by Steve Garland from Stamford Bridge

Snapshot

The Bluebirds' F.A. Cup run was put to an abrupt end by current holders Chelsea on Saturday, as they succumbed to 4-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

City's more illustrious opponents soon looked ominous as they took an early lead through Didier Drogba with just three minutes gone. But the Bluebirds responded well to ensure Chelsea did not have it all their own way.

Not letting their heads drop, Cardiff got back on level terms with just over half an hour gone, when Chris Burke found Michael Chopra at the near post to head home past keeper Hilario and take the Bluebirds into half time on level terms.

But after stern words from boss Carlo Ancelotti and a half time change, Chelsea came out determined to quell any fear of an upset and soon regained their lead through Michael Ballack with just six second half minutes gone.

And with Chelsea now the dominant force they secured their place in the quarter finals of the competition with just over twenty minutes to go in the game, Daniel Sturridge putting matters beyond doubt as he slotted past David Marshall. Substitute Saloman Kalou capitalised on an Anthony Gerrard slip to make it four and round off the victory with just five minutes remaining.

Chronological Report

The Bluebirds travelled as the underdogs to take on Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a F.A. Cup fifth round tie.

With well over £100 million pounds worth of players on show in the Chelsea starting eleven, the Bluebirds were always going to be up against it in this tie, but City did not help themselves as they conceded with just three minutes gone as star striker Didier Drogba fired the Blues into an early lead. John Obi Mikel lofted the ball in behind the Cardiff defence allowing Didier Drogba to sprint clear and smash the ball past David Marshall in the City goal.

GOAL: Chelsea 1-0 Cardiff City (Didier Drogba 3 mins)

After an early sucker punch, City could have easily lowered their heads and taken the expected beating, but instead they rallied and went in search of an equaliser. They soon came close when Peter Whittingham's corner met the head of Gabor Gyepes, whose goal bound header could only be scrambled clear by the Chelsea defence.

It was a glimmer of hope for Cardiff, and they soon tested the Premier League's second meanest defence again as Anthony Gerrard got hold of a Peter Whittingham free-kick from the far side. Gerrard rose above Alex to nod the ball towards the far corner of the net, only for Hilario to tip the ball wide at full stretch. The Bluebirds were proving a threat from set plays and from the resultant corner again threatened an equaliser as Gerrard met Whittingham's corner to fire another headed effort towards goal, only to hit Michael Chopra and give the Chelsea defence a reprieve.

Since the early set back, the Bluebirds had more than held their own against their more illustrious opponents and with just over half an hour gone, Chopra nodded home to give the Bluebirds a deserved equaliser. On the counter attack, Chris Burke showed Paulo Ferreira a clean pair of heels to sprint down an unfamiliar left flank and hit a drilled cross towards the near post towards Chopra. Chopra lost his marker Alex to head home past Hilario to get Cardiff back on level terms with the Premier League leaders.

GOAL:Chelsea 1-1 Cardiff City (Michael Chopra 34 mins)

An unexpected equaliser certainly sent the travelling Bluebirds into raptures and as the first half drew to a close the Bluebirds were certainly matching the home side. But with the Chelsea line-up oozing ability throughout the side they always looked a threat to the Bluebirds goal; Daniel Sturridge's audacious long range effort going just wide of the angle of Marshall's goal with just two minutes to go. The fourth official signaled three minutes of injury time as Chelsea pushed to retake the lead, but the Bluebirds would survive and go into the break on level terms.

HALF TIME: CHELSEA 1-1 CARDIFF CITY

Chelsea Substitution: Joe Cole off- Salomon Kalou on (45 mins)

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti was clearly not happy with his sides first half display and introduced Salomon Kalou to further test the Bluebirds backline and it did not take long before Chelsea had caught the Cardiff defence napping again, as they regained the lead with just six second half minutes gone.

Didier Drogba turned provider to hit a superb through ball to Michael Ballack, who had caught out Mark Kennedy, to sprint clear and go one-on-one with keeper Marshall. The German looked calm and composed to fire the ball home with ease past the Bluebirds stopper and regain the lead for the F.A. Cup holders.

GOAL: Chelsea 2-1 Cardiff City (Michael Ballack 51 mins)

With Ancelotti's half time words still clearly ringing in their ears, Chelsea went in search of a third to put the game beyond doubt, Drogba again looking to feed through his counterparts with a searching through ball, only for Kevin McNaughton to nip in with a goal saving tackle to take the ball away from the waiting Sturridge.

But whether by luck or gulf in quality, Cardiff's first half impetus in the game had gone as Chelsea bombarded the Bluebirds defence looking for a third. Sturridge again looked threatening as he charged inside from his left flank position, combining with Drogba with a nice one-two play to put him free inside the penalty area, slotting home to effectively seal the Bluebirds exit from the F.A. Cup.

GOAL: Chelsea 3-1 Cardiff City (Daniel Sturridge 68 mins)

Cardiff City substitution: Gavin Rae off - Darcy Blake on (73 mins)

Cardiff City substitution: Chris Burke off - Ross McCormack on (75 mins)

Chelsea substitution: Daniel Sturridge off - Florent Malouda on (78 mins)

The Bluebirds had failed to reproduce their superb first half performance, but despite now looking adrift in this tie, they still pushed forward looking for a way back into the match and came close through the unlikely McNaughton, his left footed effort just skipping wide of Hilario's left hand post.

It was the Bluebirds' first venture towards the Chelsea goal in the second half, but the home side would soon cement their place in the quarter finals. Paulo Ferreira charged down the left flank, past the ailing Mark Kennedy to float in a deep cross from the right flank. As Gerrard slipped in the six-yard box, Kalou capitalised at the far post to head the ball past Marshall and into the top corner of the net, making it four for the home side.

GOAL: Chelsea 4-1 Cardiff City (Salomon Kalou 85 mins)

With the game now beyond doubt all that was left for the Bluebirds to see out the remainder of the game but they could certainly take great pride in the character they showed in the first half, where they more than matched the Premier League leaders.

Substitution Cardiff City: Solmon Taiwo off, Aaron Wildig on (90 mins)

FULL TIME: CHELSEA 4-1 CARDIFF CITY