Comfortable.

Blues' captain and cult hero Paul Robinson scored his first goal for the club and his first in 5 years in a comfortable 3-0 victory. Robinson is not known for his goalscoring - and with good reason - but he finally opened his Blues account with a neat header at the back post.

Rovers started brightly, having a fantastic chance within the first few minutes. Debutant Reece Brown made a rare error, sliding the ball to an under pressure Hayden Mullins, who opted to play his way out. Bristol Rovers' Eliot Williams nicked the ball away from him, but saw his tame effort blocked by the legs of Colin Doyle, making his first start since the much more eventful Stoke tie.

After that, Blues were on top. Rovers struggled to keep the ball and it was clear who the better side was. Zigic somehow headed wide a Paul Caddis cross after some nice football. He got above his marker and met the ball, but rather than nestling in the back of the net, the ball ended up nearer the corner flag.

More nice passing football from Blues led to Paul Caddis forcing his way into the area and firing off a left-footed shot which was blocked back to him. He blasted another shot towards goal but again blocked by an outstretched leg before the ball fell to Lee Novak, 8 yards out. He must have thought that he'd opened the scoring, but some heroic last-ditch defending ensured the score stayed at 0-0 for a short while.

It wasn't until the 35th minute that Blues took the lead. Shane Ferguson's right wing corner evaded the Rovers keeper but not Paul Robinson, who's downward header could not be kept out by a desperate defence on the line. Robinson wheeled away in delight, blowing kisses to the away fans.

Blues were dominant but certainly not rampant. The score stayed at 1-0 for much of the second half; despite having the lion's share of the possession and consistently getting into good positions, they couldn't capitalise. Robinson nearly got his second of the game, with a beautifully struck right-foot volley. Burke broke away after a Rovers corner and picked out the most unlikely of players to pop up at the back post, but Robinson couldn't have struck his effort any more sweetly - it was only a superb reflex save from Rovers' keeper Mildenhall that stopped him from doubling his tally.

As the game neared it's conclusion, Blues finally grabbed the goal cushion that displayed the difference  between the two sides. Nikola Zigic dropped deep into midfield before  releasing Chris Burke with an exquisite through ball. Burke kept his composure and slotted the ball past the onrushing keeper and into the bottom corner for 2-0. Almost immediately afterwards, Burke and Caddis combined down the right. Burke cut in and attempted his trademark left foot curler, though he didn't strike it cleanly. The ball bobbled towards goal but somehow squirmed under the dive of Myldenhall.

All in all, a decent and professional performance for Blues which sees them into the next round against Premier League Swansea, who's form not unlike Blues' 2 seasons ago has been affected by the Europa League. A genuine opportunity for Blues to make it through to the later stages of the cup.

Why Chelsea shouldn't sign a big name striker.

Chelsea's recent history is littered with big name strikers who failed to make the grade - Shevchenko, Torres, Kezman and even the ageing Eto'o. Surely there must be something deeper than pure coincidence to explain the consistent failings of top players. This isn't, at least in my opinion, just a case of bad signings and mismanagement, but rather a tactical error that lies deep within the club's philosophy.

I believe that Chelsea play a variation of a 'False 9' system, however they play with a striker as well. This leads to the striker playing almost on his own, which means that he doesn't fit into the overall system, playing more as a spare part than an essential player. Attacking midfielders Oscar and Juan Mata have 22 goals between them in the last 2 seasons, so this proves that these players can score goals given the chances, and with an extra midfielder rather than a forward player, this could create even more chances for the talented midfielders.

Chelsea are not short of attacking midfielders who can score goals and create chances, with in-form winger Eden Hazard scoring 17 in 54 league games, nearly a 1 in 3 record for the 23 year old, who looks like increasing that record significantly. Willian is a creative force yet no top striker can convert the chances that these top class wingers create - is it time to change the system?

With this system, Chelsea could control games more than they currently do. Giving Mikel a purely defensive role could help their current defensive issues, whilst still giving them a solid midfield two. It also means that Luiz may be able to push into midfield when in possession, which will help them control the game. Hazard is a perfect inside forward, playing between the wing and midfield, so he gives a goalscoring threat through the middle as well as a wide outlet. Willian is a terrific dribbler with genuine pace so can stretch teams, however he may not be as suited to an inside forward role. He could act more as a playmaker, with Mata playing as the 'False Nine'. Mata has the attributes to play well there - he can finish, dribble and fashion chances for players around him. He wouldn't need to defend as he would in the current system - one of the main reasons for Mourinho's preference for Oscar. Oscar can therefore play a free role behind Mata as he does in an attacking midfield usually, but he has improved his defensive side massively, so he can win the ball and attack from midfield. Ramires plays as an all round midfielder, winning the ball and adding a presence going forward as he does, but with Mikel to sit behind him and Oscar if he needs.

There appears to be a stigma in English football that playing without an out and out striker is defensive and an unneeded export of Spanish football. However, the best football teams of the last 8 years have played a system that is similar, so if that is defensive so be it. In a time that Tim Sherwood has reverted to a 'good old fashioned 4-4-2' it may be time for English football to move forward tactically. First of all, we need to learn from the other parts of the world, putting technical ability over physicality and accepting the ideas of Tiki-Taka and Catenaccio as parts of football, and not just outrageous foreign stuff. 

This system is not defensive - in fact, if the full backs get forward, it can give them 6-7 players going forward in a fluid system. It might also give Abramovich the flowing football he wants; the success may or may not come with it. There are some positions which would need strengthening of course: Ashley Cole is ageing and will need replacing sooner rather than later, and another central midfielder would not go amiss. 

I believe that a false nine system would suit Chelsea and I think that they should not go for the Falcao's and Ibrahimovic's of the world, instead going for the Arturo Vidal's and Jordi Alba's. Thanks for reading.