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Scott Sinclair put the Blues ahead before Salomon Kalou hit a double and Steve Sidwell scored his first goal for the club since his summer move from Reading.

It rounded off a difficult week for the Blues after the departure of manager Jose Mourinho and a defeat at Manchester United hit their title hopes.

Terry believed the win at the KC Stadium was deserved but it also came as a relief.

He told Sky Sports 2: "It was a great win and certainly well needed, it is a tough place to come.

"I thought we played really well, we knew the first 15 to 20 minutes it was going to be really difficult and they were going to be in our faces.

"But we deserved it, especially after the last three games.

"The quality came through in the end."

The England skipper insists spirit is good at Stamford Bridge despite the off-field happenings.

He said: "We do our best to maintain team spirit in Chelsea. We'll try to keep it going. It has been tough recently but we take a lot of positives from tonight."

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Chelsea boss Avram Grant insisted he was not affected by reports suggesting the club had spoken to Marco van Basten with regards to becoming the long-term successor to Mourinho.

He said: "You come to a club like Chelsea you know there are many rumours. I need to work and they need to write."

The Israeli also echoed Terry's sentiments, insisting team spirit was high in west London.

"The dressing room is very good, you can see it on the pitch. Off the pitch I believe Chelsea players are 100% committed to the club.

"I want them to be committed to the club, not to me. Tomorrow we will have been together only one week. I am very happy with their attitude.

"The positive reaction started on Sunday against Manchester United and continued again today. It was a good game, an open game, sometimes too open. I'm happy today.

"It's always difficult to play in the cup especially away. The players' attitude is good."

When asked about the absence of owner Roman Abramovich, Grant said: "When Roman Abramovich is here you say he is picking the team, if he is not here you ask why he is not here."

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