AFTER a season of despair this was a welcome bolt from the blue.

Yes, Wanderers bowed out of the Capital One Cup last night but they did so with 800-plus travelling fans cheering them off at Stamford Bridge after a gutsy display – and who can ask more?

They had to weather an early storm – and had this been a boxing match the referee might have called the bout after 25 minutes.

But despite falling behind to Kurt Zouma’s early goal, Matt Mills’ brave 31st-minute header paved the way for a performance of real grit against the Premier League leaders.

Freedman made five changes to the side that lost at Wolves, giving Chris Herd his debut at right back.

Captain Jay Spearing was rested, while Jermaine Beckford was brought back into the starting line-up for the first time since the previous round at Crewe.

Neil Danns, Medo Kamara and Darren Pratley were also restored to the team – with Chung-Yong Lee, Joe Mason, Tim Ream and Owen Garvan also missing out.

In fairness, they could have kept the extra players in and it might not have helped them, such was Chelsea’s dominance of the early stages.

Wanderers struggled to put two passes together in Blues’ territory in what was the most one-sided opening half-hour of football you are likely to see this season.

It wasn’t so much parking the bus, as offering a free ride.

With Wanderers encamped on the edge of their own area, it was a case of attack at will for the men in blue – and that the opening 30 minutes yielded just the one goal was the only surprising thing. Part of that was down to Andy Lonergan’s stubbornness, part was down to the wasteful finishing of Andre Schurrle.

Before Kurt Zouma opened the scoring on 25 minutes, Loic Remy and Mo Salah had both put good chances wide, while Schurrle peppered the goal with an array of off-target efforts.

The one that was definitely heading for the top corner, a free kick from 20 yards, was tipped superbly on to the cross bar by Lonergan – who was in imperious form.

However, once Wanderers’ resistance was broken, you worried how many Mourinho’s men might choose to score before they declared.

The goal was a scruffy affair. Gary Cahill headed a corner towards goal that rebounded off Craig Davies and then Oscar before being launched into the net from close range by youngster Zouma.

The away end took a collective and sharp intake of breath at that point – but just a few minutes later they were rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

Liam Feeney drifted a free kick in from mid-way into the Chelsea half and from out of absolutely nowhere, Mills leapt above Filipe to head past Petr Cech, sending Stamford Bridge into a stunned silence.

It was the first goal Wanderers had managed in six games against Chelsea at the Bridge the last coming from Matt Taylor in a 4-3 thriller five years ago.

Even the most optimistic Whites fan would have had trouble believing their side would be heading into the break on level terms.

Again, that they did so was down to Lonergan’s reactions, pushing away another stinging shot from Nathan Ake.

A modicum of concern had seeped into the home fans as the interval approached, as had a bit of belief for Wanderers. Suddenly they were winning the ball in midfield – Medo going on one mazy run that was halted only by a poor pass by Davies.

Chelsea started the second half with renewed purpose. A succession of corners finished with Lonergan making another point blank save from Oscar’s header that even drew begrudging applause from the home support.

As the hour mark approached Freedman threw on Chung-Yong Lee for Craig Davies, the first hint that he was trying to shore the side up.

But almost instantly Chelsea regained their lead. Salah went on a mazy run, halted on the edge of the box by Mills, but Oscar picked up the loose ball and was given too much space to get it back on to his right foot, drilling a low shot just inside the post.

Again those alarm bells sounded. Again had it not been for Lonergan’s obstinate goalkeeping, Wanderers would have been buried without a trace.

Schurrle continued his luckless night too – driving forward from midfield on 65 minutes to flash a shot just wide of the post.

With 10 minutes to go, the German cut in on his left and looked to have finally beaten Lonergan, only for the ball to dribble back off the post and into the keeper’s grasp.

Wanderers had worked so hard to stay in the game but towards the end it was Chelsea who were hanging on.

Chung-Yong picked up on a loose ball to drive a low shot at goal – but Cech did well to hold on under pressure from Joe Mason.

Mason then had a chance in stoppage time deflected wide - and narrowly beyond the desperate reach of Beckford at the far post.

After the final whistle sounded Wanderers went over as a group to their supporters to receive some rightful acclaim.

They have taken some stick this season – credit where it’s due.