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DANIEL STURRIDGE forced a replay against Championship outfit Birmingham but it was another miserable afternoon for Andre Villas-Boas and his side. The young England striker rose to head home Branislav Ivanovic's cross just after the hour to ensure his side avoided a shock FA Cup fifth-round defeat. Birmingham took a surprise lead after more calamitous Chelsea defending gifted City full-back David Murphy an opening goal inside 20 minutes. Juan Mata could have immediately equalised from the spot but was denied by a fine Colin Doyle save. And although Chelsea improved in the second-half, they never looked liked building on Sturridge's equaliser and were promptly booed by the Stamford Bridge crowd at the final whistle. The Blues now travel to Napoli for the first-leg of the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday night. And AVB will be all too aware that defeat in Italy could spell a premature end to his time as Chelsea boss. Michael Essien and Frank Lampard were both left out for the hosts, while Fernando Torres was given another chance in the starting line-up. But it was a dreadful first-half display from Torres and his team-mates, as the shambolic defending that cost them at Everton last week came back to haunt them as early as the 20th minute. Nathan Redmond's corner should not have posed any problems but David Luiz and Raul Meireles allowed the ball to skid through the six-yard box and, after Curtis Davies had a swipe and missed, Murphy was on hand to drill home at the far post. It should have just been a momentary blip for Villas-Boas' men as they immediately won a penalty at the other end when Wade Elliott tripped Ramires. But Mata's spot-kick was brilliantly saved on to the post by Birmingham stopper Doyle as the underdogs held on to their lead. The Premier League side looked the more threatening but Doyle was on hand to save Luiz's well struck free-kick and Sturridge's 25-yard volley flew just over. A chorus of boos rang round Stamford Bridge as the half-time whistle blew with the away fans happily taunting AVB with chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning". The Portuguese boss knew he had to make a change and it was the misfiring Torres who was swiftly hauled off for Didier Drogba � back this week from the African Nations Cup. Even that change did not have the desired effect and just before the hour defensive anchor Mikel was replaced by Salomon Kalou. This time the substitution paid off as within minutes the home fans finally had something to cheer. Ivanovic whipped in a pinpoint cross from the right flank which Sturridge met with a bullet header into the bottom corner past a helpless Doyle. Chelsea went in search of a winner with a Meireles deflected effort hitting the turf and looping just over the bar. Birmingham were not out of it and Jordan Mutch forced Cech into a save with a low 40-yard free-kick. Lampard was eventually brought on for Mata with just six minutes to go but a second goal for the hosts never looked forthcoming. And it was actually City who could have snatched it late on, only for Redman to hit his shot tamely at Cech. Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, Ramires, Mikel (Kalou 57), Meireles, Sturridge, Torres (Drogba 46), Mata (Lampard 83). Subs not used: Hilario, Essien, Malouda,Bosingwa. Booked: Cahill,Luiz. Goals: Sturridge 62. Birmingham: Doyle,Carr (Spector 12),Davies,Ibanez,Murphy, Redmond,Fahey,Mutch,Elliott (Burke 83),Gomis,Rooney (Jervis 71). Subs Not Used: Butland,Caldwell,Asante,Reilly. Booked: Mutch. Goals: Murphy 20. Att: 36,870 Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).