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Chelsea shocked Aston Villa with a 1-3 win to march on within the FA Cup and ease the stress on Mauricio Pochettino.
Enzo Fernandez’s sensational free-kick added to first-half targets from Conor Gallagher and Nicolas Jackson.
Moussa Diaby’s injury-time strike didn’t smash Chelsea’s evening and the Blues now host Leeds within the fifth spherical.
Having been humbled 4-2 by Wolves and thumped 4-1 by Liverpool of their two earlier video games there was an expectation Chelsea would lurch additional into disaster of their fourth-round replay at Villa Park.
As a substitute, whereas followers sung for former proprietor Roman Abramovich, their facet rolled again the years with a dominant efficiency akin to these through the Russian’s reign.
With progress within the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup remaining in opposition to Liverpool to come back on the finish of the month, regardless of a wretched Premier League marketing campaign Chelsea may nonetheless salvage success.
For Villa, Unai Emery had already labelled this week – with Manchester United visiting on Sunday – as essential to their hopes as they problem for the highest 4.
However with a second straight residence defeat – coming after inconsistent residence shows in opposition to Sheffield United and Burnley – there can be rightful questions over Villa’s endurance.
Initially, the hosts listened to the supervisor’s phrases and there have been alarm bells for Chelsea within the opening three minutes when John McGinn roughed up Axel Disasi earlier than Alex Moreno fluffed his traces.
Half possibilities for Cole Palmer and Fernandez hardly hinted at what was to come back and it took simply 10 minutes for the Chelsea followers to chant Abramovich’s identify – but a minute later the guests struck.
Jackson teased his approach into the world to search out Noni Madueke, a continuing shiny spark for the guests, and the ahead had sufficient presence of thoughts to carry the ball up for Gallagher.
There was nonetheless loads for the midfielder to do however he prevented the massed ranks to select the highest nook from 16 yards.
Villa sought an instantaneous reply and Leon Bailey shot at Djordje Petrovic, with the goalkeeper additionally turning Ollie Watkins’s drive over.
The hosts’ 11-month unbeaten residence league run ended final week, a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle, however they’d have anticipated higher in opposition to a fractured Chelsea who had misplaced six of their final seven away outings.
But, with the lead, Pochettino’s facet got here to life and doubled their benefit with a wonderful, flowing transfer after 21 minutes.
It was constructed down proper with Disasi and Madueke concerned earlier than Malo Gusto was launched to brilliantly cross for Jackson, who directed a exact header into the nook.
As in opposition to Newcastle, Villa had been falling aside with Chelsea exploiting the flanks. Madueke continued to taunt the hosts and his robust run ended with Emi Martinez pushing away Palmer’s effort.
Petrovic tipped McGinn’s drive over in stoppage time after Ben Chilwell’s foul throw noticed Villa break however it was a uncommon second of concern for the guests.
The hosts wanted a response however – identical to in opposition to Newcastle – they conceded a 3rd quickly after the break.
Fernandez could have been lucky to earn a free kick whereas being shadowed by Youri Tielemans however there was nothing fortunate about his 25-yard strike which arched into the highest nook.
With a cushion Chelsea eased off which gave Villa temporary trigger for optimism however they by no means launched a restoration, regardless of Diaby’s stoppage time comfort.
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