Mourinho rests key players for Cup tie

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho went through with his promise to rest key players for this afternoon’s FA Cup fifth round trip to Newcastle.

With John Terry suspended, Mourinho chose to leave out Petr Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Damien Duff with next week’s Champions League trip to Barcelona in mind.

Carlo Cudicini took over in goal as Glen Johnson, Ricardo Carvalho, Alexei Smertin, Jiri Jarosik, Geremi and Mateja Kezman were drafted in.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness made four changes to the side which won 2-1 in Heerenveen on Thursday night as Jean-Alain Boumsong, Nicky Butt and Kieron Dyer returned from injury or illness, and there was a recall too for Laurent Robert.