Chelsea stroll in replay

The Premier League’s big-hitters restored some normality to the FA Cup yesterday with holders Chelsea crushing third-tier Brentford 4-0 in a fourth-round replay and Manchester City dismissing Leeds United 4-0 in a fifth-round tie. Midfielder Frank Lampard scored his 199th goal for Chelsea who put four second-half goals past Brentford at Stamford Bridge to secure a fifth-round clash at Championship side Middlesbrough on February 27. Argentine Sergio Aguero scored twice for 2011 winners Manchester City, who eased into the quarter-finals with a confident display that was the complete opposite from their abject surrender in a 3-1 Premier League defeat at Southampton the previous weekend. Top-flight strugglers Wigan Athletic put their relegation fears to one side by breezing past second-tier Huddersfield Town 4-1 with two goals from Ivorian Arouna Kone. Lampard, whose Chelsea future remains unresolved with his contract expiring at the end of the season, tucked away a simple volley on 71 minutes to edge closer to Bobby Tambling’s all-time club record of 202 goals. The goal prompted Chelsea fans to chant “sign him up” as billionaire owner Roman Abramovich forced a wry smile high up in...