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
72’ Emery does make a change, Diaby and Ramsey on for Tielemans and McGinn.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
70’ Bailey tries to create something with a run into the box, but another pass cannot find Tielemans after a good move.
Cash has a go and he pulls it back to John McGinn, but his shot was blocked! That was the best chance of the half so far for Villa.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
69’ Villa have another brief chance at a break but the ball from midfield cannot find the runner on the wing, and Chelsea easily win the ball back and immediately look to launch an attack of their own
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
67’ Still no substitutions from Unai Emery, and Villa are just a bit slow on the ball here, without the intensity that Chelsea have shown in their attacks.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
65’ CHANCE! John McGinn works space for a chance and he fires it wide!
Although he did have a good shout for a free kick as his leg was slightly taken from underneath him when he tried to take that shot.
And in the aftermath, Petrovic came very close to getting booked for time-wasting while taking a goal kick.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
64’ A probing ball bounces around the box, but there are no Villa playes on the end of it and instead the referee blows for a free kick to the visitors.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
63’ Bailey has made a really good run on the right, but instead of trying to pick him out Cash just turns and plays the ball backwards.
Villa are lacking a bit of direction here.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
61’ The game has become a bit choppy, there are still plenty of fouls and this broken play will only help Chelsea, as they can keep pushing for more goals while Villa are kept from mounting any form of attacks of their own.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
58’ McGinn takes a free kick and tries to pick out Diego Carlos, who gets good contact with his header, but can’t find the target.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
57’ Aston Villa had a chance, and Tielemans tries to pick out Mahrez, but the ball had just too much on it and the Chelsea goalkeeper was able to gather.
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