Chelsea have again reached the FA Cup Final by defeating Aston Villa 3-0 in the semi final at Wembley Stadium.

Decisive goals from Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard proved to be more than ample on the day. Avram Grant’s Portsmouth will be our opposition, after they beat Tottenham 2-0 after extra time in the other semi.

Drogba was the only change from the side that beat Manchester United last weekend, returning in place of Nicolas Anelka. Hilario, the cup goalkeeper for the most part, was fit again and on the bench.

Villa, predictably, started with Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew up front with Ashley Young and James Milner wide. Emile Heskey was a sub.

The first flashpoint came in the fifteenth minute. Agbonlahor, despite having a handful of Mikel’s shirt, was felled by the Nigerians challenge. Howard Webb waved play on much to Martin O’Neill’s displeasure.

As it were, Villa failed to take advantage of a sloppy first half from Chelsea, and as ever, the Blues made they pay. Just beyond the hour mark, a poor clearing header reached Terry who snatched at a left foot shot. Though it was going wide, Drogba was on hand to poke it in for his 32nd goal of the season.

The second flashpoint was Webb’s decision to book Terry for a bad tackle on James Milner. O’Neill, incensed by this stage, demanded that Terry be sent off.

The second and third goals followed as Villa pushed forward. Substitute Michael Ballack hung a superb ball up at the back post for Malouda to net his 14th of the season, before Lampard expertly guided a placed shot into the bottom corner for his 22nd.

Plain sailing in the end for the Blues and a real tilt now at defending the Cup and doing their first League/Cup double. Will Avram Grant come back to haunt Chelsea?

Chelsea’s defence of the FA Cup reaches a pivotal stage at Wembley, with the semi final against Aston Villa. Still smarting from their 7-1 crushing at the hands of the Blues a few weeks ago, Villa must produce something altogether improved if they are to figure in the final come May.

For Villa, James Milner is under an injury cloud, as is Richard Dunne, though the former is expected to play. It has to be remember that before the 7-1 match, O’Neill sold a dummy that many of his experienced players were injured – all but Heskey played.

There are no new worries for Chelsea, who are buoyed by the news that Branislav Ivanovic may well feature as a substitute. Nonetheless, the right back position is in safe hands with the wonderfully consistent Paulo Ferreira showing the form of old, having finally been granted an opportunity to impress.

Chelsea and Villa have clashed seven times in the FA Cup, with Villa winning four of those clashes. However, Chelsea have won the most recent two, the most recent being the 2000 Final at the Old Wembley Stadium. Roberto di Matteo scored the winner in the 72nd minute after David James flapped at the corner.

Ladbrokes has installed Chelsea as strong 4/7 favourites, with the draw paying 11/4. Villa are at long odds to turn over the Cup holders, at 5/1.

Chelsea demolished Aston Villa 7-1 in an amazing display of flowing football. Frank Lampard netted four, whilst Florent Malouda’s double and Salomon Kalou’s first league goal of the season underscored a fabulous night for Ancelotti’s Blues.

The lead was Chelsea’s early on, when Malouda blasted a cross right through the penalty area, where Lampard was at the back post to slide in past Friedel. A lapse from the otherwise impressive Zhirkov left Carew to equalise, but from there it was all Chelsea.

Zhirkov won a penalty a minute before half time, after a foul by James Collins. Lampard stepped up to smash it high into the top corner for 2-1.

A beautiful flowing move involving Deco and Zhirkov set up Malouda to finish neatly for the third, midway through the half, before the marauding Russian left back won another penalty after a clumsy challenge from Richard Dunne. Lampard again went left, this time low, to complete his hat trick with his 150th Chelsea goal.

Chelsea had a fifth, just beyond the hour, when Lampard, involved in everything, set up Malouda. The Frenchman, in wonderful goal scoring touch once more, hit a beautiful right footed finish high into the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

The sixth was Salomon Kalou’s, but it was created by the magnificent Anelka, who had an outstanding match as the lone striker. Holding off three Villa defenders with a mixture of skill and strength, he teed up Kalou to neatly finish into the bottom corner.

Frank Lampard presented the pièce de résistance with his fourth and Chelsea’s seventh. It was vintage Lampard as he arrived late at the edge of the box to volley in after a loose Villa clearance.

In doing so, he completed a marvellous, marvellous attacking performance and one that will certainly have Manchester United studying the footage ahead of Chelsea’s visit next weekend.

Chelsea will be looking to continue where they left off after their 5-0 win at Portsmouth, by putting Aston Villa to the sword this weekend at Stamford Bridge.

It will be a true test of whether the Blues have pushed through their recent form slump. Unfortunately though, Ricardo Carvalho has been ruled out for four weeks through injury, so he joins Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Ashley Cole and Essien on the sidelines.

Alex and Paulo Ferreira and Yuri Zhirkov are suddenly very important components of the Chelsea defence.

Villa have James Milner, Richard Dunne, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey in doubt with injuries and it remains to be seen whether Martin O’Neill risks them for this match.

Chelsea are one point off the top of the table going into this match, with a goal difference (+47) identical to that of table toppers Manchester United. Arsenal are a point behind the Blues in third.

Villa are level with Liverpool, but only four points off fourth position in the league and scrapping with Tottenham, Manchester City and even Everton for that coveted spot.

Chelsea were stunned by Villa in the reverse fixture this season, going down 2-1. Drogba gave Chelsea the lead, but goals from Richard Dunne and James Collins turned the match around.

In the corresponding fixture last season, Chelsea won 2-0 with first half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka. Funnily enough, these two teams will clash in the FA Cup semi final, whilst Tottenham and Portsmouth, who will play the other semi final, also clash this week in the league.

Ladbrokes are offering a short 2/5 for the Chelsea win, a reasonably long 7/2 for the draw and a slightly tempting 7/1 for the Villa win.