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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Your support makes all the difference.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.
Follow all the action below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
13’ Chelsea have another chance to break on the counter and they had the numbers, but Gusto tried to force one in at the far corner and Martinez was able to make the save.
GOAL! Conor Gallagher puts visitors ahead - Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
GOAL! 11’ Conor Gallagher fires Chelsea into the lead, Jackson makes a good run into the box, Madueke pulls it back and Martinez can only watch as the ball flies into the top corner.
Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea
10’ Chelsea look for the moment like they are content with holding on to possession as they try and build attacks from the back with caution.
Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea
7’ Chelsea have a chance to attack with a corner, which Chilwell takes, but when it comes back in Martinez has to make a smart save to deny Palmer’s header.
Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea
3’ Aston Villa look to drive forward, but McGinn tried to pick out the man at the back post, it proved to be the wrong option, and Chelsea clear
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
The players are out on the field and the match is about to get underway
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
We are now just five minutes away from kick off at Villa Park.
Unai Emery has his say ahead of the match
Unai Emery said to ITVX: “Every match is different and every competition. Of course we are now in the FA Cup and we are very excited and very motivated to play here with our support at Villa Park.
“We have been successful for a long time at Villa Park and we want to keep doing the same. Trying to follow some tactics that we used in Sheffield but we are going to adapt now today against Chelsea.
“They were pressing very well, they lost the last two matches but they have a very good coach, they have very good players and tactically they are good.
“We are ready to play a very very tough match.”
Mauricio Pochettino on the FA Cup fourth-round replay
On the upcoming match, he said: “Two defeats. Against Wolverhampton I think if we draw the game it would be a different way and we are in Chelsea, we know very well that we need to win every single game.
“If not it’s a problem.
“Today is a different day, it is a different competition, again a very good team because Aston Villa are doing great, it is a fantastic season, we are in the final of the Carabao Cup because we did very good things.
“But now we need to accept that too many things happen around but the players are calm and we need to compete today against a very good team in a very good stadium.
“It’s going to be tough but as a team we are convinced that we have prepared in our best way.”
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