English FA Cup

Sturridge strikes as Blues cruise

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Nicolas Anelka opens the scoring for Chelsea

Scoring Summary

Preston North End	Chelsea
	Nicolas Anelka (37')
	Daniel Sturridge (47')

Match Stats

Preston North End

Chelsea

13(6)	Shots (on Goal)	30(17)
5	Fouls	3
5	Corner Kicks	10
2	Offsides	2
37%	Time of Possession	63%
1	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
11	Saves	12

Teams

Preston North End	Chelsea
1 Andy Lonergan	40 Henrique Hilario
2 Michael Hart	35 Juliano Belletti
5 Youl Mawene	26 John Terry
3 Callum Davidson	19 Paulo Ferreira
12 Sean St. Ledger	33 Alex
19 Billy Jones	8 Frank Lampard
7 Chris Sedgwick	13 Michael Ballack
11 Darren Carter	20 Deco
25 Ross Wallace	18 Yuri Zhirkov
4 Richard Chaplow	39 Nicolas Anelka
9 Chris Brown	23 Daniel Sturridge
Substitutes
22 Wayne Henderson	Ross Turnbull 22
14 Liam Chilvers	Branislav Ivanovic 2
6 Neill Collins	Patrick Van Aanholt 52
35 Danny Mayor	Joe Cole 10
34 Adam Barton	Florent Malouda 15
26 Jon Parkin	Nemanja Matic 24
33 Neil Mellor	Fabio Borini 45
Substitutions
Jon Parkin for Darren Carter (59)	Florent Malouda for Juliano Belletti (19)
Neil Mellor for Chris Brown (72)	Joe Cole for Frank Lampard (66)
Danny Mayor for Chris Sedgwick (72)
Yellow Cards
Michael Hart (24)
· Squads: Preston North End | Chelsea

Daniel Sturridge enhanced his growing reputation by helping Chelsea secure a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Deepdale.

The former Manchester City striker scored his third goal for the club and repeatedly kept Preston's defence on their toes.

Sturridge's strike in the 47th minute effectively killed off the tie in what was Darren Ferguson's first home match as manager.

Ferguson will no doubt look back on a chance that changed the face of the game.

Darren Carter should have cancelled out the opening goal from Nicolas Anelka but somehow screwed his shot wide of the target.

Chelsea controlled the game and had it not been for goalkeeper Andy Lonergan the margin could have been greater

The visitors almost took the lead in the 14th minute when Yury Zhirkov saw his effort booted away by Lonergan after the Russian international had played a neat one-two with Frank Lampard.

That came after an early scare when Hilario punched away a header from Chris Brown following a cross from Chris Sedgewick.

Chelsea began to impose themselves and Anelka got into a good position only to drag his effort wide of the target.

Preston were struggling to get into the game but Callum Davidson found himself clear in the area. However his soft header ended in the goalkeeper's arms.

Then substitute Florent Malouda found the net for Chelsea in the 26th minute but instead of celebrating a goal they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Michael Ballack saw his effort deflected to safety but this was an difficult spell for Preston.

The home side were grateful to Lonergan five minutes later when he stood tall to parry Alex's blistering 25-yard effort following a short free-kick from Lampard.

Chelsea's pressure paid off when Anelka made the breakthrough. The France striker got away from Youl Mawene on the edge of the box and even though Lonergan made some contact he could prevent his effort going into the net.

Preston, however, launched a spirited comeback and nearly drew level four minutes later.

Brown's towering header was taken by Hilario at the last moment and the ball fell to Carter but he found the wrong side of the post with the rebound.

Play switched down the other end and Paulo Ferreira almost extended Chelsea's lead with a blistering shot that went narrowly wide.

Chelsea doubled their advantage two minutes into the second half following a corner from Malouda.

John Terry powered in a header that came back out but only as far as Sturridge, who whacked the rebound home.

Sturridge then had an appeal for a penalty waved away after he went down in the area following a challenge from Davidson.

Ferguson decided to take off the unfortunate Carter in the 59th minute and bring on Jon Parkin to add a bit of muscle up front.

Chelsea were looking comfortable with a two-goal cushion and Anelka tried to release Sturridge but he had strayed offside.

Ballack tried his luck from distance but the ball hit Lampard's heel before Sturridge almost got a second goal, his effort going marginally off target.

Lonergan again came to Preston's rescue in the 67th minute, pushing over a header from Ballack inside the six-yard area.

Preston striker Parkin then tested Hilario from distance in the 77th minute as they tried to get back in the game. Parkin was not afraid to shoot on sight and saw his effort minutes later sail wide of the target.

Sturridge went close again in the 83rd minute and substitute Joe Cole fired wide late on as Chelsea ran out two-goal winners.