David Luiz prays over Torres – but no hope for Chelsea

Andre Villas-Boas wears his heart on his sleeve. And it made for painful watching on television.

His hands were shaking on ‘live’ TV.

Never before has a Premier League manager looked so obviously nervous and under pressure than did the Portuguese at Stamford Bridge for the 5th round FA Cup tie against Championship side Birmingham.

If Villas-Boas was openly nervous, his first team choice seemed underline the rift between ‘senior’ Chelsea players and the manager, post the Everton loss.

AVB’s statement that he has the owner’s backing and the players will have to do it his way was in evidence with his team selection.

The player roster on the bench at kick-off was the “old” guard – Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien – a list of players that would make the first team of any club, anywhere in the world.

The mood at the Bridge was septic – chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” ringing out for Villas-Boas instead of cheers of encouragement.

It was Villas-Boas’ “new guard” that started the game.

He might have the argument that he had one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League game against Napoli.

Emblematic of the choice to start with Fernando Torres – a hope and a prayer that he will score – was Davd Luiz laying his hands on Torres’ head and saying a prayer before the game.

It did not work. (And surely Torres has played his last game for Chelsea).

In the end, it was the “old guard” that came on to rescue the tie for Chelsea.

Drogba infused some much needed passion and Daniel Sturridge found an equalizer.

The well-organised Birmingham had taken a 20th-minute lead through Danny Murphy.

Nathan Redmond's corner eluded a clutch of blue shirts to bounce across the six-yard box and found Murphy at the back post who prodded home for 1-0.

Chelsea were presented with a golden chance to equalise within seconds, when from the restart Wade Elliott conceded a penalty with a clumsy hack on Ramires.

Juan Mata stepped up to take the spot-kick but Colin Doyle in the Birmingham goal guessed correctly and parried the Spaniard's shot onto the post to preserve the visitors lead.

Doyle frustrated Chelsea once more on 34 minutes, the Birmingham keeper parrying away David Luiz's free-kick as the Brazilian's curling effort homed in on the top corner.

Chelsea's higher-tempo start to the second half paid off in the 62nd minute, when Branislav Ivanovic sent in a teasing cross from the right which an unmarked Sturridge met with a glancing header.

But while Chelsea continued to dominate both territory and possession thereafter they struggled to create clear chances, and not even the late introduction of Frank Lampard for Mata could break the deadlock.

Chelsea have now won just one game in their last six games across all competitions.

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