John Obi Mikel was an unlikely goalscorer to set Chelsea on their way to a 2-0 FA Cup third-round win at Derby which featured another diving incident.
The Rams had won 10 and lost just two of their prior 15 games under former England boss Steve McClaren and proved difficult for Jose Mourinho's men to break down at the iPro Stadium.
But Mikel headed in his fourth Chelsea goal on his 300th appearance after 66 minutes and Oscar added a second soon afterwards.
On the scoresheet: John Obi Mikel celebrates after putting Chelsea 1-0 up against Derby
Match facts
DERBY: Grant 6, Wisdom 6, Forsyth 5, Eustace 5 (Bennett 70), Keane 6, Buxton 6, Hughes 5, Hendrick 6, Martin 5, Ward (Sammon 69), Dawkins 5 (Bailey 83)
Subs not used: Freeman, Legzdins, Whitbread, Cisse
Booked: Eustace, Hughes
CHELSEA: Schwarzer 6, Azpilicueta 7, Cole 6, Mikel 7, Cahill 6, Luiz 6, Ramires 6, Essien 5 (Hazard 55, 7), Eto'o 6 (Torres 64, 6), Oscar 8 (Baker 87), Willian 7
Subs not used: Cech, Mata, Terry, Kalas
Goals: Mikel 66, Oscar 71
Booked: Ramires
Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 32,110
Ratings by Sami Mokbel at the iPro Stadium
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Chelsea's 16th successive third-round
triumph - their last loss at this stage was in 1998 against Manchester
United - set up a fourth-round tie at home to Stoke, but was tinged with
controversy as Ramires was booked for diving by Andre Marriner.
Referee
Marriner controversially awarded Chelsea a penalty in the home draw
with West Brom in November, after Ramires went to ground under minimal
contact from Steven Reid.
That
decision saved Mourinho's unbeaten league home record at Chelsea, but
there was no direct impact on the result on this occasion.
However
the incident did place renewed doubt on Mourinho's claim that 'there
are no divers at Chelsea' following Oscar's booking in the New Year's
Day win at Southampton.
Mourinho
made six changes following the 3-0 win at St Mary's Stadium, with Mark
Schwarzer, David Luiz, Michael Essien, Oscar, Willian and Samuel Eto'o
in for Petr Cech, John Terry, Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Andre Schurrle and
Fernando Torres.
County
made two enforced changes following the Sky Bet Championship loss to
Wigan, with striker Johnny Russell (fractured cheekbone) and midfielder
Craig Bryson (groin) replaced by Jeff Hendrick and Simon Dawkins.
Opener: Mikel heads the ball into the net to break the deadlock for Chelsea in the 66th minute
Unstoppable: Oscar (left) holds off Derby's Jeff Hendrick as he fires a strike into the net for 2-0
Job done: Oscar (right) is congratulated by Willian after doubling Chelsea's lead
Ashley
Cole, making his third start in four games following a spell out of
favour, cut out a Craig Forsyth cross towards Jamie Ward and Dawkins
shot over on the turn as Derby started well, without testing Schwarzer.
Chelsea had a glorious opportunity to take the lead when Mikel fed Eto'o to go through one-on-one with Lee Grant.
But
Eto'o failed to show the pace which helped to make him a prolific and
feared striker at Barcelona and Inter Milan and Derby's defence were
able to cover.
Going: The athletic Chelsea midfielder runs into the Derby penalty area with purpose
Going: Despite the obvious lack of contact, Ramires begins his dive after entering the penalty box
Going: Chelsea midfielder Ramires nearly hits the ground after his dive against Derby
Gone: He's on the floor despite no contact being made, and ref Andre Marriner rightly books him
A slack pass from Luiz presented Ward with an opportunity to run at Chelsea which the Derby striker gleefully accepted.
Ward darted forward, but his shot was blocked by Gary Cahill, much to his defensive partner's relief.
Ramires and then Oscar, with a free-kick, fired narrowly wide for the Blues.
Oscar went close again after evading John Eustace in midfield before blasting a curling effort which went a yard wide.
Eustace had an effort on goal at the other end, but Schwarzer comfortably held County's first shot on target, before Oscar again tried his luck from the edge of the area at the other end with a shot which was always going over.
Rough treatment: Chelsea's Ramires and John Eustance challenge for a high ball (left), while Derby's Chris Martin is challenged by Chelsea's David Luiz (right)
Spectacular: Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant dives to make a save during the FA Cup third round clash
Close quarters: Derby's John Hendrick (right) shields the ball from Chelsea's Mikel
The Brazilian trio of Willian, Oscar and Ramires was Chelsea's greatest threat.
Willian
found Ramires in first-half stoppage time and the latter made space to
shoot left-footed against the foot of the post as the half ended
goalless.
The second
half resumed with Jake Buxton clearing a dangerous cross by Oscar, who
was found by Willian, as Eto'o lurked in the centre.
Ward curled a free-kick over and saw a deflected shot trickle towards Schwarzer soon after as Derby continued to press forward.
Mourinho had seen enough and introduced Hazard for Essien.
Arms streched: Derby's Conor Sammon (right) competes for the ball with Willian
Switch: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho (right) makes a change as Fernando Torres replaces Samuel Eto'o
Mikel
was handed the captain's armband on his landmark appearance as Ramires
took Essien's place alongside him in defensive midfield.
Nine more minutes elapsed before the ineffective Eto'o was replaced by Torres with Mourinho's intent clear.
A replay was the last thing Mourinho wanted and his positive change was rewarded as Chelsea went ahead almost immediately.
The visitors were awarded a free-kick wide on the left and Willian curled the ball in for Mikel to head in at the near post.
Ramires was booked for diving when there was no contact from Michael Keane in the Derby box, before Chelsea claimed a second.
Touchline banter: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho (right) and his Derby counterpart Steve McClaren share a laugh
Too close for comfort: Chelsea's Gary Cahill is put under pressure from Will Hughes
Feverish: Derby fans were in a bouyant mood as they welcomed Chelsea to the iPro Stadium
International theme: Football funs unfurl a Brazilian flag at the iPro Stadium in Derby
Oscar darted into the right side of the Derby box and unleashed a vicious shot which beat Grant at his near post.
Torres might have had a third after rounding Grant, but the ball became caught under the Spaniard's feet.
He immediately had a chance to make amends, but Grant was equal to the striker's shot across goal.
A Ramires shot deflected on to the crossbar as Chelsea threatened again entering the final 10 minutes.
Chris Martin forced Schwarzer into a sharp save but that was as good as it got for Derby as Chelsea advanced.
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