Walsall 1 Chelsea 4 - Report and pictures

Champions Chelsea proved too strong for a spirited Walsall side as they ran out 4-1 winners in the third round of the Capital One Cup.

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In front of 10,525 fans at the Banks's Stadium, goals from Ramires, Loic Remy, Kenedy and Pedro secured victory for Jose Mourinho's side.

After falling two goals behind, James O'Connor gave Saddlers' fans hope when pulled one back just before half-time.

But the Premier League champions proved they were a class above and despite Walsall's best efforts ran out comfortable winners.

Saddlers fans hoping to see an upset were dealt a huge below before kick-off with news star striker Tom Bradshaw wasn't in the match-day 18.

The Welsh forward, who has seven goals to his name this season, was kept on the side lines with a groin strain picked up in Saturday's draw at Peterborough.

It meant Jordan Cook started up front as Smith opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation with former Chelsea man Milan Lalkovic starting wide left and Keiron Morris wide right.

Chelsea's team was packed full of internationals with the likes of Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill and Radamel Falcao starting.

The team was skippered by John Terry with Eden Hazard, Pedro and Namanja Matic on the subs bench.

Walsall: Etheridge, Demetriou, O'Connor, Downing, Henry, Lalkovic (Forde 73), Mantom, Chambers (Flanagan 73), Morris, Sawyers, Cook (Baxendale 85).

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Taylor, Preston, Kinsella

Chelsea: Begovic, Ivanovic, Rahman, Ramires, Falcao (Djilobodjl 90), Mikel, Kenedy (Pedro 70), Remy, Terry, Cahill, Loftus-Cheek (Matic 71).

Subs not used: Blackman, Hazard, Traore, Aina[/breakout]

Walsall's only victory against Chelsea came way back in 1963 and it was the Londoners who quickly found their rhythm and almost took the lead inside four minutes.

After Adam Chambers lost possession in midfield, Chelsea broke at pace with Kenedy delivering a low cross which the on-rushing Ramires looked to slot into the bottom corner.

But former Chelsea school-boy Neil Etheridge was equal to the effort and got down well to expertly push the ball away.

Walsall were having to withstand a lot of heavy pressure but on 10 minutes the Londoners broke the deadlock.

A pinpoint Kenedy cross was met at the back-post by Ramires who was afforded too much space and headed home.

The Saddlers looked to respond immediately with Lalkovic bending a free-kick from 25 yards wide of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic's post.

It was 23-years to the day since Walsall last faced Chelsea on home turf, but it was Mourinho's side who were enjoying almost complete control and they came a whisker away from doubling their lead on 20 minutes.

Ramiers sent Falcao galloping in on goal and the Colombian international lifted the ball over Etheridge only to see his effort acrobatically cleared off the line by James O'Connor.

Smith's side were looking most threatening whenever Lalkovic and Morris got on the ball.

And it was creative schemer Lalkovic who almost pulled his side back on level terms when he tricked his way past Ivanovic before cutting inside and firing inches past the post.

Smith's side were now growing more and more into the game with a fine Jason Demetriou cross just too strong for Cook.

But as the clock ticked towards the 40 minute mark, Chelsea and Falcao once again saw the ball cleared off the line.

The former Monaco man danced past Etheridge but his shot was blocked under his own crossbar by Paul Downing with Remy then seeing his follow up deflected over the bar.

Minutes later though and Remy was celebrating as he made it 2-0. Ramires slipped in the Frenchman who outpaced the Walsall backline and lashed the ball into the roof of the net to give Etheridge no chance.

But just before half-time the Banks's was rocking when O'Connor brought the home side back into the game.

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Lalkovic's superb free-kick was pushed away by Begovic but O'Connor reacted quickest to force home the rebound much to his and the home fans delight.

Chelsea were playing their first game in the competition since they lifted the trophy at Wembley back in March.

And their showed their desire to reclaim the silverware by restoring their two goal lead seven minutes after the break.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek played in Kenedy and the Brazilian made no mistake by driving the ball through Etheridge's legs for his first Chelsea goal.

Following a short break after the sprinklers came on, Remy flashed wide from 20-yards as the clock ticked past the hour mark.

Chances were now proving few and far between but Demetriou looked to force the issue with a rasping drive from 25-yards which sailed wide.

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Mourinho made his first changes with a little over 15 minutes remaining. First, former Barcelona man Pedro was introduced for Kenedy. Matic then replaced Loftus-Cheek.

Smith responded by making changes of his own. Reece Flanagan and Anthony Forde replacing Chambers and Lalkovic.

And the move looked to be a positive one when Forde saw a shot blocked on the edge of the box. From the resultant corner, Romaine Sawyers rose highest but his header sailed over the bar.

Buoyed, Walsall continued to press with Morris first seeing a strike from distance blocked before a second whistled past the post.

Sawyers then produced an unbelievable bit of skill to cross for Mantom who saw a half-volley flash across goal and wide of Begovic's post.

But it was Chelsea's night and in three minutes of stoppage time, Pedro wrapped up the scoring with a smart low drive from the edge of the box.