Half-Time Report: Derby County, Chelsea play out goalless first half

Chelsea go into the break of their FA Cup third-round tie at Derby County with the score locked at 0-0.

Derby pressured their expensively-assembled opponents high up the pitch and restricted Jose Mourinho's men to little more than half-chances for the first 20 minutes.

Ashley Cole made a good sliding clearance from a teasing Craig Forsyth cross with two Derby attackers lurking in the 14th minute.

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In the 23rd minute, Sameul Eto'o was released down the left flank, but the Cameroonian took a heavy touch that allowed the Derby defence to recover and clear the ball.

Two minutes later, Michael Essien sent a 25-yard effort wide of goal as Chelsea began to create a number of openings.

However, David Luiz was then caught in possession and Jamie Ward ran at the Chelsea defence before firing a shot towards goal that was well blocked by Gary Cahill.

Ramires sent a long-range effort whistling past the post before Oscar was unlucky to see his curling free kick drop on the wrong side of the post, while Derby gave a reminder of their attacking threat when John Eustace broke from midfield and tested Mark Schwarzer with a dipping strike.

In first-half stoppage time, Ramires came the closest to opening the scoring when he stepped inside from the right flank and smashed a shot against the upright.