Chelsea thrash fifth-tier Chesterfield to advance in the FA Cup

On one hand, Thomas Tuchel was whining about being unable to be competitive due to a number of injured or Covid positive players but then, the German tactician brought in the ‘heavy artillery’ against poor Chesterfield. Lukaku, Werner, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi, and Ziyech were all in the starting lineup against a fifth-tear Chesterfield. The visiting fans didn’t just have to pay a significant price to come to Stamford Bridge, they also had to witness their team being slaughtered by Lukaku and the crew for 90 minutes: Chelsea – Chesterfield 5:1.

From the first minute, it was a lost match for Chesterfield and it was Werner who scored first, after only six minutes, before Hudson-Odoi, Lukaku, and Christensen made it 4-0 before half-time. Even when Chelsea players lowered down the tempo and aggression, in order to rest themselves, they were still scoring against the visitors. Heck, they are in the 5th league after all. The second half brought only two goals, as each side scored one: Ziyech from a penalty in the 55th minute and Asante in the 80th for the visitors.

Other Premier League sides were not that convincing in the evening schedule of the Third Round of the FA Cup. Both Everton and Southampton were guests at Hull and Swansea, and both needed an extra-time to secure the win and advance to the next round. The Blues fell behind to Smith's header inside the opening minute before Gray and Gomes turned the game on its head. However, Longman's strike sent the tie into extra time before Townsend won it for the Blues. The Saints had an even tougher job, as their played 90 of tonight's 120 minutes with ten men (Valery got the second yellow card after 30 minutes), but eventually, they made it through with goals from Redmond, Elyounoussi, and Shane Long.

FA CUP - Third Round

Friday

Swindon Town - Manchester City 1-4 (0-2)

/McKidrey 78 - Silva 14, Jesus 28, Gundogan 59, Palmer 82/

Saturday

Mansfield - Middlesbrough 2-3 (0-2)

/Hawkins 67, Oates 85 – Ikpeazu 4, Munce 14, O’Toole 90+5 (og)/

Burnley- Huddersfield 1-2 (1-0)

/Rodriguez 28 – Koroma 74, Pearson 87/

Hartlepool - Blackpool 2-1 (0-1)

/Ferguson 48, Grey 61 – Anderson 8/

Coventry - Derby 1-0 (1-0)

/Hyam 42/

Bristol City - Fulham 0-1 (0-0)

/Wilson 105/

Millwall - Crystal Palace 1-2 (1-0)

/Afobe 17 – Olise 46, Mateta 58/

Boreham Wood - Wimbledon 2-0 (1-0)

/Marsh 10, Clifton 86/

Kidderminster - Reading 2-1 (0-1)

/Austin 66, Smith 82 – Puskas 45/

Leicester - Watford 4-1(2-1)

/Telemans (p) 7, Maddison 25, Barnes 54, Albrighton 85 – Pedro 27/

Newcastle - Cambridge 0-1 (0-0)

/Ironside 56/

WBA - Brighton 1-2 (0-0)

/Robinson 48 – Moder 81, Maupay 98/

Port Vale - Brentford 1-4 (0-1)

/Harratt 70 – Forss 26, Mbeumo 66, 76,87/

QPR - Rotherham 1-1 (0-0)

/Dykes 115 - Ihiekwe 98/

Wigan - Blackburn 3-2 (0-0)

/Power 61, Whatmough 75, Aasgaard 90+3 – Khadra 49, Ayala 89/

Peterborough - Bristol Rovers 2-1 (1-1)

/Szmodics 21, Mumba 63 – Coutts 30/

Barnsley - Barrow 5-4 (2-0)

/Andersen 23, William 42, Cole 83, Morris 88, 102 – Banks 61, Glennon 78, Jones 86, Kay 90/

Hull - Everton 2-3 (1-2)

/Smith 1, Longman 71 – Gray 21, Gomes 31, Towsend 99/

Chelsea - Chesterfield 5-1 (4-0)

/Werner 6, Hudson-Odoi 18, Lukaku 20, Christensen 39, Ziyech 55 (p) – Asante 80/

Birmingham- Plymouth 0-1 (0-0)

/Law 104/

Swansea - Southampton 2-3 (0-1)

/Piroe 77, Bednarek 94 (og) – Redmond 8, Elyounoussi 95, Long 102/

Yeovil - Bournemouth 1-3 (0-2)

/Quigley 48 – Marcondes 19,43, 70)

Sunday

15.30: (1.40) Luton (4.50) Harrogate T. (8.50)

17.00: (2.35) Cardiff (3.25) Preston (3.10)

17.00: (4.20) Charlton (3.50) Norwich (1.90)

17.00: (1.37) Stoke (4.70) Leyton (9.00)

17.00: (1.08) Tottenham (12.0) Morecambe (23.0)

17.00: (1.23) Liverpool (7.00) Shrewsbury (10.5)

17.00: (1.70) Wolverhampton (3.70) Sheffield Utd (5.20)

17.00: (1.87) West Ham (3.50) Leeds (4.30)

20.10: (5.50) Nott.Forest (3.80) Arsenal (1.65)

Monday

22.55: (1.68) Man.Utd. (3.70) Aston Villa (5.30)

***odds are subject to change