Di Matteo off to winning start

Chelsea launched the post Andre Villas-Boas era in winning fashion as second half goals from Juan Mata and Raul Meireles secured a 2-0 victory over Birmingham in an FA Cup fifth round replay at St Andrew's.

After a goalless first half, caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo saw Mata break the deadlock eight minutes after the restart.

Then a superb 59th minute strike from Meireles doubled Chelsea's lead to secure a home quarter-final tie with Leicester.

Chelsea were the first to threaten and Mata raced clear but opted to shoot with Salomon Kalou unmarked in the centre and Colin Doyle turned his effort around the post.

Petr Cech produced a superb save to keep his side on level terms after 39 minutes. Nikola Zigic's glancing header from a Jordon Mutch cross had Cech back-pedalling and he finger-tipped his effort over the bar at full stretch.

Chelsea enjoyed a spell of possession at the start of the second period and Pablo Ibanez produced a superb tackle to deny Mata inside the box after he played a one-two with Kalou.

But after 53 minutes Mata broke the deadlock for Chelsea. Ramires made good ground down the right before sending in a cross which was challenged for by Kalou. The ball broke invitingly for Mata who poked it past Doyle into the corner of the net.

Mata missed another great chance two minutes later when he headed wide at the far post from a deep centre by Branislav Ivanovic.

A superb strike from Meireles doubled Chelsea's lead after 59 minutes. Ramires teed up the midfielder and his 25-yard strike flew past Doyle into the top corner of the net.

Fernando Torres won his side a 67th minute penalty after he was brought down by Guirane N'Daw who was yellow carded. But Doyle repeated his penalty save from Mata of the first tie at Stamford Bridge.