Drogba 2     Chopra 34

                                                                                         Ballack 51

                                                                                      Sturridge 69

                                                                                           Kalou 86

Chelsea reaffirmed their status as red-hot favourites for this year’s FA Cup with an ultimately convincing victory over Championship promotion contenders Cardiff.

The Welsh side, backed by nearly 6,000 noisy fans, recovered well from the hammer blow of a second-minute goal by Didier Drogba to go in level at half-time.

But Chelsea upped a gear after the break and were eventually well worth the win, even if the fourth goal was harsh on the underdogs.

Drogba fired the Blues ahead when John Mikel Obi’s early ball over the top caught the City defence square, looking to play offside.

But Chelsea stand-in keeper Henrique Hilario had to make an excellent right-handed save from a header by Anthony Gerrard, cousin of Liverpool’s Steven.

And he could do nothing about Michael Chopra’s near-post header from a left-wing cross by Chris Burke.

Hopes of a shock were quickly dashed, though, as Drogba turned provider six minutes after the break, Michael Ballack supplying a neat left-foot finish.

Dean Sturridge side-footed the third goal xx minutes later to maintain his record of scoring in each round in which he has played so far.

And Salomon Kalou’s header from a wonderful Paulo Ferreira cross completed the scoring.