Chelsea emphatically silence the boo boys with rampant FA Cup victory over Aston Villa | 8B2M6EM | 2024-02-08 16:08:01
Mauricio Pochettino's resurgent Chelsea efficiently booked their place in the fifth spherical of the FA Cup with a comprehensive 3-1 victory away to Aston Villa.
After a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge, an under-fire Pochettino entered Wednesday's replay to chants of 'you're getting sacked within the morning' at Villa Park, however the visitors swiftly silenced the noisy residence help because of first-half objectives from Conor Gallagher and Nicolas Jackson.
Enzo Fernandez made it three with a stunning 25-yard free-kick in the 54th minute and Chelsea, seemingly a club in disaster in this week's build-up, held on after Moussa Diaby's late comfort to cruise into the subsequent spherical of the competition in some fashion.
The west London giants – eight-time winners of the FA Cup – will entertain Leeds United for a place within the quarter-finals after Daniel Farke's aspect noticed off Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday evening.
Spurred on by a boisterous Villa crowd, Matty Money created the first nervy second for a Thiago Silva-less Chelsea defence, however the full-back's tame cross was easily dealt with by the guests and the attack came to nothing.
Noni Madueke, arguably Chelsea's most potent menace on the night time, burst down the left in the sixth minute earlier than providing an inviting cross which narrowly evaded an onrushing Cole Palmer contained in the penalty space.
Just moments later, the Blues had one other golden opportunity to interrupt the impasse, though Fernandez's tame header – from Ben Chilwell's inswinging corner – was directed straight into the arms of his fellow countryman Emiliano Martinez.
Chelsea continued to probe and Pochettino's males received their reward within the 11th minute after Jackson's deflected move found the ever-present Madueke within the field who, in flip, laid the ball back to Gallagher. The England midfielder cooly set himself earlier than side-footing an arrowed strike previous Martinez.
The house aspect immediately hit back at the different finish of the pitch however Leon Bailey scuffed his attempted finish earlier than Ollie Watkins examined Dorde& Petrovic with a strong drive which the Serbian tipped over the bar to safety.
Chelsea broke from the centre circle with pace in the 19th minute, with Unai Emery's males displaying signs of weariness and struggling to construct any momentum. The ball once once more fell to the damaging Madueke, but the winger fired large together with his wayward effort after slicing inside from the appropriate flank.
In the 21st minute, Jackson announced his return from the Africa Cup of Nations with a bang as he latched on to Malo Gusto's pinpoint cross to calmly head house and double the guests' advantage – the Senegal ahead's ninth objective of the season in all competitions.
Chelsea got here close to creating it three earlier than the half-time break as Madueke made inroads down the best wing towards a tiring Alex Moreno – but Palmer's subsequent shot was denied by Martinez.
Villa had a uncommon opportunity to halve the deficit within the dying moments of the primary half as Chelsea's players suffered a momentary lapse in focus after a Chilwell foul throw. John McGinn's resulting shot from the edge of the box was parried away with ease by Petrovic.
Undoubtedly the moment of the match arrived in the 54th minute as Argentine World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez beat compatriot Emi Martinez with an imposing free-kick from 25 yards out to put Chelsea out of sight, sparking wild celebrations from the travelling followers in Birmingham.
The Blues refused to ease their depth as the second half wore on and Madueke continued to trigger problems for Moreno, with the younger Englishman seeing a deflected strike sail past the submit just before the hour-mark.
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Villa skipper McGinn had a pair of inviting possibilities to score, but the Scot's 57th-minute effort flew previous the submit earlier than Axel Disasi reacted brilliantly to disclaim him with an outstanding block on the sting of the six-yard field with 20 minutes remaining.
Emery may have been praying for a late Villa flourish on the touchline and another alternative fell to the house aspect in the 76th minute as Moreno outjumped Gusto on the back-post earlier than nodding the ball harmlessly over the bar.
Diaby's late strike – that went in off the upright – made for a nervy ending for Chelsea, however the away workforce preserved their two-goal advantage to safe their place in the subsequent round and ease the strain on Pochettino after back-to-back Premier League defeats.
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