Chelsea 2 Birmingham City 0

Chelsea gaolscorers, Terry and Huth Chelsea progressed to the FA Cup fifth round, and kept their quadruple dreams intact, after a workmanlike 2-0 win over Birmingham at Stamford Bridge.

Centre backs Robert Huth and John Terry were the heroes for the Premiership leaders with headed goals in either half to seal their passage.

It was a victory that owed much to the qualities that have served Jose Mourinho's side so well this season with organisation and defensive solidity always more to the fore than expansive, flowing football.

It mattered not though to the home fans who joyously chorused the Portuguese coach's name in the closing stages with yet another important success secured.

The hosts started much the quicker of the sides and, after a Joe Cole cross from the right had caused panic in the visitors' box as early as the second minute, Chelsea did hit the front four minutes later.

Maik Taylor produced a fingertip save to divert a Damien Duff shot for a corner, but Birmingham's reprieve was only temporary.

They did manage to survive Cole's first delivery from the left when Terry saw a headed effort deflected behind, but from the second Terry cleverly blocked off Martin Taylor allowing Huth a free run to power home a header from five yards.

Another corner, this time from the other flank and from the foot of Duff, caused more problems in the Birmingham box shortly afterwards, but it was eventually scrambled away.

Mateja Kezman almost fashioned a chance just past the half hour mark, but Oliver Tebily - on as a substitute for Martin Taylor who had reopened a head wound - just managed to get back and prevent the striker getting in a shot after being caught on the wrong side.

However, Tebily was caught out again moments later as Cole slid in Duff behind the full back, but the Irishman got his effort all wrong and dragged his left-foot shot well wide of goal with just Maik Taylor to beat.

Duff had another sight of goal four minutes before the break; Wayne Bridge set off on a positive surge forward and slipped in his team-mate who, after cutting first inside and then out, saw his shot from 18 yards deflected behind.

The subsequent corner again found Huth, this time in yards of space 12 yards out, and his volley into the ground bounced up and clipped off the top of the bar much to the relief of visiting defenders who were left flashing recriminating looks at each other.

Birmingham started the second period with more purpose and called Carlo Cudicini into action for the first time on 53 minutes; Julian Gray's cross from the left reached Darren Anderton at the far post and his snap volley needed to be helped over by the Italian.

It seemed to sting Chelsea back into action and a rapid counter-attack from Birmingham's corner ended with Kezman playing in half-time substitute Arjen Robben, but the Dutchman dallied too long before shooting and was blocked out by Melchiot.

By now a far more lively contest than at any time in the opening half, Birmingham threatened again through Robbie Blake who flashed a drive from 20 yards narrowly wide on 57 minutes.

Robben shot over after being teed up by Eidur Gudjohnsen, before Jose Mourinho - clearly perturbed by Birmingham's increasing presence in the game - made his intentions clear by sending on Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba in rapid succession.

However, his concerns would only have grown when an uncharacteristic mistake by Terry allowed Blake a chance, but after latching on to a poor back-header the striker opted to try and lift a first-time header of his own over Cudicini but did not get sufficient power.

Lampard nearly handed Chelsea the cushion they craved on 70 minutes, but was denied by a splendid save from Taylor after being played in by Drogba in a move very similar to the one that had produced a goal in the Carling Cup semi-final at Old Trafford earlier in the week.

Lampard was instrumental as Chelsea did finally put the game to bed with ten minutes remaining, the England star flighted an inviting ball into the box and Terry rose powerfully above Matthew Upson and planted his header into the corner from 12 yards.

Birmingham produced a flurry of late efforts with Jamie Clapham curling a free kick narrowly wide, and substitute Dwight Yorke spurning two presentable chances, but it mattered not as Chelsea maintained their pursuit on all four fronts.

Teams

Chelsea Cudicini, Bridge, Huth, Johnson, Terry, Cole, Duff (Robben 45), Jarosik, Smertin, Gudjohnsen (Drogba 65), Kezman (Lampard 60)
Subs Not Used Pidgeley, Geremi
Booked
Goals Huth 6, Terry 80

Birmingham City Taylor, Clapham, Melchiot, Taylor (Tebily 25) Upson, Anderton (Yorke 76), Carter, Clemence, Gray, Blake, Heskey (Morrison 73)
Subs Not Used Vaesen, Kuqi
Booked Upson
Goals

Attendance 40,379

Referee M. Dean