Chelsea 2-0 Stoke: The Daily Mirror match report

If anyone needed reminding what being captain means to John Terry then his goal celebration told its own story.

After enduring non-stop abuse from the visiting fans, Terry rolled up his sleeve, leaving his armband exposed on his bicep and proceeded to rub Stoke’s noses in it.

Terry is no longer England captain after he played away once too often for Fabio Capello’s liking.

But back home at Stamford Bridge, Terry ruled the roost yesterday with a performance of great mental strength, single-mindedness and terrific resilience in holding Chelsea’s shaky defence together.

Terry capped it all by scoring a precious 67th minute clincher after a typical penalty box header from a Frank Lampard corner.

Terry and Lampard never let Chelsea down and both of them stepped to the plate against Stoke who were second best and rarely troubled the home defence with their usual onslaught.

Lampard delivered with a brilliant man-of-the-match midfield display and the opening goal to put Chelsea on their way to Wembley and just 90 minutes away from the FA Cup final.

But, in truth, it was Terry’s day. Last weekend, Terry was humiliated by Wayne Bridge’s handshake snub, Manchester City’s crushing victory and then having to report up for England duty as a mere foot soldier rather than captain.

It made yesterday a test of Terry’s mental strength and also as Chelsea’s defensive kingpin because Stoke are direct, physical and strong. Their fans were just as harsh, singing every imaginable taunt in Terry’s direction.

Chelsea did look vulnerable at times yesterday and reserve keeper Hilario looked like an accident waiting to happen every time Stoke midfielder Rory Delap launched one of his infamous long throws into the box.

But it was Terry who held it all together and made sure that Chelsea did not succumb to a third successive defeat which would have raised even more question marks about their durability and stomach for the fight.

Having been deposed by Manchester United at the top of the Premier League and suffered defeat at Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League showdown, all eyes were on their FA Cup campaign as a way of restoring pride and confidence.

Early on, Chelsea keeper Hilario looked as vulnerable as he did when he let in four against Manchester City last weekend.

Delap’s fifth minute throw served as a warning as Robert Huth flicked on, Mamady Sidibe beat Hilario to the ball but headed over.

That was let-off number one and another Delap throw in the 15th minute had Chelsea scrambling as Hilario’s weak punch fell to Dean Whitehead and the Stoke midfielder’s shot was cleared off the line by Jon Obi Mikel.

In fairness, Chelsea overcame their early nerves, weathered the storm and began to impose themselves on the cup tie as their superior class told on Stoke who were missing two crucial players in Matt Etherington and Ryan Shawcross.

Without the suspended Shawcross after his horror tackle on Aaron Ramsey, Stoke struggled in defence and that was exposed in the 35th minute as Chelsea took a lead which they never looked like surrendering.

Florent Malouda’s corner was not cleared, Terry controlled the loose ball and set up Lampard who fired home courtesy of a deflection off Abdoulaye Faye which took the rasping shot past Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen.

That put Chelsea in control. Stoke lost Glenn Whelan to injury before half time and simply faded away in the second half. Their chances and attacks were few and far between as they accepted their fate rather tamely.

Chelsea piled on pressure as Lampard, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba all went close while Stoke keeper Sorensen made a string of good saves.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti resisted the loud calls from the home fans to bring on Joe Cole. The chants of “sign him up“ were just as loud as the Chelsea fans are desperate for Cole to be given a new contract.

But it was left to Terry to enjoy his moment. Over came Lampard’s corner, Terry powered in a header and the ball deflected in off Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson. Another deflection but no-one could argue with the score line.

Terry then ran to the Chelsea fans in one corner, rolled up his sleeve and showed off his armband.

As he ran back towards his own penalty box where the away fans were sitting, Terry flexed his muscles and showed off his armband proudly still on his bicep.

It was hardly an Emmanuel Adebayor moment, running all the way up the other end to celebrate. But Terry made his point to the Stoke fans after the non-stop abuse.

It has been incessant since Bridgegate first started. The taunts are unlikely to stop any time soon. But, yesterday, after allowing it to affect him in some recent Chelsea games, Terry showed that he is strong enough to take it and responded well.

And even after the final whistle, Terry took off his shirt, gave it to a kid in the crowd before he trudged off the pitch and yet still kept that armband on. Deposed as England captain, but still Chelsea’s main man.