Derby County tactics
Steve McClaren intended for his side to respect Chelsea when defending by packing their defensive half. When in possession, the Rams had to mix up their attacks by trying patient build-ups or going for the direct route with goalkeeper Lee Grant looking for the early, long ball to centre-forward Chris Martin, then letting the midfielders fight for second balls.
When out of possession, they had to defend in a 4-5-1 formation with Martins leading the pressing. Johnny Russell and Simon Dawkins had to track back with Chelsea’s full-backs to allow Derby’s full-backs to concentrate on forming a compact defensive line of four with the central defenders.
In central midfield, Will Hughes and Craig Bryson had to press Chelsea’s central midfielders, while holding midfielder Omar Mascarell needed to mind Chelsea’s central attacking midfielder just in front of the Rams’ back four.
When they had sustained possession, Derby had to try and impose their usual passing game with full-backs Cyrus Christie and Craig Forsyth pushing into Chelsea’s half to supply crosses to the three forwards.
Hughes and Bryson had to back-up play through the middle, while Dawkins and Russell needed to make diagonal runs inside to support Martin to complete the 4-3-3 offensive formation.
Chelsea tactics
Jose Mourinho tasked Didier Drogba to lead the attack, like he did in the 2-1 win over Shrewsbury in the last round, but there were a couple of changes in midfield. Nemanja Matic started alongside John Obi Mikel as a central midfield pair, which resulted in Cesc Fabregas starting in a more advanced role.
When in possession, the Blues had to release their full-backs down the flanks as usual, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Filipe Luis pushing on as right-back and left-back, respectively. In central midfield, Mikel and Matic had to sit in front of the central defenders forming a protective block that was designed to contain Derby’s quick transitional play.
With those four sitting, the three attacking midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation were free to attack in the final-third with, Andre Schurrle drifting inside from the right flank to join Drogba, while Eden Hazard kept the width down the left flank. Fabregas had the licence to float in between the lines to link up play as a playmaker.
When out of possession, Fabregas had to join Drogba in leading the pressing before the Spanish midfielder dropped into midfield to help out when play bypassed him. Hazard and Schurrle pressed from the sides of midfield, while Mikel and Matic double-pivoted in front of the back four.
Key tactical changes
Chelsea were 2-0 up 10 minutes into the second-half as they ruthlessly punished any mistakes from the Championship side. McClaren tried to chase the game by encouraging his side to commit forward in numbers and the Rams boss also introduced the talented Jordon Ibe as a left midfielder.
The key substitution though came from Chelsea as Loic Remy added pace on the break when he replaced injured Drogba up top. Remy’s pace resulted in Jake Buxton getting sent-off when the central defender tried to stop Remy from getting on the end of a ball played in behind the Rams’ defence.
A man down and a goal down McClaren turned to a 4-3-2 formation to have four defenders containing Chelsea, while Ibe partnered Martin up top to retain the offensive threat. Bryson and Jeff Hendrick flanked Leon Best in midfield.
With an understaffed midfield, right winger Russell dropping to left-back and left-back Forsyth tucking in at centre-back, Derby were bound to easily open up so Chelsea exploited that left channel to score their third.
