Avram Grant’s diplomatic approach does not usually extend to embarrassing his players, although that did not stop him handing out a public snub to Ashley Cole as darkness descended upon Stamford Bridge. Perhaps the softly spoken Chelsea first-team coach plans to toughen up his act after all.

After berating Cole for much of the afternoon, Grant stripped him of the captaincy when Didier Drogba was introduced in the 61st minute, even though the Ivory Coast striker has not worn the armband before. Grant confirmed afterwards that he made Drogba captain when he came on because he wanted more leadership on the pitch as Queens Park Rangers attempted to fight their way back into a scrappy match, words that will not go down well with Cole, who was once identified as a future Arsenal captain by Arsène Wenger.

“Didier is a leader,” Grant said. “Many players that are leaders here did not play, so we gave it to Ashley because I think he is a good example for all the others. I like him, so he deserved to be the captain, but there are other options for leaders in the team.”

Drogba’s only real contribution on his return from knee surgery was a shot late on that was well saved by Lee Camp, although he did enough to illustrate how much Chelsea will miss him, now that he has departed for the African Cup of Nations, and why a firm bid will be made this week for Nicolas Anelka, the Bolton Wanderers striker. By omitting him from their defeat by Sheffield United, Bolton have effectively hung a “For Sale” sign around the France forward’s neck.

Claudio Pizarro did play a crucial part in winning the tie, with his 29th-minute shot rebounding cruelly off a post on to Camp and into the net, but was otherwise anonymous and it says everything about his negligible contribution since signing from Bayern Munich last summer that he was so eager to claim the goal. The Peru striker is unlikely to be standing in for Drogba for long. “I don’t know what the rules are in this country, but I will be claiming it,” Pizarro said. “I need it, it will give me confidence.”

Chelsea’s progress was comfortable enough, but their cup teams are far weaker than a couple of years ago, when Eidur Gudjohnsen and Hernán Crespo regularly featured among their second string. Grant was helped by the negativity of his opposite number, who must show more ambition in league matches if QPR want to return here on a regular basis. Luigi De Canio’s tactics were aimed at damage limitation, with the Italian manager starting with five men in midfield and withdrawing Gareth Ainsworth at half-time even though he had given Ashley Cole a torrid time.

England fans will hope that Fabio Capello does not resort to a similar strategy in an attempt to get the best from his underachieving players.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Hilário 5 – P Ferreira 5, Alex 5, T Ben Haim 5, A Cole 5 – S Wright-Phillips 5 (sub: J Cole, 79min), J O Mikel 7, S Sidwell 6 – S Kalou 6, C Pizarro 5 (sub: M Ballack, 72), S Sinclair 5 (sub: D Drogba, 61 5). Substitutes not used: R Taylor, J Belletti.

Queens Park Rangers (4-4-1-1): L Camp 5 – M Connolly 5, D Stewart 5, F Hall 5, C Barker 5 – G Ainsworth 6 (sub: P Agyemang, 46 6), M Rowlands 6, G Mahon 5, H Ephraim 5 (sub: A Balanta, 66 5) – A Buzsaky 6 (K Lee, 50 4) – D Blackstock 5. Substitutes not used: S Walton, A Bolder. Booked: Hall.

Referee M Dean
Attendance 41,289

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