fans or the media might feel. And nothing would deflect him from his strategy.
In truth, Rafa was almost the only person at Stamford Bridge who appeared fully immersed in the match. Chelsea were rather better than adequate.
Some of their approach play was swiftly resourceful, while talents such as Oscar and Juan Mata offered more than their share of beguiling moments.
When they performed at pace, particularly in the first half, it was easy to see what a formidable side they may become.
Albion, by contrast, were disappointing; a level or so below their real capabilities.
Had Ben Foster not delivered a master class in goal - offering a host of new reasons why the England manager, Roy Hodgson, will take renewed notice - then the beating might have been quite severe.

He announced himself after four minutes, when he responded with dramatic urgency to Oscar's firm touch on a cross; setting out his intentions in spectacular fashion.
Two minutes later, Steve Reid struck a violent free-kick and saw it tipped aside by Petr Cech, more evidence that goals might be hard to come by.

In 16 minutes, the home crowd launched into their own selfconscious tribute to the departed Roberto Di Matteo.
Benitez appeared not to notice, which must have been infuriating.
Chelsea had taken a degree of command with their thoughtful inventions, and in 27 minutes Foster was required to make another fine save when a Luiz freekick was deflected.

From the corner, Frank Lampard and Oscar swapped passes, Oscar lifted an incisive ball to the far post, from where the ebullient Luiz headed it back and Demba Ba bundled it in.
Briefly, Benitez was forgotten as the crowd celebrated the important break.
But normal service was depressingly resumed when he fielded a loose ball and the jeers erupted with bovine predictability.

Important blocks from Jonas Olsson and Liam Ridgewell prevented further misfortune for Albion, but the pattern had been set and already the match was Chelsea's to lose.
They might have had a penalty on the hour, when Olsson appeared to nudge Eden Hazard but the Chelsea man went down too readily and the claim was ignored.
The arrival of Peter Odemwingie - who is, in some curious fashion, a legend in West London - introduced more attacking possibilities for Albion. But his most hostile effort came in the form of a free-kick eight minutes from time, wonderfully saved by Cech.
All this time, Chelsea captain John Terry remained on the bench, utterly ignored by his manager.
He has apparently made his displeasure known a time or two, but Benitez remains impervious to his pressure.

Indeed, a cynic might suggest Rafa was making his point when he called Terry to warm up with three minutes remaining. And then decided against bringing him on.
Later, he was at pains to deny any disapproval of Terry, but his explanation lacked real conviction: 'Normally we have seven players on the bench. He was very much available, but you have to manage the team,' he smiled, like a man who did not expect to be believed.
Few and far between: West Brom had littel to shout about, though goalkeeper Ben Foster did try something special in the closing minutes, while Petr Cech was forced into one uncomfortable save in the first half

The chants he endured through to the end, but they too lacked conviction.
For, in the course of his brief tenure at Stamford Bridge, this was one of the better days that the Chelsea manager has known.
When it was over, one observer put it neatly into perspective: 'Interim, interim, they've all got it in fer 'im,' he remarked. It was an elegant line.
Had he heard it, Rafa Benitez would have smiled again.

=========

Mirror:
Chelsea 1-0 West Brom: Ba winner doesn't silence the boo boys on banner day at the Bridge
Matt Law

Rafa Benitez is determined not to go with a whimper.
As the Stamford Bridge faithful sang “Stand up if you hate Rafa”, Benitez rose from the home dugout.
He might be the interim and they might not be that into him, but Benitez seems intent on facing up to the hate mob for as long as he is still at Chelsea.
And a goal from Demba Ba at least ensured a chaotic week off the pitch ended with a second win on it.
It also meant Benitez did not become the third Chelsea boss in succession to be beaten by West Brom.
Andre Villas-Boas was sacked almost a year to the day after defeat at The Hawthorns and a 2-1 loss there proved to be Roberto Di Matteo’s final league game in charge.
It remains to be seen how long Benitez now lasts, but he is going to do things his way until the inevitable happens.
There was certainly no pandering to the fans in his team selection, as Benitez once again left captain John Terry on the bench.
The only thing Chelsea supporters probably agreed with Benitez over was his decision to also axe Fernando Torres and it paid dividends. Ba scored his first goal since January 16 and it was enough to help Chelsea climb back to third place in the Premier League – for 24 hours at least.
Despite the expected hostile reception for Benitez, Chelsea started brightly and squandered a wonderful fourth-minute chance.
Oscar pounced on a Ba cross from the right and Ben Foster produced a wonderful reflex save.
Goalkeeper Foster has made himself available for England again and was watched from the stands by Roy Hodgson and new FA director of elite development Dan Ashworth.
Brazilian Oscar was once again guilty of squandering a good opportunity when he headed straight at Foster from Juan Mata’s cross. And the former Manchester United keeper did brilliantly to keep out a David Luiz free-kick. But Chelsea managed to break the deadlock in the 28th minute with a goal that Foster could have prevented.
Oscar collected the ball from Frank Lampard and lofted a high cross over the head of Foster to the back post. Luiz headed the ball back across the six-yard box and Ba swept it into the net.
Chelsea were dominant in the first half and should have at least doubled their advantage. Mata fired wide and Oscar had a shot blocked by Jonas Olsson before Liam Ridgewell stopped Cesar Azpilicueta’s follow-up.
The Chelsea fans rotated anti-Benitez songs with pro-club chants and started singing for former boss Jose Mourinho in the second half.
West Brom’s travelling supporters at least proved they are willing to forgive and possibly forget, as they clapped Peter Odemwingie when he was sent on as a substitute.
Odemwingie, of course, had already familiarised himself with West London after driving to QPR in January, only to see a move to Chelsea’s neighbours fall through.
Before Odemwingie’s introduction, Chelsea had threatened to increase their lead and felt they should have been awarded a penalty on the hour.
Eden Hazard broke into the area and went down under Olsson’s challenge, but referee Kevin Friend ignored the home appeals and replays showed that he was correct.
Odemwingie, though, gave the Baggies a fresh impetus and the visitors almost snatched a draw with a free-kick that Petr Cech tipped over the bar.
From the resulting corner, Azpilicueta headed dangerously at his own goal but, again, Cech kept the ball out.
Unlike Benitez, former Chelsea defender and assistant manager Steve Clarke was cheered by the Blues fans.
“I’ve been back to Stamford Bridge numerous times and they’re always good to me,” said the Baggies boss.
“I’m always pleased they remember me. I was 12 years here as a player and eight as a coach.”


================

Sun:
Chelsea 1 West Brom 0

RAF JUSTICE ... Benitez picked up three points but had to endure more chants from the Chelsea faithful

By ROB BEASLEY

HATE Rafa. Love Chelsea. Boo Benitez. Back the Blues.

It was that sort of schizophrenic atmosphere at the Bridge of Troubled Waiters.

OK, it was not the venomous, bear pit that many had predicted.

But the Blues fans were still united in proclaiming their passion for their club loud and clear. And their disdain for the Interim One at every other opportunity.

Yes, there was more cheering than jeering. But there was no mistaking the intensity of feeling against the beleaguered Blues boss — dubbed a ‘fat Spanish waiter’.

“Divided we fall #Rafaout” read one banner. Another said “We’re just not inter im” — a dig at his midweek rant about his job title.

But the protests were understated rather than over the top. When the home side’s temporary manager walked out, he almost went unnoticed by supporters too busy chanting for Chelsea than bothering about the man they call ‘Beneathus’. In stark contrast, there was a huge cheer from all sides for West Brom boss Steve Clarke, 12 years a Chelsea player and Jose Mourinho’s right-hand man in the glory days.

Of course, the Special One’s name was sung — more than once — and there was no doubt who the fans want to replace the unwanted one in the summer.
But, for now, they are stuck with Benitez. And they cannot stand him.

“You’re not wanted here. . . Rafa Benitez, you’re not wanted here!” they cried.

“Stand up if you hate Rafa!” was next — and plenty did.

“You know what you are, you what you are. . . interim manager, you know what you are!”

Then a chorus of “We don’t care about Rafa, he don’t care about us!” And whenever reviled Rafa even moved he was on the receiving end.

The first time he walked out into the technical area the boos came in an instant. Once, when he tried — and failed — to catch the ball on the touchline, there were more jeers.

In the second half, when he did actually gather the ball, the fans even cut short their favourite “Jose Mourinho” song to boo him.

But to say it was a sustained targeting would be wrong. The anti-Benitez blasts were sandwiched between bellowed support for the team.

And the mood was further complicated as Chelsea actually started really well — despite Benitez’s claims that the dissent was affecting his players. As early as the fourth minute Demba Ba’s cross picked out Oscar in the box but his drilled, left-foot shot was beaten out by Ben Foster. The equally impressive Juan Mata then blazed a left-foot volley just past a post.

But it was not all one-way traffic as Petr Cech was forced to touch over a thunderous long-range free-kick from Steven Reid.

Oscar really should have scored with a close-range header after 16 minutes but was again denied by Foster.

That was the spark for a rendition of “One Di Matteo” in homage to Chelsea’s former interim manager — the one who won the Champions League and FA Cup with that job title and did not moan once!
Ba then fired a left-foot shot at Foster, who was being kept busy without being truly tested.

But the Albion keeper — watched by England boss Roy Hodgson after making a U-turn on his decision to quit Three Lions duty — was alert enough to make a fine reaction save as David Luiz’s deflected free-kick headed for the top corner.

However, the breakthrough was only seconds away as Frank Lampard’s 28th-minute corner fell to Oscar. He crossed to the far post where Luiz nodded it back across for Ba to convert his 17th of the season, his fourth for Chelsea.

The Bridge celebrated but not Benitez. He sat there emotionless, scribbling a few notes.

Chelsea were good value for their half-time lead but were nowhere near as fluent after the interval.

Lampard did have the ball in the net early on for what would have been his 200th Chelsea goal, but provider Mata was offside.

Ba was then crowded out as he tried to backheel a second. And on the hour, Hazard screamed for a penalty when he was bundled over by West Brom skipper Jonas Olsson. But referee Kevin Friend was right to ignore him.

Foster saved well from a rasping right-footer by Oscar, who then dribbled through to see a low shot pushed beyond the far post with 10 minutes to go.

West Brom decided to go for it, although Isaiah Brown — looking to become the Premier League’s youngest player at 16 years and 54 days — was left on the bench.

Cech had to arch back to turn over sub Peter Odemwingie’s fierce free-kick. He then beat out a point-blank header from home defender Cesar Azpilicueta.

The keeper smothered another Odemwingie effort at his near post before surviving one last, desperate attempt from the visitors as Foster went up for a corner.

And he almost got on the end of it in a huge goalmouth scramble that Chelsea were happy to clear and the fans happy to cheer.

They were still cheering at the final whistle as Benitez headed smartly down the tunnel after a result that means he has won half of his league matches in charge.

And Rafa, that is still nothing to cheer about.

Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Hazard (Moses 80), Mata (Mikel 90), Oscar, Ba (Torres 87) Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Cahill, Terry, Bertrand.
Booked: Hazard.
Goals: Ba 28.
West Brom: Foster, Reid, Olsson, McAuley, Ridgewell, Yacob (Rosenberg 82), Mulumbu, Morrison, Dorrans (Thomas 71), Fortune (Odemwingie 62), Long. Subs Not Used: Myhill, Jones, Tamas, Isaiah Brown.
Booked: McAuley, Odemwingie.
Att: 41,548
Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

===============

Express:

Chelsea 1 - West Brom 0: Demba Ba bails out Benitez
WHILE Rafa Benitez ran another gauntlet of hate his Chelsea players moved back into the top three. But only just – and possibly for a mere 24 hours.

By: Colin Mafham

Demba Ba's goal was the difference

The beleaguered ‘interim’ boss lives to fight another day at least, but his Stamford Bridge baiters don’t look like giving up.
They made that patently clear yesterday.
How his players keep their minds on the job in this sort of climate, goodness only knows. But they managed it OK in the end, thanks to a first half goal from Demba Ba that was probably worth less than they deserved overall.
Chelsea basically ran the show, but in the face of some dogged resistance from Ben Foster – whose form in goal for the Baggies has suggested he may be ready to end his self-imposed England exile – they had to hang on grimly at the end for three precious points.
Given the hateful circumstances it was quite civilised to start with. Just one clever fans’ sign proclaiming “We’re Just Not Interhim” (get it?) for Benitez to ponder over.
In fact, the face of Steve Clarke told more as he returned to the scene of his former glories with an expression that indicated that, despite a warm reception from his old fans, it wasn’t a particularly happy one – for more reasons than the obvious one.
But both of them looked on the black side on 16 minutes when that applause and chants of “there’s only one Di Matteo” continued for at least 60 seconds.
And later came cries for Jose Mourinho.
Spiteful, hurtful, call it what you like, but it hardly inspired the Chelsea players to loftier heights. Let alone the interim manager!
But at least the Chelsea clouds had a silver lining just before the half hour – for Benitez at any rate.
Rafa Benitez was pleased with what he saw

Chelsea basically ran the show, but in the face of some dogged resistance from Ben Foster
The Spaniard’s lone signing, Demba Ba, got the opening goal. But you have to take your hat off to David Luiz, who was the key figure in the build up before he headed Oscar’s centre into the path of the Senagalese striker.
Clarke, who served under Mourinho and Avram Grant as assistant manager, must have been reasonably happy as well with Albion goalkeeper Foster, who marked his public willingness to return to the international fold with a couple of super early saves from Oscar and Luiz.
Mind you, Frank Lampard beat him twice within the first five minutes of the second half. Fortunately for the Baggies both efforts were ruled offside.
It gave you a good idea of the way things were going to go, though. And that Benitez wasn’t the only potential target!
The Baggies contingent offered only a polite greeting when Peter Odemwingie came on as a 61st minute substitute, although it looks as if they might have forgiven for trying to push through that deadline day move to QPR.
But then the Harding Stand brigade started up again up with chants of “f*** o** Benitez, we’ll sing what we want.” Only they know what they thought that would achieve.
In the meantime, Foster continued to do enough to catch the eye of Roy Hodgson with another crucial save from Lampard.
But for him the scoreline might have been rather different.
As a sudden late assault from West Brom put the fear of God in Chelsea for a nervous last five minutes and Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech had more work to do than he had in the previous 85 minutes put together.


====================

Star:

CHELSEA 1 - WEST BROM 0: BENITEZ LIVES TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY AS DEMBA STRIKES
By Tony Stenson

NOW Rafa Benitez must wait to see if the West Brom curse is lifted.
The last two Chelsea bosses have been fired after losing to the Baggies.
At least the man who hates to be called interim manager can boast a win.
Chelsea fans know what they want. Him out.
They spewed anger yesterday with ‘f***off Benitez, we know what we want’ banners ensuring he lived to regret the timing of his outburst at the club’s board and supporters in midweek.
But when they also chanted ‘stand up if you hate Rafa’ a majority replied with ‘Chelsea, Chelsea’.
These are truly crazy times at a club that lives off crazy days.
Andre Villas-Boas was first to go after a game with Albion, followed by Roberto Di Matteo, despite winning the FA Cup and Champions League.
Benitez must wait to discover if a goal from Demba Ba has bucked the trend and delayed his execution.
But in all honesty, his rallying cry in the wake of his rant failed to generate a positive reaction from his team and Chelsea’s disgruntled supporters.
He left out his favourite Fernando Torres and was rewarded by Ba opening the scoring, although the Spanish striker replaced him later. There were few positives after that.
Albion attacked well without a decent striker while Chelsea went through the gears without finding overdrive.
Their best efforts were usually blocked by Ben Foster, the keeper who once turned his back on England but now says he wants a recall. On this showing he could get it.
For Chelsea, Oscar was good, while Juan Mata showed why he should be a leading candidate for player of the year.
Otherwise it was a slog against a side managed by another former Chelsea favourite, Steve Clarke.
Foster made a superb save in the fourth minute from Oscar from a Ramires cross and brilliantly kept out a free-kick by David Luiz in the 28th minute.
But Foster could only palm the effort for the corner that led to the winner.
Frank Lampard picked out Luiz who headed the ball on for Ba to slot home from six yards.
Benitez knows that he is a dead man walking but said: “I am am still smiling.
“We were in control for 75 minutes, their keeper was man of the match.”
He left out John Terry again and added: “We have seven players on the bench and John was one.
“The team is doing well, I will keep working very hard.
“I was really pleased with the performance on the pitch.
“I have a contract until the end of the season, that’s the end of it.
“Do I regret saying what I said? Let’s just enjoy the win.
“The fans today were behind the team, very positive, the atmosphere was really good.
“Today everybody was happy, the players were playing good football.
“We got three points to get us into a good position in the table.”
Clarke, who got a great reception from the home crowd, said: “We thought we’d prepared well enough to get a positive result but we went to sleep on a set-play.
“I appreciated the applause for me. Chelsea fans are always good to me when I come back here.”

Middlesbrough 2-0

Independent:

Martin Hardy

Will an FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford be enough to unite the fragmented football club that is Chelsea? It is the latest question to emerge from a season of chaos. You would not bet on it, but then you would not bet on anything at Stamford Bridge right now.
Rafael Benitez has met vitriol whichever way he has turned since he succeeded Roberto Di Matteo as the interim manager. It will reach new levels against Manchester United in that sixth-round tie a week on Sunday – should he still be at the Bridge. Held in contempt by Sir Alex Ferguson, loathed for his association with Liverpool by the United supporters, Benitez will be the loneliest man in football that afternoon when he walks along the touchline, still believing he can emerge from the mess of a season with silverware.
It remains possible, following this relatively comfortable victory against a Middlesbrough side struggling for form and confidence in the Championship. Perhaps Monday's exchange at Chelsea's Cobham training ground, where Benitez questioned attitude, will be a turning point. For the remainder of his tenure, he has three months to either squeeze the side into the top four of the Premier League, or land the FA Cup or Europa League. If he does that, his CV will feel refreshed.
Either way, for Chelsea supporters, not much has changed. Benitez never had anything to gain with them and they will be allowed to fly flags on Saturday to condemn their own manager when West Bromwich Albion, led by former Chelsea favourite Steve Clarke, arrive at Stamford Bridge.
Despite eight changes to the Chelsea team that lost at Manchester City, Middlesbrough, with one win and one draw from their previous nine games in the Championship, were last night still facing a side that cost Roman Abramovich £125m to assemble. They are staggering figures, but the team was weaker for the changes, so much so that by half-time the best opportunity had come the way of the home side.
John Terry had been restored to the heart of the Chelsea defence and it was into this area that Nicky Bailey aimed an outswinging cross in the 26th minute – following good work by Faris Haroun – but Scott McDonald headed wide. That came four minutes after the struggling Fernando Torres had shot tamely at Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele.
That was as near as Steele came to a save in the first half. Petr Cech was a similarly unused figure for large spells of that first 45 minutes.
It was Torres, however, who scored Chelsea's first goal six minutes into the second half. After Yossi Benayoun had laid the ball off to the edge of the Middlesbrough penalty area, Ramires shot goalwards and the ball deflected in off Torres, the Spaniard knowing little about it.
Torres could have really boosted his flagging reputation just before the hour when he beat the offside trap but with space and time was closed down and his shot deflected for a corner.
Eden Hazard's introduction added an edge to the visitors. In the 72nd minute he took a pass from Ramires and quickly curled a shot narrowly wide of Steele's goal.
Seconds later he created Chelsea's second goal. Hazard was released by a clever Oscar back-heel and squared the ball to Victor Moses, who tapped home from close range. It looked simple, even if nothing at Chelsea is.

Man of the match Ramires.
Match rating 4/10.
Referee M Atkinson (West Yorkshire).
Attendance 27,856.
Sixth round draw
Saturday 9 March  Everton v Wigan (12.45pm, ITV); Manchester City v Barnsley
(5.30pm, ESPN)
Sunday 10 March  Millwall v Blackburn (2pm, ESPN); Manchester United v Middlesbrough (4.30pm, ITV)

=================

Guardian:

Chelsea ease past Middlesbrough to reach FA Cup quarter-finals
Louise Taylor at the Riverside Stadium

For a while it seemed as if Rafael Benítez's players feared Middlesbrough's home was armed with hidden tripwires destined to leave them lying flat on their faces.
Eventually, though, an initially tentative Chelsea had the measure of Tony Mowbray's impressive team, booking an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford as it became clear that the only genuine Hazard on the pitch was their very own Eden.
Hazard, an influential second–half substitute – who says Benítez cannot do anything right? – helped create the second goal for Victor Moses after Ramires fired a half-volley beyond Jason Steele via Fernando Torres's shoulder.
They played highlights of Middlesbrough's 3-0 Premier League win over José Mourinho's Chelsea from 2006 throughout the stadium concourses before kick‑off and Boro's hopes of repeating that feat in an FA Cup context were bolstered by the visitors' team-sheet. Nathan Ake made his first start for the visitors, Paulo Ferreira began a game for the first time this season and Yossi Benayoun started his first match in blue since May 2011.
With Demba Ba on the bench, Fernando Torres was deployed as Chelsea's lone striker and George Friend, Boro's left-back, would have presumably been quick to dispute suggestions that the Spaniard has lost his speed. Creditably, despite being out-paced by the Spaniard on several occasions Friend, a £100,000 signing from Doncaster last summer, seemed well up for the challenge, making one splendid sliding tackle on the £50m forward which may have prevented a goal.
André Bikey did even better to block Oscar's shot following Victor Moses's cross but with Bikey and his fellow centre-half Stephen McManus taking turns to thwart Torres, Chelsea's early monopoly of possession was unproductive.
The promising Ake began well with Ramires, comfortably controlling midfield, but Mowbray's players began condensing the space around them, curbing that deep-lying pair's room for manoeuvre.
Even more encouragingly from the Boro manager's viewpoint his players were beginning to break slickly, with one such counterattack concluding with Scott McDonald meeting Nicky Bailey's cross before directing a header a yard wide. Benítez cannot have been overjoyed to see McDonald lose Ferreira with consummate ease.
Soon afterwards Bikey hobbled off, perhaps injuring himself with a kick aimed at Torres's bottom, but Seb Hines's introduction failed to interrupt Boro's improvement. Or Chelsea's temporary regression.
Mowbray's team might have taken the lead when Mustapha Carayol deceived Ferreira courtesy of a nifty switch of feet before unleashing a venomous shot from the edge of the area which Petr Cech could only parry. Happily for Chelsea, John Terry was on hand to clear the rebound before any home player could pounce.
Not only had Boro enjoyed the better openings but, amazingly, Steele was not required to make a significant save throughout the entire first half. Almost imperceptibly players such as Rhys Williams, Grant Leadbitter and Faris Haroun had relaxed into a passing groove sufficiently incisive to possibly prompt the odd Chelsea counterpart to remember their names. "We had a go," said a sanguine Mowbray. "For 50 minutes we had the better chances."
Few neutrals would have believed that Boro had lost seven of their previous nine Championship games, winning only one during a dismal sequences which threatens their promotion hopes.
Mowbray's team tend to struggle during Jonathan Woodgate's regular injury induced absences but despite being without their key defender and best player, here they looked reasonably assured.
Or at least they did until the 51st minute when Oscar crossed and after finding his path to goal blocked, Benayoun nudged the ball back to Ramires. The midfielder's half volley from the edge of the area was helped on its journey into the back of the net by a deflection off Torres. "I think Fernando was trying to get out of the way," said Mowbray, clearly a subscriber to the school that Torres should not claim it as only a second goal in his past 16 games. More significantly, Benítez's players had regained control and Hazard, on in place of Benayoun, curled a shot about a foot wide.
His introduction was to prove inspired, unsettling Boro's previous composure. He helped created his side's second goal by playing a one-two with Oscar culminating in a feint and square pass to Moses, who shot Chelsea into the sixth round.
Any creative tensions between Benítez and his players would fade into insignificance if the Spaniard comes face to face with Sir Alex Ferguson in the next round, but there is no guarantee the Spaniard will be there to do so now.

=================

Telegraph:

Henry Winter

Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 2

Rafael Benítez won a game and then probably lost his job. Half an hour after guiding his team through to an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United,Chelsea's interim manager unleashed all his pent-up anger over his precarious “interim” position, making his role even more precarious. Chelsea and Benítez was never a sensible marriage and a decree nisi surely awaits.
Maybe Benítez sensed the end of his ill-fated Chelsea sojourn was nigh anyway. Maybe he could not care any more. So he castigated those Chelsea fans who constantly disparage him, the 1,895 who last night sang “we don’t care about Rafa; he don’t care about us; all we care for; is Chelsea FC”. Benitez insisted it was a “group” with an agenda.
First mistake.
Those berating him loudly last night were the travelling support, those who spend small fortunes traipsing around the country, the continent and this season the world. The most loyal. The most passionate. The faithful. Anyway, back at the Bridge, the hard-core following’s views are shared by the majority. Benítez was never wanted.
A good, trophy-winning coach in his time at Valencia and Liverpool, Benítez was always a strange appointment at the Bridge because of his past comments about Chelsea fans. Even if those words, notably about their “stupid plastic flags”, have been taken out of context and spiced with more conjecture down the years it was still a gamble by the Chelsea board.
Roberto Di Matteo had led Chelsea to the Champions League and FA Cup, was admittedly enduring a few travails, but did not deserve dismissal. Following a contentiously-sacked fans’ favourite was always going to be difficult for Benítez. Chelsea fans have been denigrated for not accepting Benítez but it is their club, their obsession. They are censured by other clubs’ supporters for lacking passion, for being “plastic”. Yet their reaction to Benítez reflected the emotion they feel for Chelsea, and their anger over a perceived slight. They do not forget.
As he sat in the Middlesbrough press room, in front of an advertising hoarding for a chain of fish and chip restaurants, Benítez continued with what sounded to his stunned audience as a farewell speech. He criticised the board for making his job title “interim”, signalling his short-term status at the Bridge.
Second mistake.
Never bite the hand that feeds. Roman Abramovich, Chelsea’s benefactor, is hardly going to be impressed by an employee questioning him.
Benítez was accompanied by Chelsea’s director of communications, Steve Atkins, but the Spaniard seemed very isolated. The man who never walked alone at Anfield was without succour or assistance here. He talked and talked himself further and further towards the exit door.
In truth, Benítez always has been alone at Chelsea. The players do not seem to have responded to him. He lost the final of the Fifa Club World Cup in Yokohama, a bauble that Abramovich craved. Chelsea have slipped to fourth in the Premier League, he had an “exchange of opinions” with senior players at Cobham but insisted the players were behind him. Too true. Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole were certainly behind him, sitting on the bench, as Benítez rotated.
There were echoes of Andre Villas-Boas’ decision to put Lampard and Cole on the bench in Naples last season.
This worked out better. Poor before the break, Chelsea improved markedly in the second half, a reality that will lead to inevitable speculation over who spoke the most stirring words in the dressing room at the interval, Benítez or possibly John Terry.
Chelsea emerged a far more assertive force after the break. Oscar wriggled in from the right, clipping in a cross that was controlled by Yossi Benayoun, who worked the ball away from Nicky Bailey and Seb Hines. Ramires took charge. His shot took a substantial deflection off Fernando Torres, who was credited with the goal by the Riverside announcer. Torres seemed lifted by this apparent windfall. He fired in a shot that Jason Steele pushed away. Then he ran into the box on the hour but was dispossessed far too easily by George Friend, who strolled away with the ball until fouled by Torres.
Benítez had seen enough of Benayoun, removing him after his involvement in the goal and replacing him with Eden Hazard.
Tony Mowbray also made a change, withdrawing Curtis Main, who had worked hard but could not outwit Terry. Ishmael Miller came on to partner Scott McDonald.
Chelsea were building towards a second goal. Hazard was the catalyst, running towards the Boro box, exchanging passes with Oscar and continuing into the area. Oscar’s return was accurate, allowing Hazard to square the ball across for Moses to apply the coup de grace.
Chelsea were now in control. Oscar scampered forward and stroked a low shot just wide.
Hazard had made a real difference, playing with confidence. As the Chelsea fans continued to sing their dislike of Benítez, the Spaniard continued to make his changes.
David Luiz came on for the excellent Moses. Oscar was then rested with 10 minutes remaining and Marko Marin given a run-out. Boro refused to go out of the Cup meekly. Merouane Zemmama hit a free-kick that Petr Cech saved low to his right. Then Grant Leadbitter swung over a corner, Cech missed the flight but Hines headed wide.
Miller volleyed left-footed over. Boro still pushed for a consolation. Miller was denied by Cech and Zemmama shot wide but it was too little, too late. Chelsea won and their fans saluted the team warmly, while continuing to castigate Benítez. Chelsea had a good 45 but it is a possible P45 that will be debated on Thursday.


================

Mail:

Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 2: No win for Benitez but Blues edge through to United tie

By COLIN YOUNG

Rafa Benitez was thrown a gentle lob and threw back a smile, a shrug and an honest answer.
‘Who scored the first goal?’ he was asked.
‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘They were asking me in the dressing room and we will look at the video and decide.’
He might not now.
After the dust had settled on the discussion about who scored the opening goal in Chelsea’s win over Middlesbrough, which was claimed by Fernando Torres, like all good or bad strikers, Benitez stunned the packed room at the Riverside.
He shifted seamlessly into a rant which took in ‘a group of Chelsea supporters’ and, more significantly, Roman Abramovich, although the owner was not named.
Victory over Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough was secured with a second goal from Victor Moses after Ramires’s seventh goal of the season, which Torres tried to claim as his 16th when the Brazilian’s shot hit the Spaniard’s shoulder on its way in, had put Chelsea ahead.
But it may not be enough to save Benitez after his stunning attack on supporters who had chanted ‘we don’t care about Rafa’ for large periods of a tepid and unimpressive performance from a side which had eight changes to the one beaten at Manchester City.
Eden Hazard, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Demba Ba and former Middlesbrough keeper Ross  Turnbull were among those on the bench, John Terry was recalled as captain, Nathan Ake made his debut and Paulo Ferreira appeared for the first time since May.
Benitez, who earlier in the week claimed his players were behind him, signed the team sheet — then probably signed his Chelsea death warrant with the kind of outburst which cost him his job at Inter Milan.
He has the worst win percentage of any of Abramovich’s managers at 52 per cent compared to Jose  Mourinho at 70 per cent and Roberto Di Matteo, the man he replaced, at 63 per cent.
He was fortunate his Chelsea reign didn’t end in defeat as his team could have been behind before half-time.
They managed just one shot on target in the first half — a weak Torres effort which underlined his determination to claim his second goal in 1,130 minutes of action.
Boro finished with 12 shots to Chelsea’s eight but it was Scott McDonald’s header that might have changed the night.
Fine work in the corner from Faris Haroun helped create the chance and the Belgian winger, one of a number of Boro players just back from injury, cleverly danced past Ryan Bertrand and Yossi Benayoun to find Nicky Bailey standing unmarked. The former Charlton midfielder, filling in for Stuart Parnaby at right back, delivered a pinpoint cross which former Celtic striker McDonald headed wide.
On the other flank, Mustapha Carayol caught Petr Cech by surprise with a bouncing shot from distance which hit the Chelsea keeper’s chest and bounced away from McDonald so Terry could clear.
The damage was done to Middlesbrough’s hopes of an FA Cup shock with that shot from Ramires just six minutes into the second half.
Ferreira marked his rare appearance with a deep cross into the penalty area, where Benayoun, another player handed a rare opportunity by Benitez, cleverly played the ball back to Ramires on the edge of the box.
The Brazilian midfielder’s rising shot took a deflection through the crowd to put it out of the reach of keeper Jason Steele, who was at full stretch as it flew into the top corner.
Torres emerged indicating the ball had hit his shoulder and Boro’s stadium announcer Mark Page duly credited the striker with the goal.
Chelsea then dominated after the introduction of Hazard, who almost marked his return to action 10  minutes later with a goal from a delightful curling effort which flew only just wide.
Within seconds, however, the  Belgian supplied Moses for the  second goal from close range, seizing on a lovely back heel from Oscar to slide the ball for Moses to tap into an empty net.
There were 27,856 at the Riverside Stadium, a brief reminder of what used to be on Teesside and an incentive for Tony Mowbray’s side ahead of Saturday’s promotion clash against Championship leaders Cardiff.
Mowbray said: ‘An atmosphere helps footballers, the Riverside has a Premier League feel to it and we did ok. But you look at Hazard coming off the bench and the quality of the second goal and we have no complaints. We gave it a go and it was a good lesson.’
But it wasn’t Mowbray’s post-match comments which mattered. The damage had already been done by the time he walked into the press room.

=================

Mirror:

The final curtain: Rafa Benitez sees Chelsea earn FA Cup trip to Old Trafford
Martin Lipton

Not quite the proverbial goal "in off his backside" but pretty close to it.
No matter how little he knew about it, Fernando Torres will claim the strike that ended a run of just one in 16 matches, even if the prize of a trip to Old Trafford in the last eight is hardly a game Chelsea will feel confident about.
But for Torres, now a £50million Aunt Sally for the majority of Chelsea fans, a goal is a goal. For Rafa Benitez, a win is a win, especially one that was easy enough in the end.
And while this struggle to overcome yet more modest FA Cup opposition was hardly conclusive proof that the Blues dressing room is "100 per cent behind" the interim manager, the job was done.
Not with a swagger or with authority. Chelsea are no longer - it seems - the team that once travelled anywhere with impregnability drilled into its essence, even if substitute Eden Hazard galvanised the Blues.
Fortunately for Benitez, neither are Tony Mowbray's side currently anything like the team which was top of the Championship as Chelsea were preparing to ditch Roberto Di Matteo in November.
In the end, Torres' lucky strike - he was not even looking at the Ramires shot that ended up, via an inadvertent deflection, in the Boro net - followed by a poke home by Victor Moses after great work by Hazard settled a dull, dour, dire affair.
Just as it should have been. Despite naming a team which saw a first start for Nathan Ake, a first this season for Paulo Ferreira and a first for the club since May 2011 for Yossi Benayoun, Chelsea had no excuses for anything other than victory.
Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas Boas and Di Matteo have all been sacked in the gap between Israeli's starts although there have been stouter characters for Benitez to place his faith in.
Chelsea, though, even this unfamiliar version, began well, Moses terrifying left-back George Friend, Oscar probing, Ake making a good impression and the comfort blanket of John Terry.
Yet the initial spell, which should have brought a goal from Oscar, shooting horribly weakly after Moses' turn of pace killed Friend on half-way, was deceptive.
Before that, Moses and then Benayoun had failed to make contact as the ball whizzed across Jason Steele's box.
For too much of the time, though, Torres was looking like....well, like Torres, ineffective and lightweight, his early shot - the only one Chelsea got on target in a desperate opening half, little more than a back-pass for Steele to collect.
Ake aside, Chelsea were woeful at best and Boro began to sense something special.
Scott McDonald had their first chance, missing the target with a header from George Bailey's cross - from 10 yards out, he should have done better - and even Petr Cech, such a model of Chelsea consistency, had a wobble.
Cech's poor clearance, four minutes from the break, allowed winger Mustapha Carayol to cut in from the left flank and let fly, the ball bouncing off the keeper with nobody in red there to profit.
Not entirely worth the long haul up to Teesside for the modest band of Chelsea fans, although their journey was rewarded six minutes after the break.
Moses and Oscar combined down the right, Benayoun was crowded out but the half deflection allowed Ramires to take aim.
To the naked eye, it was the Brazilian's goal, with the aid of a huge deflection. Closer inspection, though, confirmed the ball hit Torres' back to beat Steele.
After his recent drought, the Spaniard was always going to claim it and he had a chance for another soon afterwards, springing the offside trap but seeing his rising shot tipped over.
It needed the introduction of Hazard, though, to really spark Chelsea into life.
The Belgian was inches wide from the edge of the box after receiving from Ramires and seconds later tore through the home defence, spurning the chance to go for glory to provide Moses with the tap-in that wrapped it up.
Oscar, dribbling through a rapidly-tiring home defence, was close to a third and while Mowbray's men had a few half-chances at the end, the game was dead.
So were Boro. Rafa, though, lives to fight another day.

How they rated:

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Steele 6; Bailey 7, McManus 7, Bikey 6 (Hines, 37, 6), Friend 6; Haroun 5, Williams 6, Leadbitter 7, Carayol 7 (Zemmama, 74, 6); McDonald 7, Main 6 (Miller, 62, 6)

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 6; Ferreira 5, Ivanovic 6,Terry 6, Bertrand 6; Ramires 7, Ake 7; Moses 7 (Luiz, 76, 6), Oscar 6 (Marin, 80, 6), Benayoun 5 (Hazard, 58, 7); Torres 5

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Man of the Match: Moses - always offered a spark

=============

Sun:
Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 2
Mark Irwin

RAFA BENITEZ effectively signed his own Chelsea death warrant after declaring war on the fans who hate him and the board who appointed him.
The Spaniard’s patience finally snapped as he suffered another bucketload of abuse from the travelling supporters who have made his life a misery.
But it was his astonishing broadside at the decision-makers who named him ‘interim’ manager which has finished him off.
For no other boss during owner Roman Abramovich’s 10-year reign at Stamford Bridge has ever dared to deliver such criticism of the way the club is run.
Benitez insisted he will be off at the end of the season no matter what.
But it will be a miracle if he is still in charge for Saturday’s game against West Brom after his outburst.
And even taking the club through to the last eight of the FA Cup will not be enough to save his bacon now.
Benitez has been in charge for just over three months but it must already feel like a lifetime.
And all that pent-up frustration exploded last night.
The final straw came as the 1,895 Blues fans hailed the win with yet another burst of that old classic ‘F*** off Benitez, you’re not wanted here’.
And it seems the message has finally permeated the thickest skin in football.
At least it looks like he is going out on a win after Fernando Torres deflected Ramires’ goalbound 51st-minute strike into the net off his back, before a Victor Moses tap-in from Eden Hazard’s pass across goal sealed a trip to Manchester United a week on Sunday.
But those goals were soon rendered immaterial as Benitez made his way to the Riverside Press room.
Many at the club suspected the seething Spaniard had gone loco before this match even started when they saw his teamsheet.
Because among the eight changes to the side beaten at Manchester City on Sunday were Nathan Ake, Yossi Benayoun and Paulo Ferreira, all making their first Chelsea starts of the season.
For Ake, 18, it was his first senior start after one minute as a stoppage-time substitute on Boxing Day.
But his selection was trumped by Benayoun, whose last start in May 2011 was THREE managers ago.
At least they had John Terry back to lead them out after Monday’s training-ground row with Benitez — and this was just the sort of test the frustrated skipper needed to prove his fitness.
They also had Torres back up front, although that did not appear to be such a popular decision with the disgruntled Chelsea fans.
With only one goal in his previous 15 appearances — against League One Brentford — this was the ideal chance for the £50million Spaniard to improve his strike-rate.
But nothing is straightforward for Torres, whose body language told the tale of a man who wanted to be anywhere but Teesside last night.
Chelsea’s malaise even spread to the normally dependable Petr Cech, who spilled a routine low shot from Mustapha Carayol in the 38th minute and was fortunate that Terry was on hand to hoof the loose ball clear.
Whatever Benitez said during the interval clearly had an effect and, within six minutes of the restart, his team were finally ahead.
Oscar’s cross from the right was only partially cleared and though Benayoun was unable to bring the ball down for a shot, he managed to tee it up for the incoming Ramires.
The Brazilian’s rising drive was probably heading for the top corner without Torres’ deflection.
Seven minutes later, Torres could have got on the scoresheet himself when he got behind a square Boro back four — but his rising shot flew over with the help of a touch off keeper Jason Steele.
Moses’ tap-in made that one immaterial as Chelsea secured a trouble-free passage through.
Yet even if they go on to lift the old trophy at Wembley in May, Benitez will not be there to join the Blues party.

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

STAR MAN - VICTOR MOSES(Chelsea)
Chelsea: Cech 6, Ferreira 6, Ivanovic 6, Terry 7, Bertrand 6, Moses 7, Ramires 6, Oscar 6, Ake 7, Benayoun 5, Torres 5. Subs: Hazard (Benayoun 58) 7, Luiz (Moses 76) 5 Marin (Oscar 79) 5. Not used: Turnbull, Cole, Lampard, Ba.

Middlesbrough: Steele 6, Bailey 6, McManus 6, Bikey 6, Friend 6, Carayol 6, Leadbitter 6, Williams 7, Haroun 6, Main 6, McDonald 6. Subs: Hines (Bikey 36) 5, Miller (Main 62) 5, Zemmama (Carayol 73) 5. Not used: Leutwiler, Emnes, Ledesma, Smallwood

================

Express:

Middlesbrough 0-Chelsea 2: Torres gets lucky
Richard Lewis

Torres saw a shot from Brazilian midfielder Ramires deflect off his shoulder and fly in after 51 minutes to give the holders a grip of this drab fifth-round tie.
Chelsea sealed their triumph at the Riverside when Victor Moses touched the ball home in the 73rd minute.
Chelsea’s interim-manager Rafa Benitez had insisted beforehand that his team were behind him – and their unity worked as they were hardly troubled by the Championship side.
It wasn’t quite in off his backside, but Fernando Torres will take a goal however it comes.
The misfiring £50million striker deflected Ramires’ 51st-minute shot into the net off his shoulder, scoring for just the second time in his last 16 matches. Some forwards may have been embarrassed to claim it, but when you’re on £170,000-a-week you justify it in any way you can.
Torres’ bizarre goal was the first of Chelsea’s two strikes against Tony Mowbray’s battling Boro which sent Rafael Benitez’s side through to face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter-final in 10 days’ time.
Chelsea were poor in the first half but penetrative after the break, especially after Eden Hazard’s introduction off the bench as the Belgian gave them a much-needed injection of searing pace.
Chelsea’s performance will not have Sir Alex Ferguson’s title leaders quaking in their boots, but expect a bristling clash in the last eight.
Seven years ago Chelsea came to the Riverside at the summit of English football and were trounced 3-0 by Steve McClaren’s Boro.
But how times have changed since those days with the Teesside club now battling to restore their top-flight status and with the Blues having gone through no less than seven managers since Jose Mourinho’s tenure.
There has also been a change in fortunes for both managers from that day in 2006. Mourinho has been under pressure at Real Madrid while former England boss McClaren was fired earlier this week by Dutch side FC Twente, with whom he won the Dutch league three years ago.
Chelsea went into last night’s fifth round tie in indifferent form having been beaten last weekend by Manchester City, following a win in midweek in the Europa League.
For Boro this has been a winter of discontent as Mowbray’s side have slipped from the top of the Championship to outside the play-off places, following a run of just one win in their last nine league games.
A healthy Riverside crowd greeted both sides – Boro drastically dropped ticket prices in a bid to generate a more intimidating atmosphere – with Mowbray opting for Aussie Scott McDonald to fire them up front.
Yossi Benayoun made his first Chelsea appearance since 2011 and Dutch teenager Nathan Ake was selected for his first start in a Blues shirt by Benitez, his presence in the line-up so unexpected the 18-year-old midfielder didn’t even make the programme.
Boro fans with long memories may have heaved a sigh of relief after 42 seconds, as that was all it took Roberto Di Matteo to score for Chelsea against their side in the 1997 FA Cup final – a showpiece the Blues won with plenty to spare.
Oscar’s early pass flashed across the face of England Under-21 keeper Jason Steele’s goal and a brilliant run and cross by Victor Moses found Oscar, whose fierce shot looked goalbound, before Andre Bikey’s block.


=================

Star:

A TORRIFIC BIT OF LUCK

By Ian Murtagh

FERNANDO TORRES scored only his second goal of 2013 – and didn’t know a thing about it.
The under-fire striker was credited with the 51st-minute goal which broke the deadlock at the Riverside last night – but it hardly announced a return to form.
Ramires’ shot from the edge of the box, after being teed up by Yossi ­Benayoun, might have found the net without his team-mate’s assistance but it skimmed off Torres’ head and looped over Boro keeper Jason Steele.
It summed up Chelsea’s performance last night. Not very pretty but they got the job done. Just.
The introduction of Eden Hazard in the 58th minute gave the Blues a belated spark and after going close himself, he carved out a second goal for Victor Moses 15 minutes later.
The Belgian played a delightful one-two with Oscar before squaring the ball to Moses, who could not miss.
But this was hardly a ringing ­endorsement of Rafa Benitez.
A listless Chelsea were fortunate to go in level at half-time against opponents with the worst form in the Championship this year.
In seasons gone by, Chelsea would have swept aside lower ­division outfits with the minimum of fuss but the swagger has gone out of their game.
And while Boro weren’t good enough to take advantage, for more than an hour, their performance did nothing to suggest Benitez can win over his army of critics in the dressing room and in the stands.
After a tentative start, it began to dawn on Boro that Chelsea were no great shakes these days.
Tony Mowbray’s side grew in confidence and should have been ahead at half-time.
Scott McDonald knows what it’s like to find the net against European champions – he once scored the winner for ­Celtic against AC Milan.
But his radar was off when he headed Nicky Bailey’s cross wide with the goal beckoning. Then Petr Cech fumbled ­Mustapha Carayol’s 20-yard shot in the 40th minute and John Terry had to hack the ball away before McDonald could pounce on the rebound.
Steele did not have one shot to save in the opening 45 minutes and still had not made a save when ­Ramires’ shot struck Torres to hand Chelsea the lead after Boro’s ­defence failed to clear ­Oscar’s cross.
Boro went into the game badly out of sorts with seven defeats in nine games, but the side ­ Benitez sent out was a massive gamble with eight changes from the ­Manchester City defeat.
It was a night crying out for someone like Frank Lampard but the interim coach went for the untried, untested and the unused.Dutch teenager Nathan Ake was handed a full ­debut and did well. ­Benayoun started his first Chelsea game since August 2011 while Paulo Ferreira made his season bow.
Boro at least started ­better than they did the last time the teams met in the competition.
That was in the 1997 Cup final when Roberto Di Matteo scored after just 42 seconds, paving the way for a 2-0 Chelsea triumph.
The visitors did go close in the seventh minute ­following a Ramires run through midfield traffic.
He fed Oscar, whose ­angled ball into the box just eluded Moses’ outstretched leg.
The same pair combined again after 11 minutes with Oscar getting on the end of Moses’ low cross only for Andre Bikey to block his goalbound shot.
Roared on by the Riverside crowd, Boro came more into it as the first half wore on.
They should have taken a 25th-minute lead when Bailey flung in a cross from the right which found the unmarked ­McDonald but from 10 yards, he headed wide.
Chelsea improved after the restart and had chances to stretch their lead ­after Torres’ fortuitous goal. Torres himself fired narrowly over the bar in Chelsea’s next attack ­despite a poor first touch.
And then substitute ­Hazard curled a fine effort inches wide before Moses sealed victory with his 73rd minute goal to set up a quarter-final tie away to Manchester United.