Enlarge imageBy Clare Lovell
LONDON (Reuters) - Champions Chelsea, looking for a league and Cup double, reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Wednesday with a bad-tempered 1-0 win over a depleted Newcastle United, who had Robbie Elliott sent off.
Chelsea, 12 points clear in the league, needed only four minutes to find the target, Damien Duff’s corner from the left meeting John Terry low in the area and the captain glancing the ball into the net off the legs of a defender.
Newcastle, looking for their first silverware for more than 50 years, frequently rattled Chelsea going forward in a physically bruising encounter, although they struggled to create any clear opportunities.
Elliott was sent off in the 86th minute for a second bookable offence.
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With Jean-Alain Boumsong suspended and Titus Bramble injured Newcastle were short at the back while striker Michael Owen is still recovering from a broken foot.
They went close in the 18th minute when Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini parried a Lee Bowyer shot and Terry reached the loose ball a fraction before the advancing Alan Shearer to clear.
Three minutes later a Nolberto Solano free kick from 25 metres narrowly missed Cudicini’s left post.
Ricardo Carvalho should have increased Chelsea’s lead shortly before halftime when he failed to convert a Frank Lampard free kick, although television replays showed there had been no contact between Scott Parker and Asier del Horno, who went down to force the kick.
The out-of-favour Spanish defender, playing for the suspended William Gallas, has courted controversy in his short Chelsea career and was sent off against Barcelona last month.
Newcastle have not won at Stamford Bridge for nearly 20 years but came out with more urgency in the second half as tempers began to flare.
Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Ameobi and Craig Moore of Newcastle were booked for dissent after a tackle on Joe Cole and Elliot, booked earlier, was fortunate not to be sent off for kicking the ball under the prostrate Cole.
He did get his marching orders in the 86th minute after impeding substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Cole and Damien Duff sliced down the wings for Chelsea and Noberto Solano and Kieron Dyer producing some dangerous moves for the Tynesiders but they ran out of steam in the last third.
Chelsea, who won the league and League Cup double last season, were profligate up front, Lampard, Cole, Drogba and Geremi, squandering second-half chances and Wright-Phillips missing an 85th minute sitter.
