Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen spared the blushes of Chelsea's fringe stars with a late winner after Huddersfield had given them an FA Cup scare at Stamford Bridge.

Gudjohnsen's strike nine minutes from time cruelly robbed the League One outfit of another big pay day after they had stunned the Premiership champions with Gary Taylor-Fletcher's 74th-minute equaliser.

England Under-21s international Carlton Cole marked his first start of the season by putting the champions in front in the 12th minute - but Chelsea then conspired to waste a hatful of chances which had coach Jose Mourinho scowling in frustration.

Town, spurred on by Chelsea's inability to kill off the third-round tie, took the game to the Londoners in the second half and were looking good for a replay until Gudjohnsen struck to put Chelsea into the fourth round.

Chelsea were given a real fright in the second minute when Taylor-Fletcher forced Carlo Cudicini into the first save of the match.

Robert Huth, deputising for rested captain John Terry, failed to deal with a left-wing cross from Danny Adams - and Taylor-Fletcher's snap shot had the Italian goalkeeper diving to his right to prevent the Terriers taking a shock lead.

Four minutes later Town goalkeeper Phillip Senior was at his best to save a 25-yard effort from Lassana Diarra as Chelsea responded in typical fashion and it was no surprise when the champions took the lead through Cole.

The striker collected a low cross from Damien Duff - and after his initial effort was half-blocked by Martin McIntosh, the 22-year-old quickly recovered to head the loose ball beyond Senior.

Huddersfield saw little of the ball in the opening half-hour, such was the dominance of a Chelsea side which surged forward at every opportunity.

It was the turn of the woodwork to save the Terriers in the 38th minute when Duff's corner was met by the head of centre-half Huth, whose effort hit the bar on its way over.

However, Chelsea's failure to finish off the Terriers was beginning to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.  In the 56th minute, a 20-yard drive from captain Nathan Clarke fizzed past Cudicini's right-hand upright.

The champions were beginning to make the odd mistake in defence, and Huddersfield were awarded a free-kick a minute later which McIntosh sent just wide of the target.

In the 71st minute, Robben replaced Duff as Mourinho looked for the second goal. But Chelsea paid the price for their woeful finishing in the 74th minute when Michael Collins fed Taylor-Fletcher, and the former Lincoln striker beat Cudicini with a low drive to put the minnows level.

But nine minutes from Gudjohnsen sank Town's hopes of earning themselves a replay when he finished off a great run and cross by Robben.