Chelsea progressed to the Fourth Round of the Carling Cup on Wednesday night following a 4-3 penalty shootout win over West London neighbours Fulham.

Martin Jol’s team failed to take advantage of a 49th minute red card for Blues defender Alex, and after Pajtim Kasami missed the resulting spot kick, Chelsea put in what manager Andre Villas-Boas described as a “super human performance” to stay on terms for over an hour despite being a man light.

The Portuguese’s selection included teenagers Josh McEachran, Romelu Lukaku and Oriol Romeu, whilst there was also a full debut for 22 year-old left-back Ryan Bertrand and another start for Daniel Sturridge. They were joined by Paulo Ferreira and Salomon Kalou in making rare first team appearances, whilst experience was on hand in the form of captain Petr Cech, defenders Alex and David Luiz, and Florent Malouda in midfield.

Fulham too shuffled their deck, affording starts to youngsters Matthew Briggs and Kerim Frei from their academy, whilst new signings Kasami, Bryan Ruiz, Marcel Gecov and Orlando Sá were handed the chance to show what they have to offer in Jol’s 5-3-2 formation, with Briggs and Stephen Kelly providing the width from wing-back.

Chelsea made most of the early going but were unable to make their territorial advantage count. Sturridge and Malouda went close but not close enough, whilst Kalou’s glancing header was off target.

A rampant counter attack involving Cech, McEachran and Lukaku culminated in the big Belgian driving a right-footed effort on target, but Fulham captain Mark Schwarzer was equal to it.

The visitors were keen to exploit the high defensive line Chelsea have used so far this season, but on this night Cech was noticeably playing closer to his back four in a sweeper-type role and the Blues were thankful for that when the giant Czech custodian was alert to beat Orlando Sá to a long through ball.

Winger Frei was lively in bursts and showed the capacity to dribble past men at will, whilst Sá’s lively running kept Chelsea on their toes at the back as Fulham pressed their way back into the game.

Chelsea saw a goal disallowed when Sturridge was deemed offside as he converted McEachran’s goal-bound effort. The 18 year-old midfielder had neatly exchanged passes with Lukaku in the box and was set to score before Sturridge tried to make sure.

It would prove an unfortunate mistake as the forward suffered an injury in the process and was forced off, being replaced by Frank Lampard.

Cech would also make way through injury as he failed to return for the second half after colliding with Sá just before the half time whistle. Suffering dizziness after a blow to the head, he took a safety-first approach and allowed Ross Turnbull to deputise.

Both Sturridge and Cech are expected to be fine after post-match evaluations showed no sign of serious problems.

Chelsea started the second half well and Kalou will be disappointed that he was unable to finish from the right side of the penalty box, driving his shot into the near post side netting.

The game swung less than five minutes after the restart when Alex felled the whippet-like Frei in the box. Referee Chris Foy awarded the penalty and gave the Brazilian his marching orders, much to the big man’s dismay.

Swiss midfielder Kasami stepped up but saw his spot kick crash back off the crossbar, a chance well and truly spurned.

In an effort to shore up the back four Villas-Boas introduced John Terry in relief of Josh McEachran, opting for more experience rather than drop the impressive Oriol Romeu into a familiar position alongside David Luiz and shuffle the midfield around.

Romeu shone for large parts of his full debut, displaying tenacity and intelligence in the tackle and exhibiting all of the hallmarks of a typical defensive midfielder. His passing was tidy enough if rarely expansive but he played with confidence and leadership throughout.

Being forced into all three substitutions limited Villas-Boas’ options and meant that a planned runout for Didier Drogba was now impossible. It also meant that Lukaku would have to soldier on in a lone striker’s role and despite visibly labouring, the teenager gave it every ounce of energy he had remaining as Chelsea played on a man light.

For their long spells of advantage with the ball, Fulham rarely created anything to worry Turnbull and instead the Blues had the better chances to win the match inside 90 minutes. Malouda’s golden opening from twelve yards out was wasted as he scuffed an effort on his right foot, whilst David Luiz charged around like a man possessed determined to make something happen.

Turnbull was to be tested, and he passed with flying colours in the closing stages, making outstanding stops to first deny substitute Dembele and then Kasami in quick succession.

Bertrand drew Schwarzer into action with a fine effort after good play with Malouda and Luiz tried and failed again as the match went into extra time. There was little by way of notable action in the addtional period with both sides tiring but Romeu, Malouda, Zamora and Sidwell respectively all went as close as anyone else had on the evening.

And so to penalties, with supporters inside Stamford Bridge more than aware of the club’s appalling recent history in such situations. Their outlook hardly improved after Lampard’s opening gambit was parried by Schwarzer in front of a swarming Matthew Harding Lower tier.

Zamora confirmed Fulham’s early advantage, and it lasted through successful spot kicks from David Luiz, Steve Sidwell and John Terry, who was stepping up for the first time since missing in Moscow three years ago.

Turnbull guessed right to deny Dembele and restore parity, and after Kalou, Baird and Malouda converted, Ruiz’s effort hit the underside of the crossbar and did not cross the line to put Chelsea into the hat for Saturday’s draw.

Chelsea: Cech (c) (Turnbull 45), Ferreira, Alex, David Luiz, Bertrand, McEachran (Terry 51), Romeu, Malouda, Sturridge (Lampard 43), Lukaku, Kalou
Subs not Used: Bosingwa, Mikel, Mata, Drogba
Sent off: Alex 47
Booked: Lampard 120

Speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow night’s Carling Cup Third Round clash with Fulham, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas indicated that he would be using the tie and indeed the competition to hand opportunities to the club’s younger generation.

Villas-Boas confirmed that Josh McEachran, Ryan Bertrand, Oriol Romeu and Romelu Lukaku would all be part of the starting eleven, whilst Didier Drogba is also expected to make a return to action after suffering a concussion and facial injuries against Norwich City.

Keen to deflect attention away from Sunday’s 3-1 reverse at Old Trafford and towards the midweek fixture, Villas-Boas said “We have chosen this approach [to the Carling Cup] to promote the youngsters….I think opportunities will be given to our youngest players.”

He also indicated that should the Blues progress through the competition, a similar approach would be adopted as a matter of principle.

Backup goalkeeper Hilário is the only notable absentee through injury, and will also be unavailable for the weekend league match at home to Swansea City.

Chelsea enter this season’s Carling Cup on Wednesday night and as usual, speculation abounds as to how the club will approach the competition ahead of their third round clash with local neighbours Fulham.

The tie represents Andre Villas-Boas’ first foray into the league cup and whilst many clubs treat it as an unwanted distraction, the Portuguese will no doubt recall that it represented his first piece of silverware in his first spell at Stamford Bridge as Jose Mourinho led the Blues to glory in Cardiff in early 2005.

Fulham arrive at the Bridge in the middle of a run of seven fixtures in twenty-one days for Chelsea. At the outset of the run, Villas-Boas indicated that the squad would be used to its fullest during this spell, particularly with an international round (and the lengthy travelling it typically entails) preceding it.

Sandwiched between a defeat at Old Trafford and the visit of Swansea City in the league, conventional wisdom suggests Villas-Boas will use the match to hand playing time to a clutch of players who are in desperate need of it.

Chief amongst these, at least in the eyes of many supporters, is Josh McEachran. The 18 year-old midfielder has yet to make an appearance this season after receiving a generous helping of action in the summer, and was absent from the substitutes bench at Manchester United last weekend.

It was twelve months ago that he made his home debut in this very competition and an outstanding cameo against Newcastle instantly shot him into the limelight. Now, he will be looking for the opportunity to impress and stake a claim for more involvement in the Chelsea midfield.

Teenage kicks is often the theme in the Carling Cup and whilst neither Oriol Romeu and Romelu Lukaku are home-grown academy products, they represent the future of the club and are both set to make their full debuts after fleeting minutes from the bench thus far.

Throw in left-back Ryan Bertrand and you have a fairly decent smattering of youthful endeavour. Alongside them, the likes of Salomon Kalou, Paulo Ferreira, David Luiz and Florent Malouda should add experience and ensure that the Blues remain competitive against good opposition.

Undoubtedly, John Terry and Frank Lampard will be keen to feature, but as Villas-Boas showed last week agaisnt Bayer Leverkusen, he is not afraid to leave them on the sidelines when rest is needed.

There will also be a clamour for the inclusion of Fernando Torres in search of a much-needed confidence boost, but the Spaniard is unlikely to be handed a starting berth.

WIth Hilário and Ross Turnbull nursing injuries, Petr Cech could make his first Carling Cup appearance since the 2007-08 Final against Tottenham. Welsh fourth-choice stopper Rhys Taylor had a scan on a back problem last week and his status is uncertain, meaning a potential place on the bench for 17 year-old Jamal Blackman.

The first-year pro could be joined by any from Nathaniel Chalobah (suspension appeal pending), Billy Clifford or Jacob Mellis but Blues fans should not expect an Arsenal-esque youth team influx.

Fulham have shown a willingness to rotate their own squad this season, with a lengthy Europa League qualification campaign allowing Matthew Briggs, Kerim Frei, and Tom Donegan to make first-team waves, and Martin Jol will likely repeat the trick on Wednesday night.

Kickoff at Stamford Bridge is set for 7.45pm on Wednesday and the match referee will be Chris Foy.

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.

It might be a cliche, and it might not be clear which one applies just yet, but for Josh McEachran, you can certainly make the case after Wednesday night’s Carling Cup action.

Whilst it’s important not to get carried away, it’s equally proper to give credit where credit is due, and for 35 minutes under the Stamford Bridge floodlights, a 17 year-old playmaker began to flourish before 41,500 eyes.

Newcastle became the first team to win a Cup tie at the home of the English champions for thirty outings and ended the Blues’ Carling Cup campaign prematurely after a seven-goal classic which was won in stoppage time.

Having come back from a two-goal deficit whilst playing with ten men, home hearts were broken in stoppage time when Shola Ameobi scored his second of the evening to send the visiting fans home with dreams of long overdue success.

Both managers took the opportunity to rotate their squads, with Carlo Ancelotti finding room for four of the club’s younger players in the starting eleven.

Patrick van Aanholt, Jeffrey Bruma, Gael Kakuta and Daniel Sturridge all came into the team as only Paulo Ferreira and Ramires retained their places from Sunday’s win over Blackpool.

The substitutes bench included five more academy faces in Jan Sebek, Billy Clifford, Jacob Mellis, McEachran, and 15 year-old Nathaniel Chalobah.

Elsewhere there were starts for Ross Turnbull, Yuri Zhirkov and Yossi Benayoun, whilst Newcastle included Sol Campbell for his Toon debut.

Young left sided player Shane Ferguson earned a spot after impressing for the reserves against Chelsea’s second string last week, and young forwards Haris Vuckic and Nile Ranger were also featured.

Things began superbly for the hosts as they took the lead with just six minutes on the clock. It was a goal made and finished by the reserve team as Kakuta pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area before cutting it back to van Aanholt, who struck a right-footed effort which beat good friend Tim Krul.

The Dutch Under-21 international had spent part of last season loan against Newcastle, but was ecstatic in celebration at scoring on his full debut.

It settled the game down for Ancelotti’s side, but Newcastle’s approach was tenacious and summed up by a tackle on Kakuta which sent the Frenchman flying through the air and landing hard. Ryan Taylor was duly booked for the indiscretion.

Chelsea looked fairly comfortable but there was always an air of uncertainty as long balls were hit up to big forwards Ranger and Ameobi, who took it upon themselves to play wide and dominate the smaller full backs.

It was this which contributed to their equaliser midway through the first half, as a cross from Peter Lovenkrands evaded John Terry’s head before being turned in by Ranger at the far post.

The England Under-19 forward had escaped the attentions of goalscorer van Aanholt for a split second, but it was enough to find the half yard of space necessary to beat the sprawling Turnbull.

Buoyed by their newly-restored parity, it took a mere four minutes for Chris Hughton’s side to take the lead. This time it was Bruma who would learn the ramifications of a mistake at the top level, as he hauled down Ameobi on the edge of the area.

As he contemplated his booking, he could only watch as Ryan Taylor crashed the set piece beyond Turnbull’s outstretched left hand.

Critics may note that the ball went to the goalkeeper’s side, but from such close range with such a fiercely struck ball, Petr Cech would have struggled to keep it out.

With the game turned on its head, Chelsea looked truly shaken, and it took a gallop of pace from Bruma to match a last ditch tackle on Ameobi to deny a third goal before the break.

The chance had emerged after some sloppy play by Terry on the half way line, and the captain would make way at the break, having come through his planned 45 minutes unscathed physically.

He was replaced by Alex, whilst Salomon Kalou came on for Kakuta, who had struggled to get back into the game after being hit hard by Taylor.

Unfortunately, a series of hammer blows were about to strike Chelsea and ultimately do for their cup ambitions.

Barely five minutes of the second half had gone when more sloppy play in the middle of the park led to Ameobi collecting the ball, driving at Alex and curling a low effort past Turnbull from outside the area.

This time the former Middlesbrough man could be faulted, as despite covering the post, he appeared to dive over the ball and miss it as it trickled into the back of the net.

Seeking to now resolve a two-goal deficit, Salomon Kalou went haring after a through ball, but pulled up with a serious-looking hamstring injury. His departure led to the early but significant arrival of McEachran.

Things got worse before they got better though, as Benayoun suffered a similar fate to Kalou, and with all three substitutes used, Chelsea would have to play out the remaining half an hour with just ten men.

In such circumstances, individuals step up and take the weight of the team on their back. With the usual suspects not on duty, it fell to Nicolas Anelka to lead the way, and he did so superbly, but was ably assisted by a player fourteen years his junior.

McEachran came on and lined up alongside Ramires in what was a 4-2-3 formation, but with the Brazilian tiring, he was required to cover the work of two or three players.

He thrived upon the pressure, taking control of the ball and displaying patience, guile and confidence which belied his years. A fleetness of foot and energy in abundance, it was perhaps the least likely player in blue leading the charge.

And what a charge it was.

Alex struck the post from the edge of the area after reacting quickly to Bruma’s free kick which hit the ball, but with twenty minutes left, the game was back on.

A fine flowing move down the left wing saw van Aanholt beat his man for pace as he approached the edge of the area. Keeping his composure, he cut the ball back and Anelka opened his body beautifully to place the ball into the far corner of the net.

Now being played at a breakneck pace, a truly superb finale was on the cards, but it began to take its toll on those involved. Van Aanholt had to take on fluids more than once in the late stages, whilst Ferreira and Ramires were noticeably flagging.

Anelka kept going though, and was rewarded for his efforts fives minutes from time. The ball found its way to Alex – by now playing as an auxiliary striker – inside the penalty area, and under contact from sub Cheik Tioté, the Brazilian went down.

Phil Dowd pointed to the spot, and the Frenchman was the epitome of cool as he rolled the ball into the bottom corner, Krul not even diving.

Roared on by an awoken home following, the comeback was almost completed in spectacular, yet unlikely, fashion. More approach play down the left saw a cross delivered to the far post, where the ball was struck on the full volley by Ferreira.

With just two goals in six years, he watched agonisingly as his stupendous effort clipped the outside of the post.

As the fourth official prepared to announce six minutes of injury time, there was a sting in the tail. Jonás’ corner found the head of Ameobi, and he silenced the Bridge, bar the delirious travelling masses.

A late effort from McEachran rolled agonisingly wide of the post after some fine trickery to eke out the chance, but the game was up and Newcastle progressed to the fourth round.

It might have been a disappointment on the scoresheet, but the evening had so many positives.

Van Aanholt scored a goal and made another in his first start for the club, and showed fine character to bounce back from a lapse in concentration which cost a goal at the other end. Bruma looked at least as good as Terry and Alex, making a series of impressive tackles.

When it truly mattered, Alex and Anelka stepped up, as they needed to. But they were joined, and overshadowed, by a teenage star. The trio deserved a win, but on this night, it was not to be.

Chelsea: Ross Turnbull, Paulo Ferreira, John Terry (c) (Alex ’45), Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick van Aanholt, Ramires, Yossi Benayoun, Yuriy Zhirkov, Gael Kakuta (Salomon Kalou 45 (Josh McEachran 56) ), Daniel Sturridge, Nicolas Anelka