Jose Mourinho's side have been firmly under the spotlight following an indifferent start to the campaign but they got the better of their Sky Bet League One opponents 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Fernando Torres and substitute Ramires.

Mourinho is fully aware of the importance of the much-maligned competition having successfully targeted the League Cup as his maiden piece of silverware during his first stint in charge of the London club, winning it in 2005 and then again in 2007.

And he sent out his clear intentions this time around as he named a strong second-string side at a sold-out County Ground, worth an estimated £185m compared to Swindon's £550,000.

Most of the pre-match attention was on Juan Mata and David Luiz, omitted altogether from Mourinho's matchday 18 for Saturday's 2-0 win at Fulham, with the Blues boss insisting the former has a future at the club but challenging the Spaniard to adapt his game.

And Mata, the club's player of the year for the past two seasons, certainly put in an industrious, roving performance.

His defence-splitting pass sent Torres clear while, just two minutes later, the midfielder looked destined to score himself, only for impressive Town goalkeeper Wes Foderingham to parry his effort into the path of Torres for the opener.

Torres turned provider with a neat bit of skill to set up Ramires soon after and that was the way it stayed - with two clinical attacks proving the difference against a flat-footed Swindon backline.

It was hardly a vintage performance but Chelsea did enough and can now turn their attentions to Saturday's crucial Premier League clash at title rivals Tottenham.

Swindon, meanwhile, could be proud of their display and saw a chance of their own chalked off shortly after half-time as Dany N'Guessan was correctly ruled marginally offside with his header.