Chelsea Giant Didier Drogba Slays Shrewsbury Town Minnows

The television cameras were at New Meadow for Chelsea's Capital One Cup visit on Tuesday for one reason and one reason only: They sniffed a potential upset.

Shrewsbury Town had already dumped Leicester City out of the competition this season, and with the Premier League leaders in town—the biggest scalp of them all—this tie had glorious headlines just waiting to be written.

Had it not been for Didier Drogba, the TV executives may well have got their wish.

The Ivorian scored Chelsea's first and was influential in Jermaine Grandison's 81st-minute own goal that proved to be the winner in the Blues' 2-1 victory.

Jose Mourinho said afterward he wasn't shocked by how the game went, but surely even he couldn't have envisioned the fight Shrewsbury put up.

They were a credit to the traditions of The Football League.

A total of 71 teams separated these two clubs in the league system, but you wouldn't have known it from the endeavour of the home side, which chased every cause and put Chelsea under incredible pressure at times.

So much so, Chelsea needed to rely on their 36-year-old striker to get them out of trouble.

"We knew it before. It was tough, yes," Mourinho said on Sky Sports. "But I think my four players who played on Sunday [against Manchester United] gave an unbelievable example for the others.

"I think Didier [Drogba], Filipe [Luis], Oscar and [Gary] Cahill were brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

"Their mentality was amazing and when you have people like them and people like Petr Cech and [John Obi] Mikel not playing regularly in the first team, they come here and they also give a great example of professionalism."

Michael Regan/Getty Images

It was Drogba who stood out.

At 36, many had predicted his time at the top was over.

Indeed, when he made his second full debut in Chelsea colours against Schalke in September, a disappointing display that night saw him written off. He was out of sorts and far from the Drogba Chelsea fans had bid farewell on the back of that Champions League victory in 2012.

The impression was Mourinho, the supporters and Drogba himself would have to get used to him playing a different role this year.

With three goals in his last three games, that's all changed. Drogba has the look of a man possessed, intent on writing another chapter in his love affair with Chelsea.

"

Didier Drogba is a terrific professional. His attitude and enthusiasm is unwavering whatever the game. An example to players everywhere.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 28, 2014"

After his penalty against Maribor last week, he doubled his tally for the season with a sublime header against Manchester United at Old Trafford, following up his full 90 minutes with another excellent display just 48 hours later.

This was the Drogba of old. He was an outlet when his team needed him, a constant threat in attack. When Shrewsbury tried to intimidate from set pieces he did his job defensively, winning header after header to clear his lines.

And when the opportunity gifted itself, Drogba made sure he fired Chelsea into the lead.

The sliding-knee celebration returned and it was as though time had gone back a little further than the traditional hour at this time of year.

Now he has games under his belt, Drogba is beginning to find that devastating form that once made ranked him among the world's finest.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

It's not too far-fetched to suggest he's going to have a bigger role to play against much bigger opposition this season, too.

When Diego Costa is fit, there is one man who will be leading the line for Chelsea, but what a weapon Drogba gives Mourinho from the bench.

The confidence that brings his manager and teammates is significant, and it adds considerable strength to what is already a formidable squad at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba is taking it all in his stride, though.

Looking as trim as ever with his top off on Sky Sports after the game, he may have struggled for breath after another full 90 minutes, yet it was just another example of what he does.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Significantly, he may have given his shirt to a Shrewsbury player, but Drogba still had the captain's arm band on—his display being everything we expect from a captain.

"I think [Shrewsbury] gave everything and I think they showed why they deserve to be here tonight. They created a difficult game for us," he said.

When asked about playing two games in quick succession, he pointed to the Chelsea fans who had made the 320-mile round trip to Shropshire from London

"It's not hard when you have these fans behind you."

With Drogba in this type of form, it's not going to be hard for Chelsea to keep winning matches, either.

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Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes