Jensen save stuns Blues in shoot-out

The pain of Moscow came flooding back for Chelsea as they bowed out of the Carling Cup last night, losing 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out against Burnley at Stamford Bridge. The stakes might have been lower than they were against Manchester United in the Champions League final, but that was not how it felt to the Burnley supporters, all 6,500 of them, who celebrated a memorable victory.

The hero for the Championship team was Brian Jensen, who saved John Obi Mikel's penalty – Chelsea's sixth in the shoot-out – to secure an unlikely yet, by the end, appropriate victory in this fourth-round tie. Earlier in the shoot-out Wayne Bridge, the Chelsea captain, also had his penalty saved and Wade Elliott of Burnley sent his spot-kick high over Carlo Cudicini's goal.

Chelsea, the Premier League leaders, had only themselves to blame. They dominated the initial 90 minutes, took the lead through Didier Drogba, and seemed destined for a routine victory. But Burnley benefited from Chelsea's profligacy and equalised through Ade Akinbiyi, a substitute, midway through the second half.

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Steven Caldwell, the Burnley captain, was sent off deep into extra-time for a second bookable offence but Chelsea could not take advantage, despite creating a host of chances. How different it seemed in the first half when the home team dominated.

Initially, Drogba was a pivotal figure until his withdrawal in the second half. Deriving energy from the jeers of the Burnley fans, the striker mixed finesse with strength to emphasise the gulf in class between the two teams. No sign of a weakened Chelsea here. They should have scored early on when Drogba's deft pass gave Salomon Kalou a clear run on goal only for Jensen to avert the danger.

It was a different story when Drogba himself found space inside the penalty area. Latching on to a pass by Frank Lampard in the 27th minute, Drogba evaded the challenge of Graham Alexander with one touch and curled the ball home with another. Drogba was pelted with coins as he celebrated and responded by gesticulating and appearing to throw one coin back, an action that is likely to attract the interest of the Football Association.

Burnley's pace and work-rate gave the Chelsea defenders, and particularly Cudicini, the goalkeeper, some anxious moments, but the home team were always the likelier of the two to score. Indeed, on the stroke of half-time, with Burnley pegged back, Chelsea nearly doubled their advantage when Branislav Ivanovic headed the ball against the crossbar from close range after a corner by Lampard. Nevertheless, the sense that Chelsea might pay for their profligacy was not confined to the visiting fans. Burnley grew in stature and, showing more fight in midfield and relishing the chance to open up the match, they equalised through Akinbiyi in the 69th minute. The arrival of Akinbiyi, who had come on for Martin Paterson on the hour mark, changed the configuration of the contest and he showed his experience and clinical finishing to score from close range after Chelsea made a mess of clearing their lines.

Chelsea should have won the tie in stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes when Franco Di Santo, who replaced Drogba, made a clever run into the penalty area and controlled Lampard's slick pass. But with the situation calling for composure, Di Santo struck the ball wide of the post.

Chelsea missed more good chances in extra-time, particularly in the second period when, with Burnley tiring, Alex scooped the ball over the crossbar from inside the six-yard area and Lampard saw his own fierce free-kick from 20 yards saved by Jensen.

Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Cudicini; Ivanovic, Alex, Belletti (Lampard, 26), Bridge; Ferreira, Deco (Mikel, h-t), Mineiro; Malouda, Kalou; Drogba (Di Santo, 68). Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Sinclair, Terry, Woods.

Burnley (4-4-2): Jensen; Alexander, Duff, Caldwell, Jordan; Eagles, Gudjonsson (McDonald, 97), McCann, Elliott; Blake (Mahon, 76), Paterson (Akinbiyi, 60). Substitutes not used: Penny (gk), McDonald, Rodriguez, Kay.

Referee: K Stroud (Hampshire).

Drogba apologises for coin throw

Didier DrogBa has apologised for throwing a coin at the Burnley fans after he scored Chelsea's goal last night. Drogba was pelted with a handful of coins by the away support when he celebrated giving Chelsea the lead in the first half. One of the coins appeared to hit him.

Drogba said: "This is something I want to make clear. I tried to celebrate the goal and I received some things at me. The big mistake I did was to throw it back so if someone was hurt I just want to apologise for it. This is not something I should show in a football match and I want to apologise.It was an incident in the heat of the moment and I regret it. It was just a mistake and nothing more."

Luiz Felipe Scolari, meanwhile, refused to blame his players for the surprise defeat. "I am not angry with my players," he said. "If there is anger, it would be with me. They made two chances and scored once. We made maybe six chances. Burnley played better in the penalties."

Owen Coyle, the Burnley manager, felt that the victory was merited. "We rode our luck a little bit but we deserve this triumph."