Cole delivers double blow for Gills

Chelsea 2 Gillingham 1

There were shocks all round in the Worthington Cup last night but few bigger than that at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea started with five English-born players. Even the stats anoraks in the press box could not remember the last occasion this occurred but it was believed to be at some time between Peter Osgood's retirement and Gianfranco Zola's arrival.

Of the quintet it was the least known who took the eye, not that Carlton Cole will be unknown for long. The 19-year-old marked his return to fitness after a chipped bone by scoring twice to take Chelsea into the Worthington Cup fourth round.

Cole now has four goals in six outings, half of them as a substitute. He could have had a hat-trick had he not been withdrawn but, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink out and Eidur Gudjonsen doubtful, he is likely to be rewarded instead with a place against Birmingham on Saturday. "He is one of the best young players in England," said Claudio Ranieri, the Chelsea manager. "He can do everything. I took him off because he has been out and I did not want him injured."

Even though Chelsea had beaten Gillingham in Cup competitions for the last three seasons Ranieri took no liberties with his First Division opponents. The memory of their humbling Uefa Cup defeat to Viking Stavanger was too close for the Italian to unnecessarily court further ignominy and he fielded a strong team.

Playing deep to avoid giving Gillingham the opportunity to counter-attack they were never in danger of joining this week's Premiership scalps.

The enduring Zola was usually the fulcrum of their attacks twice testing Jason Brown from 20 yards, once after tricking his way past a trio of tackles, then after a driving run by Graeme Le Saux. After 19 minutes he turned provider acting as the wall in a one-two with William Gallas who had stepped out from the back. The Frenchman then released Cole through the centre. Cole cruised away from Barry Ashby, skipped around Brown, and rolled the ball in.

For all Gillingham's possession Chelsea continued to look the more threatening and Le Saux should have scored nine minutes before the break but he pulled his shot across goal. That Chelsea would need a second was soon illustrated as Chris Hope headed Andy Hessenthaler's free-kick past the near post.

The lesson was absorbed and seven minutes after the break Zola fed Jody Morris on the right and Cole rose above Nyron Nosworthy to head in.

With Chelsea secure Ranieri produced another shock when he re-introduced Winston Bogarde to the Chelsea faithful. It was the Dutchman's first appearance since December 2000, during which time he has earned (or rather, been paid) almost £4m.

Gillingham's players, who have had to take a pay cut this season and are currently re-negotiating bonuses downward, responded admirably with Marlon King tapping in an injury-time goal. It was his first goal since leaving jail after serving nine months for handling stolen goods. Bogarde's larceny has, of course, been legit.

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cudicini; Ferrer, Gallas, Terry, Babayaro; De Lucas (Bogarde, 68), Lampard, Morris, Le Saux (Oliveira, 61); Cole (Gronkjaer, 64), Zola. Substitutes not used: Pidgeley (gk), Petit.

Gillingham (4-4-2): Brown; Nosworthy, Hope, Ashby, Perpetuini; Hessenthaler (Spiller, 83), Smith, Saunders, Shaw; Ipoua (King, h/t), Sidibe (T Johnson, 54). Substitutes not used: Bartram (gk), James.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).