The Premier League’s big-hitters restored some normality to the FA Cup yesterday with holders Chelsea crushing third-tier Brentford 4-0 in a fourth-round replay and Manchester City dismissing Leeds United 4-0 in a fifth-round tie.
Midfielder Frank Lampard scored his 199th goal for Chelsea who put four second-half goals past Brentford at Stamford Bridge to secure a fifth-round clash at Championship side Middlesbrough on February 27.
Argentine Sergio Aguero scored twice for 2011 winners Manchester City, who eased into the quarter-finals with a confident display that was the complete opposite from their abject surrender in a 3-1 Premier League defeat at Southampton the previous weekend.
Top-flight strugglers Wigan Athletic put their relegation fears to one side by breezing past second-tier Huddersfield Town 4-1 with two goals from Ivorian Arouna Kone.
Lampard, whose Chelsea future remains unresolved with his contract expiring at the end of the season, tucked away a simple volley on 71 minutes to edge closer to Bobby Tambling’s all-time club record of 202 goals.
The goal prompted Chelsea fans to chant “sign him up” as billionaire owner Roman Abramovich forced a wry smile high up in the stand.
Juan Mata broke Brentford’s resistance on 54 minutes when he latched on to Demba Ba’s flick from a long Petr Cech clearance and drilled in a left-foot shot from 20 metres.
Oscar doubled the lead 14 minutes later from Branislav Ivanovic’s cutback, scoring with a deft flick, and Lampard quickly added a third from Mata’s cross. John Terry headed in at the far post, this time from Oscar’s curling delivery, to make it 4-0 on 81 minutes.
“First half they made it very difficult, they sat very deep. Once we got the first goal, the second and third were sure to come,” Terry told ITV.
Terry said a British newspaper report yesterday that he and Benitez were involved in a dressing-room bust-up was “complete rubbish”.
With his side 12 points behind Manchester United in the league, City coach Roberto Mancini had demanded his players atone for the Southampton loss.
City duly obliged, crafting a brilliant opener after five minutes that was started and finished by Yaya Toure.
The Ivorian exchanged passes with David Silva and Carlos Tevez before slotting home.
Aguero doubled the lead on 14 minutes from the penalty spot.
Tevez bundled in a third after 52 and Aguero rifled in the fourth 16 minutes from time.
Summaries
FA Cup fourth round
Man. City 4
Y. Toure 5; Aguero 15pen, 74; Tevez 52;
Leeds United 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 46,849.
Huddersfield 1
Novak 62;
Wigan 4
McManaman 31; Kone 40, 89; McArthur 56;
HT: 0-2. Att: 12,117.
Playing today
Manchester United vs Reading - 21.00
Fourth round replay
Chelsea 4
Mata 54; Oscar 68; Lampard 71; Terry 81;
Brentford 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 40,961.
Premier League
Liverpool 5
Gerrard 34 pen; Coutinho 45; Enrique 50; Suarez 56; Sturridge 71pen;
Swansea 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 44,832