Superb! So proud of ‘em.

City were the better team; City deserved the win. Those were the sensible and sobering words from ‘the becoming tiresome one’ after the game. I’ll go with that.

Breaking it down

The official attendance was 47,013. I thought it was 47,014 myself – did Pantilimon have a save to make? He scooped up a few from the ground and in the air but that was about it. Easy day’s work for the BIG man. 6.5/10

Will the real Gael Clichy please stand up! Actually, I don’t care who the real Gael Clichy is as long as the one we saw a White Hart Lane and at the Etihad yesterday keeps the other one well out of the way. He was excellent yesterday. 8/10

If Lescott gets dropped too many times between now and the end of the season he won’t be the only one who will be disappointed. He might not look pretty on the ball at times…BUT HE DEFENDS! And he does it pretty well too. At the moment, he’s the best one we have to play alongside Vinny. But will he play against Barca? Watch this space…  Yesterday though? 8/10

Often the shortest descriptions are given to those players who produce superb displays. Vinny was superb yesterday. 9/10

Zabaleta. Which title is the more appropriate, Mr Dependable or Mr Consistent? Either way both are meant as huge compliments. 8/10

Security! SECURITY! Who was the imposter wearing the Javi Garcia mask? Wow! I don’t want to go overboard but by his own (very low) standards he was immense yesterday! He was intelligent in his positioning; covering and protecting the back 4 left, right and centre. He made his presence felt for once in midfield and passed well. A never thought I’d ever see 8/10. Well done him!

Milner. In for Navas he never let down (does he ever?). Energetic and a real pest to Chelsea. 8/10

Maestro performance from Silva once again. Just utter class. 9/10

When he’s ‘on blob’ Yaya is simply unstoppable and yesterday he got better and better and the game went on and Chelsea faded. 9/10

Jovetic. If ONLY he’d taken part in a full pre-season with Manchester City and, of course, hadn’t have had a series of injuries and illnesses. We’re really starting to see why so many were after the Montenegrin forward. Mobile, skilful, creative and a goal scorer. The full package really. 8/10

Some very good play from Dzeko yesterday; his control was much better than we usual see from the frustrating one. Still need to impose himself a little more but a solid and creditable 7/10

BANG! Nasri is back. 8/10

When you’re a fading, tiring team how daunting must it be to see Navas coming on? J Put Chelsea further on the back foot. 7/10

Not much time to rate but he put himself about as though he wasn’t shoulder sore. Good to see Negredo get a run.

 

56% possession, 14 shots to their 3; 6 on target to their none.

Not good to see…

…the sore-losing Chelsea fans. Fighting with Police/Stewards and trying to get to the City fans in the corner of the East Stand towards the end of the game and after the final whistle. The Police and ground safety officials were well prepared but it’s sad that they had to be.

Great to hear…

…that we didn’t give Mourinho centre stage (for the most part) until the very end of the game…where we than gave Jose verbal hell! It was most pleasing to remind the ‘slapped-arse-faced one’ how dull his team can perform at times.

Well-done Uwe!

So pleased to see Uwe Rosler steer his Wigan Athletic side into the quarter finals with a brilliant away win at Cardiff City. The Championship team – the current F.A. Cup holders need I have to remind any Blue – apparently had 5 ‘first teamers’ out too; with ‘ineligible to play’ loanees and injuries!

Wouldn’t it be great to have a City v Uwe final at Wembley? A great reunion with the former Maine Road hero…and revenge over the pie eaters! J

Sunderland are through; Sheffield Wednesday & Charlton Athletic are still to play following a postponement [due to a waterlogged pitch]. Everton v Swansea City, Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest and Arsenal v Liverpool complete Round 5 this afternoon. I hope Arsenal win; on their ‘off day’ they’re more beatable than potent Liverpool at the moment.

Pull a beatable team out of the hat at home in ‘the quarters’ and then it’s all there for the taking! With the semi-final being played at Wembley these days; it makes the semi feel more like the final itself in many ways. That being the case, it truly does become a kind of ‘one off’ to focus all your efforts on.

 

Wembley 3 times in one season (indeed in just 2-½ months)? Jeeze…I suppose it's very possible!

The draw for the quarter final is at 3:30pm (GMT) and can be seen live at TheFA.com and on ITV. Update (16.02.2014 - 3:45pm): Wigan Athletic at home next...