Harry Redknapp's brave selection, in playing two wide men on the open Wembley pitch, failed to find a reward only after Chelsea scored their controversial second goal. Once they had fallen two goals behind Tottenham searched for a way back into the semi-final and Gareth Bale's goal with a little over half an hour to go gave them further encouragement in doing so, but Chelsea overloaded the midfield and took control of the game.

The key figure was Juan Mata, far more industrious than he had been in the first half, who dropped back from his starting position supporting the sole striker to help Chelsea take control of the midfield area, in combination with the more pedestrian Mikel John Obi and Frank Lampard. As Tottenham tired, Chelsea's attacking grew more incisive and what had been a finely balanced match ended as a rout.

Lampard and Mikel against Scott Parker and Luka Modric looked likely to be the key battleground in midfield. Tottenham had enjoyed a period of superiority before, shortly before half-time, William Gallas was outwitted by Drogba's brilliant turn and shot and Chelsea took the lead. Of Tottenham's two wingers Lennon tended to be more narrow than Bale and it is hard to remember even one occasion when he attempted to beat Ashley Cole on the outside. He was denied support as Kyle Walker, the normally adventurous right-back, was pinned in his own half by the energetic Salomon Kalou. Similarly Bale lacked his normal support from Benoît Assou-Ekotto, who rather than raiding kept a cautious and watchful eye on Ramires. Chelsea's wide attackers deserve credit for restricting the attacking instincts of the Spurs full-backs.The result was that the burden for sustaining Tottenham's hopes increasingly fell on Modric and Parker but the Croat was disappointing and his team-mate gradually tired.

Parker instigated Bale's goal with a strong surge and a lovely pass but he gradually became submerged. Meanwhile Mata's influence grew, as he dropped back to find space in midfield. The third goal, when Ramires stole inside Assou-Ekotto to run on to the Spaniard's finely judged pass, broke Spurs' spirit. Worse was to come, first as Frank Lampard beautiful, swerving strike deceived Carlo Cudicini, and then as the Italian was left isolated when Malouda struck, from another Mata assist. In the final 30 minutes Tottenham's central defenders, Ledley King and William Gallas, battled manfully but vainly to stem the blue tide. Chelsea, buoyed by their lead, seemed to have extra reserves of energy.

From a Tottenham perspective the final score was a cruel reflection on the game. They will no doubt feel bitter about the second goal, and with good reason. There is an expression in Yorkshire: "When in doubt, do nowt." It is one that Martin Atkinson, who is from that part of the world, should know but seems to have forgotten.