Aston Villa vs Chelsea LIVE: FA Cup result and reaction after Enzo scores a stunning free kick as Blues win
Unai Emery’s side play hosts in this fourth round replay but who will reach the next stage of the competition?
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Chelsea silenced the doubters and relieved some of the mounting pressure on manager Mauricio Pochettino with a confident 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round.
The west London club had slipped into the bottom half of the table following back to back defeats to Liverpool and Wolves, but a youthful Chelsea showed fight and spirit at Villa Park.
Conor Gallagher opened the scoring with his first goal of the season for Chelsea in the 11th minute, with Nicolas Jackson, who had just returned from the Africa Cup of Nations doubling his side’s lead 10 minutes later.
In the second half Enzo Fernandes all but secured his side’s place in the next round with a stunning free kick straight into the top corner, and even a late consolation goal from Moussa Diaby could not deter Chelsea.
The previous fixture between the teams ended in a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge with Villa creating more chances on goal despite Chelsea seeing more possession. With the support of their home fans the midlands club will be hoping to get over the line and set up a fifth-round clash against Leeds or Plymouth Argyle.
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Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
89’ Just one minute left of normal time and the game is just meandering on to what seems to be a foregone conclusion at the moment.
There was a brief fightback from Villa around the 70th minute, but they were not able to reduce the deficit.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
87’ Another lengthy delay for substitutions from both teams while Villa wait to take a throw in. It feels like five minutes later they are actually allowed to take it, and they throw it backwards towards their own half. Big anti-climax.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
85’ The urgency has just been taken out of the match, Villa are trying to get forward, but not with the same intent they showed around 10 minutes ago.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
83’ Will the substitutions have an impact on the game? There are just eight minutes left of normal time.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
80’ Thiago Silva is going to come on for the final 10 minutes of the game, and Caicedo will be coming off, along with Cole Palmer for Nkunku and the number six.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
78’ Caicedo has just gone down in the middle of the pitch and the ball is eventually kicked out.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
77’ The momentum has just started shifting in favour of the home side for the first time in the game in the last five minutes or so and Diaby made a good run and pull back from the goal line although Chelsea were able to clear.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
76’ CHANCE! Moreno has a header at the back post, he had the space to run into but his header was just over the bar and landed on the roof of the net.
Petrovic has been booked for time wasting after the subsequent goal kick.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
75’ Chelsea change now and Raheem Sterling has come on for the final 15 minutes of normal time.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
74’ That was a bit nervy from Chelsea and Petrovic’s clearance was almost charged down, in fact it was but the ball did not fall goalwards.
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