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Chelsea registered a compelling 3-2 win over Derby County in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Maurizio Sarri's men were handed an early lead through Fikayo Tomori's unfortunate own goal before Jack Marriott restored parity for the visitors shortly thereafter.
However, the Rams would concede again through another own goal when Richard Keogh put the ball into his own net to restore Chelsea's lead on the night.
Frank Lampard's men continued to be brave with the ball at their feet and pulled the visitors back on equal terms yet again through Martyn Waghorn, who got on the end of a precise low cross from Mason Mount after Derby made full use of a momentary lapse in concentration from Chelsea following a throw-in.
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The encounter had produced four goals within the first half-hour and there was more to come when Cesc Fabregas scored the goal that proved to be the difference between the two sides towards the end of the first half.
Fabregas got on the end of a cross from Davide Zappacosta, who had allegedly fouled Tom Lawrence in the build-up to it, to dispatch a fierce shot that hit Scott Carson on its way to the back of the net.
Derby appealed for the initial lunge on Lawrence but referee Jonathan Moss opted against seeking assistance from VAR, much to the disappointment of the visiting players and supporters alike.
The Rams almost forced the game into penalties when David Nugent, who came on as a second-half substitute, thought he had scored but saw his shot rebound off the inside of the post.
The result meant that Chelsea will now face Bournemouth in the quarterfinal of the Carabao Cup while Derby's impressive run in the competition came to an end despite all the positives that were brought to light during the game. On that note, let's take a closer look at the major talking points from the game:
#1 Frank Lampard almost bagged the ultimate prize on his special night
At some point, this fixture felt more like a celebration than just a cup tie with the number of extravagant storylines and almost comical subplots that had unfolded before our eyes at Stamford Bridge.
It was always going to be about Frank Lampard, one of Chelsea's all-time greats, returning to this part of the capital where he is still revered by many as the greatest goal-scoring midfielder of his generation.
Despite the defeat that knocked them out of the competition, Lampard and his Derby County side can keep their head up high and brimming with pride as they put in a performance that was the perfect testament to their ambition under the new manager.
The Rams might have even forced something more out of the game with a little element of luck, but it was just not meant to be for them on a night, where they will probably go down as one of the best teams to have been knocked out of the competition this year.
Lampard also conducted a post-match lap of the pitch to applaud the Chelsea supporters, who will always count him as one of their own, for their extensive support on the night.
#2 Defensive lapses make way for an electric start
The game got off to a flying start under the lights at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea loanee Fikayo Tomori endured the unfortunate fate of putting the ball into his own net as early as the fifth minute.
The defender was unlucky in every sense of the word when a wicked deflection guided the ball into his own net as he tried to deal with a cross from Davide Zappacosta.
That particular error sparked a comedy of similar events at both ends of the pitch as the two teams gave each other healthy competition by quite literally gifting their counterparts with opportunities that would breathe new life into the game.
Gary Cahill's poor pass and an untimely slip paved way for Jack Marriott, a boyhood Chelsea fan, to pull things level in the ninth minute while yet another own goal in a similar fashion by Richard Keogh made life easier for the hosts albeit for just about six minutes.
Chelsea's switching off from a throw-in deep inside their own half meant that Martyn Waghorn restored parity between the two sides to cap off an eventful first half-hour under the lights at Stamford Bridge.
#3 Time for Chelsea to cut their losses with Gary Cahill?
Gary Cahill will go down as one of Chelsea's most decorated players ever after having won almost every single trophy at club level since his arrival from Bolton Wanderers back in 2012. However, the defender is clearly on the decline and the lack of first team football under Maurizio Sarri this term isn't helping him too much either.
The Englishman looked severely rusty against Derby on Wednesday and he virtually played a part in both goals conceded by Chelsea due to his lackadaisical approach and weary legs that are not getting any younger as we speak.
It is quite obvious that Sarri does not have any plans of giving Cahill an extended run in the starting eleven this season and the defender has already openly admitted that he will assess his options in January in a bid to attain regular first team football.
Perhaps this performance will prove to be the final nail in the coffin for Cahill as both parties aim to cut their losses on what was indeed a fruitful relationship over the years.
#4 The RAM(ification)S look mightily impressive
Derby County certainly made it look like there was not a lot between the two sides on the night as they were proactive in their approach and showed tremendous character throughout the game to give Chelsea a real run for their money.
The Rams were unlucky to not come away with a result in the end but the performance surely bodes well for their future in the Championship as they continue to try and push for promotion.
Frank Lampard almost fine-tuned this Derby team into playing the perfect swansong for him against his former club and it might not have come as a surprise to you if you had kept an eye on them in the Championship this season.
Derby are the second-best, only behind Peterborough United in League One, in terms of goals scored away from home in the country so far this season.
The Championship outfit were confident in bringing the ball out from the back and forced Chelsea on the back foot with their incessant and impressive high-pressing on the night,
Derby have always had a torrid luck during the latter stages of their seasons in the Championship that has earned them the tag of perennial chokers in the race for promotion, but this could finally be their year if they can build on this performance starting with their game against Birmingham City at the Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.
#5 Mount can be the fulcrum that bucks the trend at Chelsea
The quality of Chelsea's academy can be best explained by the simple fact that 19 out of the 128 players picked for England’s sides from Under-17s to seniors during October’s international break were developed by Chelsea at some point.
No club in the country can match that; whether those kids go on to play for Chelsea or elsewhere is a matter for discussion.
Mason Mount is the latest talk of the town after having emerged as a monumental talent from within the academy at Chelsea and now hitting the ground running while on loan in the Championship with Derby County which earned him a call-up to Gareth Southgate's senior England side last month.
The midfielder was handed an unusual opportunity, alongside Fikayo Tomori, to line up against his parent club and ensured that he lived up to the hype generated by his potential.
Mount was a real live-wire in the middle of the park for the visitors as he pressed high up the pitch and worked relentlessly towards recycling possession and linking defence into attack very quickly.
The 19-year-old has a long way to go, but he could become a very important player for both club and country in the future if he continues to develop under the tutelage of an accomplished midfielder like Frank Lampard.
Mount will also be heartened by the fact that fellow academy graduate Ruben Loftus-Cheek is finally enjoying an extended run in the starting eleven which in turn suggests that maybe there is still a lot of room for him at Chelsea in the future.
