Chelsea – Manchester United

Manchester United make the trip to Chelsea in an FA Cup quarter-final replay for the right to face Manchester City at Wembley on April 14.

Chelsea team to play Man United: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Ramires, Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Ba

Man United: De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Nani, Hernandez, Welbeck.

Subs. Chelsea: Turnbull, Terry, Benayoun, Bertrand, Moses, Lampard, Torres; Man United: Giggs, Lindegaard, Young, van Persie, Powell, Kagawa, Vermijl

So no Wayne Rooney again after he missed out on Saturday. It was thought he was being rested for today.

Chelsea look to have put out a much stronger side - but we all know how Hernandez loves playing against Chelsea.

Join me shortly for live commentary. Meanwhile you can follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/dalejohnsonESPN" target="_blank">@dalejohnsonESPN</a>

We have just found out that Wayne Rooney picked up a groin injury on international duty - hence his absence.

The teams are about to come out of the tunnel.

Sir Alex Ferguson has just told ITV that Wayne Rooney will be fit to face Manchester City next Monday.

<b>Opta stat:</b> Excluding penalty shootouts, Chelsea have not lost an FA Cup game at Stamford Bridge since March 2003 (W20 D4).

Man United fans chant at Chelsea: "Where's your racist centre half?" - In reference to John Terry being on the bench today.

And it's Chelsea who kick off at the Bridge.

It's a scrappy opening.

Man United enjoying an extended period of possession.

Brilliant turn by Oscar who then under hits his cut back to Hazard and Jones can intercept.

A reminder we go right the way through to extra-time and penalties today if required.

Evra swings in a cross looking for Hernandez, Luiz's flicked header puts it away for a throw.

Chelsea will surely look to target Valencia at right-back for United. He's played that role before though.

No one has been remotely near either goal yet.

Oscar crosses in from the right, but it's poor and Valencia lets it run out for a goal-kick.

<b>Opta stat: </b>Javier Hernandez has scored in six of the last seven meetings between Manchester United and Chelsea.

Good run from Ramires but his lay-off to Hazard is wayward and United can break.

Welbeck is given a ball to chase up against Ivanovic, and the United man looks to have the beating of his man. Ivanovic does brilliantly to track back, win the ball and stride forward with it.

United allowing Chelsea plenty of time to pass the ball around on the halfway line.

Nice ball down the line from Welbadck to Nani - but the Portuguese's control lets him down and he knocks it out for a throw.

Jones is penalised for a foul on Hazard inside the Chelsea half.

Luiz bundles Welbeck off the ball, free-kick to United this time in the centre of the park.

Tweet from TV legend and United fan Eamonn Holmes: "Somebody let me know when Nani completes a pass."

Next incident: Nani plays a pass to Valencia too short. Will keep an eye out though, Eamonn.

Next incident: Nani plays a pass directly to a Chelsea player.

In summary: Nani is having a complete mare.

Ferdinand plays a pass over the top straight to Cech.

United break superbly, Welbeck knocks it round Cole - the left-back pulls up injured - it is worked to Nani who has a simple pass to Hernandez who would be through. And he passes it to the Chelsea defender again!

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ashley Cole, who clearly pulled something in that chase with Welbeck, is replaced by Ryan Bertrand.

Nani's display so far has to be one of the worst seen in a United shirt since Gary Neville's sad demise.

And the game itself isn't much better than Nani's performance.

And right on cue Ramires puts a cross-field pass into touch.

The ball was just given away by each team a total of four times in the space of five seconds.

Welbeck feeds in Cleverley on the overlap, his pass across the face of goal is hacked away by Ivanovic.

Hernandez cuts in from the right, it's on his left foot which he does not favour and in trying to turn back onto his right he slips - and in nips a defender

Ivanovic gets too close to Cleverley and that's going to be a free-kick on the left flank.

Nani takes, it's too close to Cech who can punch away.

Mikel bundles into Jones on the halfway line. Free-kick.

<a href="http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1395353/sir-alex-ferguson:-wayne-rooney-missing-due-to-groin-injury?cc=5739" target="_blank">Story: Rooney missing due to groin injury</a>

Hazard feeds in Ba on the right, De Gea gets down well to his left to save the first time shot with his feet.

Ramires feeds in Ba on the left this time - Smalling gets close to block the shot.

Handball given against Nani on the left flank. A good chance to deliver into the danger area for Chelsea.

But David Luiz opts to shoot and finds the back of the stand.

The Chelsea fans boo after the play is stopped so Nani can get treatment for a head injury. He did get Mikel's elbow in his nose but it was nothing more than a brush.

Hazard chases down Valenica and does brilliantly to win a corner.

Hazard takes into the near post to Luiz, there's too much pressure on the Brazilian but the ball runs for Ramires 25 yards out - a weak effort which De Gea claims easily on the bounce.

Nani's powerful effort from 30 yards goes a couple of yards wide and had Cech scrambling. United's first shot of the game in the 38th minute.

Neat play around the box as Oscar's tap to Hazard results in a first-time shot from the Belgian - but it is rifled a couple of yards over.

Oscar goes down under a push from Evra on the right flank. Evra protests his innocence but Chelsea can put this in the mixer.

The free-kick is floated into the hands of De Gea.

De Gea gets United moving instantly with a kick up to Hernandez on the halfway line, he spins and shoots from distance and the swerve on the ball almost does for Cech - the keeper dives to the right and has to throw out a leg to his left to prevent a goal.

The game has definitely improved in the last few minutes. Though that wasn't going to be difficult.

United want a penalty for a tug back by Bertrand on Nani as the Portuguese chased down Cech - ref Dowd says no.

United do get a free-kick 35 yards from goal, it's floated in and via a slice from Luiz it results in a United corner.

The corner comes in from the right, Welbeck wins the header but it's a token gesture and Chelsea eventually clear.

One minute to be added on.

Mikel shoots from the edge of the box, it hits the back of Smalling and goes for a corner right on half-time.

Mata takes, De Gea catches.

And there goes the half-time whistle.

It was an awful 35 minutes but at least we have seen more attacking impetus towards the end of the half. But at the moment a goal looks a long way away.

Join me shortly for the second half. Meanwhile you can follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/dalejohnsonESPN" target="_blank">@dalejohnsonESPN</a>

The players are coming back out.

And United get us started in the second half.

Jones is fouled by David Luiz right on the edge of the area on the right.

Takes take - and hits the wall. Nani tries again - and puts the ball in Cech's hands.

Bertrand delivers from the left and Ba tries an audacious flick towards goal, it poses no problems for De Gea.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL - DEMBA BA</b>

Mata played a ball over the top and Ba instictively stuck out a leg and hooked it into the top corner past a helpless De Gea.

Now this game is going to have to change. United have to up their game and we may well see the likes of Robin van Persie soon.

Valencia plays a short ball in to Nani and looks for a return down the line. Nani passes it out of play.

<b>Opta stat:</b> Phil Jones completed all 31 passes that he attempted in the first half of this match for Manchester United.

Mata goes to the floor looking for a foul by Valencia - Phil Dowd waves play on.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Cleverley goes in not very cleverly on Ramires.

Nani sees his snap shot on the edge of the box blocked by Ramires.

<b>Opta stat:</b> Chelsea have now scored in 34 successive FA Cup matches at Stamford Bridge.

Mata's shot hits the back of Hazard and spins behind for a goal-kick.

Chelsea starting to get on the front foot now. Sir Alex needs to change this quickly.

Free-kick to Chelsea on the left flank. Mata's delivery is headed away by Welbeck.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Bertrand tries to prevent a United break with a cynical trip on Hernandez.

WHAT A SAVE, PETR CECH!

Welbeck crosses to a completely unmarked Hernandez who must score from just a couple of yards out. His header looks to have beaten Cech but the goalkeeper somehow threw out an arm and palmed the ball over the bar.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Robin van Persie is on, Tom Cleverley the man to make way.

Part of the Chelsea crowd is up as Mata's shot hits the sidenetting. He wants a corner but goal-kick is the decision.

This game is going to get stretched now. Who can take advantage of that?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ryan Giggs is on in place of Nani.

Jones has gone to right back with Valencia moving to the right wing. Giggs will sit in the middle of the park.

Carrick slices a shot into the top of the stand from near 30 yards.

Great chance for Hazard! That should have been two!

Hazard nipped onto a wayward pass by Carrick, danced through into the area with only De Gea to beat - but dragged his shot a few yards wide of the opposite post. Poor effort.

Snapshot from Mikel ends up where it usually does - behind for a goal-kick.

Chelsea will naturally get deeper now - but can United find a way through the see of blue?

Oscar almost feeds in Hazard - Jones makes a superb tackle to snuff out the danger.

Ba does well to win a corner off Smalling.

Mata takes, it falls for Jones who clears with a hoof.

Ramires fires well wide from the edge of the box after meeting a square ball from Hazard.

Cech stands and watches as Valencia's shot flies behind and hits an advertising hoarding.

Foul given against Welbeck - hand in the back of Azpilicueta

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Azpilicueta for a clumsy challenge on Welbeck.

Mata fires over the bar after Bertrand managed to win it off Jones on the edge of the box.

Carrick hits a shot into Mikel.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> United's last throw of the dice is Ashley Young on for Welbeck.

Mata dangerously jinks towards the edge of the box ... before tripping over his own feet.

Up the other end and Van Persie is within a whisker of connecting with a cross and heading United level.

Now Chelsea in attack, Mata firing a few yards wide from the edge of the area.

Young's ball over the top for Van Persie runs straight out for a goal-kick.

What can United muster in the final moments of this game. Can they force extra-time?

Oscar and Hazard produce a neat bit of interplay, it's Oscar who tries the shot but it's always going wide of the left post.

Jones needlessly fouls Oscar and Chelsea can take their time over the free-kick.

The free-kick is worked to Ba who spins superbly and looks to be through on goal - but he is penalised for a foul on Smalling.

It's hard to see United equalising. There has been no sign of the alamo in the latter stages of the game.

What a miss, Robin van Persie!

Ashley Young does superbly, cutting a pass back for an unmarked Van Persie ten yards out - and Van Persie skies his effort way over the ball. That should have been 1-1

Mata's shot is saved by De Gea, the Spaniard unable to get the ball out from under his feet to get any power on the effort.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Mata is booked for a foul on Valencia as the United winger looked to break.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Oscar enters the book for a trip on Young.

Giggs crosses deep for Hernandez, he can only head out of play from a very narrow angle.

Four minutes to be added on.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Moses replaces Oscar

So close to Wembley now for Rafa Benitez and Chelsea.

Another great ball into the box from which finds Van Persie in a great position but he heads over. Three months ago that would have landed in the back of the net.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ba is replaced by Torres.

30 seconds left.

And that's it! Chelsea are through to the FA Cup semi-final where they will play Manchester City, on April 14.

It wasn't a great game, but in the second half Chelsea certainly did enough to warrant the win.

United were poor and although they wasted chances to level, they were never convincing in the final third.

Demba Ba's goal deserved to win any game, and Chelsea will now hope he can repeat that against Man City in the semi.

That's it for today. You can follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/dalejohnsonESPN" target="_blank">@dalejohnsonESPN</a>