Chelsea’s season is dead and they have an old boy to blame

 So there it is, Chelsea’s season is dead and they have an old boy to blame. Romelu Lukaku, so desperate to prove a point against his former club, came back to haunt the Blues, sending two superb finishes past Thibaut Courtois to dump them out of the FA Cup and take Everton to Wembley.

There are few better poster boys for Chelsea’s failed transfer policy; Lukaku always had the talent, and now he has the club at which to shine.

While Diego Costa returned to his old habit of self-sabotage, Lukaku bided his time and scored two excellent goals. The first, a brilliant solo run that saw him power his way past two defenders and turn Gary Cahill inside out before slotting under Courtois, exemplified all that is good about his game. How Guus Hiddink must have wished he had the Belgian up front instead of the idiotically impulsive Costa.

While Lukaku scored two exquisite goals, Costa treated the Everton defenders to an array of kicks, jabs and petulant dives. Come the end of the game he had more grass stains on his shirt than shots on goal. He was sent off in the 83rd minute after a downright stupid clash with Gareth Barry, who himself was dismissed later on.

He cannot continue to play in such a manner, especially if he wishes to stick around after Hiddink’s departure, as his exploits are beginning to cost his team-mates. With their key man intent on self-destruction, the Blues had little option but to play around him, probing the channels instead of playing to the Spaniard.

Everton’s defence – which is yet to concede a goal in the FA Cup - stood firm once again, with Phil Jagielka and Ramiro Funes Mori forming a diligent, physical partnership. One must have the brains and the brawn to combat Costa.