Chelsea 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Chelsea never looked like going out of the League Cup at the first hurdle - but they did make hard work at times of a struggling Bolton side.
At 2-1 against a team fourth-bottom of the Championship they still found themselves holding on at the last to avoid another unwanted 30 minutes.
But, in truth, Bolton offered little here and Blues were worthy winners.
Jose Mourinho's side that stepped out at Stamford Bridge had a very different look to that which took on Manchester City at the weekend.
Petr Cech, without a minute on-field since the return of Thibaut Courtois to the club, captained to the side – to a standing ovation from the fans.
There were also starts for, thus far, bit-part players Filipe Luis, Kurt Zouma, Nathan Ake, John Mikel Obi, Mo Salah and Loic Remy.
Chelsea had all the early pressure – seeing chance after chance just slip through their fingers.
Their best early effort was a fee kick from Andre Schurrle which dipped from 25 yards out, before being pushed onto the bar by Wanderers keeper Andrew Lonergan.
Chelsea's decisive break came from the unlikely source of reserve centre half Zouma.
An Oscar corner on 25 minutes picked out the usual roaming head of Gary Cahill in the box, his effort being blocked by a white shirt.
The ball went to Remy, who set-up fellow Frenchman Zouma to toe poke in from four yards.
The lead lasted but six minutes and Zoma was again in the thick of the action for the equaliser.
A long free kick from Liam Feeney evaded the heads of all and sundry, the defender included, to pick out Matt Mills, whose glancing header went inside Cech's right post.
Chelsea needed more than a few quiet words at half time – the failure to convert so many chances, the haphazard defending both doubtless on Mourinho's lips.
And they did look more up for the spectacle when they re-emerged.
Ten minutes into the second half they retook the lead. A Remy shot rebounded to Oscar, 30 yards out.
The Brazilian's first touch was a flailing thing of nightmares – but a turn later, and he unleashed a rocket from there, and into the back of Lonergan's net.
Schurrle again found the woodwork late on – to cap a performance that seemed to pack everything into the rucksack, but for a compass.
And that was it, but for a late penalty area scramble that saw Chelsea a little too close for comfort to an extra 30 minutes.
Job done – but only just.
The reward for Chelsea is a trip to League Two Shrewsbury in the fourth round.
Mourinho's Blues will fancy their chances of remaining in the competition.
Blues: Cech; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill, Felipe Luis; Mikel, Ake (Matic 90); Salah (Hazard 79), Oscar, Schurrle; Remy (Drogba 71).
Subs (not used): Schwarzer, Ivanovic, Christensen, Baker.
