Southend United have forced a replay after snatching a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Clarke header in injury time secures replay
Southend United have forced a replay after snatching a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea dominated the match from the outset and took the lead through Salomon Kalou after he headed in Frank Lampard's corner on 31 minutes.
Chelsea continued to dictate play in the second half, until an inspired Shrimpers triple substitution changed the game.
Southend defender Peter Clarke hit the bar on 82 minutes following teenage full-back Johnny Herd's cross.
But Clarke would not be denied a second time as he headed Herd's throw-in in front of 6000 away fans.
Blues keeper Steve Mildenhall pulled off a world-class save in the dying moments to set up an unlikely replay a week on Wednesday.
It was just reward for the League One side who valiantly kept out Chelsea's wave of attacks in a pulsating second half.
But Chelsea's need for a first-class finisher was further underlined after an afternoon when they failed to kill off their lowly opponents.
Chelsea's first attempt in the fifth minute was typically lamentable with Frank Lampard sending a 30-yard free-kick well wide of the target.
Drogba should then have put the Blues ahead in the 10th minute but he waited too long to shoot and former Chelsea youngster Anthony Grant managed to get in a superb tackle to deny the Ivorian.
Lampard then fed Joe Cole inside the penalty area but the England international's shot fizzed across the face of the goal and beyond the far post.
In the 14th minute, another Lampard effort from the edge of the penalty area was deflected to safety but the Shrimpers were living dangerously.
But despite their possession, Chelsea were unable to find a chink in the Southend rearguard.
United defender Clarke had to be alert to stop a low cross from Ashley Cole reaching Drogba in the 20th minute and Kalou wasted a clear chance by shooting over from 20 yards seconds later.
Chelsea continued to pile on the pressure and when Lampard found the rampaging Ashley Cole in the 22nd minute, a goal seemed the only eventuality.
However, the England left-back's right-foot shot from 12 yards was saved by Steve Mildenhall and moments later Drogba placed a shot wide with just the United goalkeeper to beat.
Opener
Chelsea continued to dominate and eventually opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Kalou rose unmarked to head home a corner from Lampard.
Three minutes later Drogba could not find the power to beat Mildenhall with a close range header after Ashley Cole had set him up with a cross to the near post.
The goal had enabled Chelsea to with go about their work with calmness but their attempts to increase the scoreline from set pieces were woeful in the extreme.
Juliano Belletti decided it was his turn to try his luck from long-range in the 38th minute but his effort was caught by a surprised onlooker in the second tier of the 'Shed' stand.
Southend had enjoyed little success in attack but a cross from Jean-Francois Christophe had to be turned over his own crossbar by Branislav Ivanovic in the 39th minute.
It was a rare moment of panic in the Chelsea defence and moments later they were back in attack.
But once again their finishing lacked the required quality and Belletti was again guilty of sending his 20-yard effort high and wide.
Southend were unlucky two minutes before the interval when Junior Stanislas made Paulo Ferreira look distinctly
