Rangers fall to Blues’ ice-men

CHELSEA are English football’s answer to a cold shower.

The rest of the world might have indulged in a little cup whimsy last weekend, but this is one club which doesn’t do romance.

This was a cool, clinical victory that ensured Chelsea avoided an upset but did absolutely nothing to stir the soul. QPR were plucky but, for all the cash pumped into the Championship club by their multi-billionaire owners, it will clearly take time for them to catch up with their local rivals. “I thought we made them look ordinary,” said Rangers midfielder Gavin Mahon, but Chelsea knew that ordinary was likely to be enough.

Avram Grant was satisfied with his afternoon’s work. Dressed in his trademark undertaker’s garb, this was his sort of occasion, although the Israeli would have been forgiven for allowing his thoughts to drift to more pressing issues.

Chelsea are bracing themselves for the loss of four key players to the looming African Cup of Nations. Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Michael Essien are not likely to feature again for the club until February and they will be joined by Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel after he plays in tomorrow’s Carling Cup semi-final tie with Everton. With seven first-teamers currently ruled out through injury, reinforcements cannot arrive soon enough.

Grant should not have to wait long. Nicolas Anelka, the Bolton forward, is expected to complete a move worth up to €20 million as soon as personal terms can be agreed. The Frenchman was left out of Wanderers’ squad for their home defeat to Sheffield United to avoid being cup-tied.

Branislav Ivanovic should also complete his €13m switch from Lokomotiv Moscow in the coming days, although Dimitar Berbatov will not be joining from Tottenham Hotspur. A €40m move had been mooted but Spurs are unwilling to sell to their London rivals and even Chelsea baulked at the price-tag.

Even so, Grant should have more options as he prepares for a critical month. Progress to the Carling Cup final would be a boost to the manager’s credibility and he should be confident of achieving that aim after this win, secured by Claudio Pizarro’s fortuituous goal after 29 minutes. The Peruvian’s shot struck a post but the ball bounced in after hitting Rangers goalkeeper Lee Camp on the arm. Rangers flickered briefly at the start of the second half when Martin Rowlands saw one half-volley screech over the bar and another saved by Hilario, but Chelsea were never truly flustered. At the final whistle, the 6,000-strong travelling contingent departed cursing themselves for daring to dream in the first place.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Hilario 6, Ferreira 6, Ben Haim 6, Alex 6, A Cole 6, Mikel 6, Sidwell 7, Sinclair 4 (Drogba 60, 6), Wright-Phillips 6 (J Cole 79, 5), Kalou 6, Pizarro 6 (Ballack 71, 5).

Subs Not Used: Taylor, J Cole, Belletti.

QPR (4-5-1): Camp 6, Connolly 6, Stewart 7, Hall 7, Barker 6, Ainsworth 6 (Ageymang 45, 6), Buzsaky 6 (Lee 50, 6), Rowlands 7, Mahon 6, Ephraim 5 (Balanta 64, 5), Blackstock 6.

Subs Not Used: Bolder, Walton, Balanta.

REFEREE: Mike Dean (Wirral), Hardly any incidents to trouble him: allowed the game to flow as much as he could.

MATCH RATING: ** A flat occasion, despite the best efforts of Rangers’ travelling contingent. Chelsea did what they had to.