Two stunning saves by Petr Cech on Easter Monday propelled Chelsea to another FA Cup semi-final as the Blues beat Manchester United in a tight, tense replay at the Bridge.

On each occasion, Javier Hernandez was denied. In the 41st minute, the Mexican shot at Cech, who was fooled by the swerve and dived the wrong way. But his trailing boot made mid-air contact, and the ball bounced away.

On the hour mark, after United had gone 1-0 down to a superb volley from Demba Ba, Hernandez’s header seemed destined to billow the net, only for the 6ft 5in custodian to fly through the air and fingertip it clear.

Hernandez and Cech stood grinning at each other in a welcome display of sportsmanship.

Monday’s win wiped out the misery of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at St Mary’s against a Southampton side that, frankly, needed the points more than Chelsea.

Rafa Benitez came in for vicious stick from the 3,181 travelling Blues fans for his substitutions (including Oscar off, Yossi Benayoun on, with a quarter of an hour remaining) and his initial weak team selection.

The supporters then chanted the name of Jose Mourinho, giving a pretty good indication of the most popular appointment Roman Abramovich could make in May.

Progressing to the Wembley FA Cup semi against Manchester City on Sunday, April 14, means yet more fixture congestion.

The Blues have now played 54 games this season. Fulham, by contrast, have played just 34.

Chelsea’s crucial Premier League top-four cruncher with Spurs at Stamford Bridge has now been bumped from April 14, and may not take place until Wednesday, May 8, if the Blues continue to make progress in the Europa League.

Just for good measure, with the squad likely to be dead on their feet at the end of the season, a friendly has now been fixed up on May 23 in St Louis, of all places, against Manchester City. You couldn’t make it up.