Like at Southampton on Wednesday, the first half was entertaining and end to end, if shorn of goals, and like at Southampton it needed a second-half header to open the scoring.
After Michael Essien was replaced John Mikel Obi took the captain's armband, and, on his 300th appearance in a Chelsea shirt, capped his day with a goal, thumping home Willian's free-kick with a bullet header.
Oscar added a second soon after, swerving the ball past Derby's keeper Lee Grant with a fine strike, and the remaining minutes were played out in relative comfort as we eventually eased into the fourth round, where a home tie with Stoke City awaits.
Jose Mourinho said he was delighted with his side's attitude against a side going well in the Championship…
'The game was difficult,' said Mourinho. 'In the first half we played quite well, we were not far from scoring but it was still 0-0 at half-time and that is a big risk, because after that if the opponent scores you are in trouble.
'They got the message that in the second half we needed an extra intensity. I decided to change Essien for Eden Hazard to bring an extra attacking player on to make it more difficult for them.
'The team played seriously, we won, job done.'
It was a landmark day for John Mikel Obi, in many respects…
'I never recognise his ability to score goals!' the Portuguese laughed.
'I recognise his ability to play as an anchorman, to play that position in a very comfortable way, with no mistakes. He reads the game well, plays in an intelligent and safe way, but I never recognise his goalscoring appetite.
'There was a smile on my face [when he scored]. For some reason Essien gave him the armband, normally it should go to Ashley Cole, so maybe it made him believe he was a goalscorer!
'It was important for us, we were dominating and dominating, creating and creating but the goal was not arriving. It was like the winning goal.'
~ Chelsea FC News
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