A Frank Lampard goal three minutes from time was enough to send Chelsea into the Carling Cup semi-final courtesy of a hard fought 2-1 success over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Lampard, a second half substitute, forced Edwin Van der Saar into a horrendous error, when he allowed the midfielder's effort from distance to bounce off his body and into the goal.

Fulham had earlier cancelled out Damien Duff's opener through Brian McBride's effort but it is Jose Mourinho's strong looking Chelsea side that progress.

Fulham chief Chris Coleman had spent the intervening period between Saturday's woeful display against Fulham and Wednesday evening lamenting the workrate of his players.

The early exchanges suggested his words had not fallen on deaf ears, as Fulham launched into their West London neighbours with considerable gusto.

Tackles were fierce and within the opening minutes, the home side had caused the normally poker faced Mourinho to arch his eyebrow with concern on three occasions.

First, Ricardo Carvalho needed a brave block to thwart an industrious Mark Pembridge from connecting on the edge of Chelsea's box and then McBride only just failed to meet Andy Cole's cross after the striker had drifted wide right.

With the Craven Cottage faithful contemplating banishing Chelsea's last visit, a 4-1 defeat, to the back of their minds, Cole should have justified their faith but he could only direct his free header wide from Pembridge's setpiece.

The Welshman was the next to cause consternation for the recalled Carlo Cudicini in the Chelsea goal, when he bent an effort wide and then Sylvain Legwinski pulled an effort off target when unbalanced.

It would be 25 minutes before Chelsea conjured an opportunity of their own, when Robben, having swapped flanks with Duff, cut inside from the right to force Edwin van der Saar into a fine parry.

Robben's run acted as a catalyst for the rest of the half, as Chelsea finally settled and began to stroke the ball around with something approaching what we have become accustomed in the past month.

Much of their best work came from the flanks but at the tip of the diamond, Didier Drogba looked like a player easing his way back from a six week lay-off and had none of the cunning guile of Eidur Gudjohnsen, left on the bench until the hour mark.

Alexei Smertin connected sweetly with a half volley that never really tested Van der Saar, before Drogba was denied by Carlos Bocanegra from the Russian's cute pass.

After the interval and Chelsea's class came to the fore, with twin wide men Robben and Duff outstanding before their withdrawals.

It was Duff that was left red faced when after Glen Johnson fired in an effort on the overlap that forced van der Saar into a parry, he somehow contrived to pull the ball wide.

A linesman's flag saved his blushes and his next effort brought the game's opener, when after his angled drive from the edge of Fulham's box clipped the heels of Ian Pearce to leave Van der Saar wrong footed.

For all Chelsea's class the game was by no means a one sided affair - with Cole's excellent header deserving more than flashing wide of Cudicini's post, when the contest was balanced at a stalemate.

Johnson survived a Fulham penalty appeal when he blocked Pembridge's sumptuous volley with what looked to be his hand before substitute Elvis Hammond set up McBride for Fulham's leveller with his first touch.

Taking Steed Malbranque's neat pass into his stride, the young forward drilled a ball across the Chelsea goal, that found McBride's clever run and the American steered home from close range.

With extra-time looking an unwanted subplot for both managers, Smertin could have decided the tie but found only the side netting after taking Lampard's pass in his stride.

The England international's influence cannot be overestimated and with three minutes remaining, his intervention allowed a workmanlike Chelsea performance to march into the Carling Cup semi-final.