IF CHELSEA fans could make a song out of Tosin Adarabioyo’s name they should.
The linguistically awkward defender ended his club’s run of four games without a win by scoring in each half.
The second was a peach of a 25 yarder that smashed into the top corner with 20 minutes to go that finally killed off fading hopes of a fightback by gutsy Morecambe.
The ice-cool, deliberate finish was in stark contrast to his and Chelsea’s first in the 39th minute that took a hefty deflection off Shrimps’ defender Callum Jones as the Premier League side needed a slice of luck to get off the mark.
Centre half Tosin was signed in the summer partly for his leadership qualities and led the way in important moments in what could easily have become a tricky afternoon for the Blues.
Morecambe keeper Harry Bourgoyne saved a penalty in the 16th minute and moments later produced a cracking reaction dive to block Joao Felix as the League Two side put up a fight.
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Chelsea were also missing chances as usual until Tosin stepped up at key moments to ease the pressure and eventually watch his team ease into the fourth round of The FA Cup.
His second goal was the third for boss Enzo Maresca’s rejigged team and settled the tie beyond any doubt.
From there it became an exhibition with Joao Felix going onto help himself to two goals in five minutes.
One was a fancy shimmy and curled effort into the corner of the net from outside the box for 4-0.
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And unsettled Christopher Nkunku also got on the scoresheet, following up on a spilled save by Morecambe’s otherwise flawless keeper Burgoyne to blast home a shot in the 50th minute.
Nkunku is a troubled player at the moment with his future far from certain.
The fact only two of his 13 goals this season have come against Premier League teams tells a story.
He has been relegated to target practice in the Conference League and has scored against Panathinaikos, Gent, Servette and Heidenheim, as well as Barrow in the Carabao Cup.
Chelsea boss Maresca fielded a reshuffled team to give some of his B-listers a runout and put others like Nkunku in the shop window.
There was also a half for club captain Reece James as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
There was also a 45 minute test run for recently-crocked midfielder Romeo Lavia.
This is Chelsea’s first win since beating Shamrock Rovers 5-1 in the Conference League on December 19.
Since then they have drawn to Everton, lost to Fulham and Ipswich and drawn at Crystal Palace.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
