Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea LIVE RESULT – FA Cup fourth round: Pressure eases on Pochettino as Blues sail through – reaction

Full fifth round draw

And we’ll sign off the evening with the full 5th round draw after tonight’s two games.

Nottingham Forest scraped by Bristol City on penalties at the City Ground after a 1-1 draw.

• Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle United
• Chelsea v Leeds United
• AFC Bournemouth v Leicester City
• Liverpool v Southampton
• Nottingham Forest v Manchester United
• Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion
• Coventry City v Maidstone United
• Luton Town v Manchester City

Emery reacts

Unai Emery reckons his side competed this evening.

He also believes his side played at a good pace with the right mentality, despite the gulf in class.

He told Match of the Day: “We competed. We started the first 15 minutes creating chances but we didn’t score. Maybe it was the key moment. And then they created chances, were clinical, and they scored.

“In the second half we started trying to score one more, to push and create some chances. We did not do this very clear and they scored the third goal. After that our speed was very good and the mentality as well. Even when we were losing 3-0 we created chances. We have to accept it.

“Chelsea is a very good team, they can play like tonight and get these performances. Of course we are going to try again and focus on the Premier League. We are being consistent there. It is a new challenge, and going for the league as well, it is important to be a contender at the end of the season.

“It’s not a surprise because Chelsea can perform like this. We competed, but not over 90 minutes, in some periods. We have to accept it and of course we have to try to analyse and improve things.”

Calm before the rout

Mauricio Pochettino admitted feeling CALM before tonight’s game – despite mounting pressure on his own job.

The Chelsea boss was asked if he thought this was the best performance of the season.

He told ITV: “I think so. It was one of the best, maybe the best performance of the season. I am so happy with the performance and the way the players enjoyed playing football. That pleased me the most.

“We are a young team and being consistent is the most difficult thing in a young team. With a young team to find the balance is the most difficult thing.”

Chelsea ratings from inside Villa Park

• DJORDJE PETROVIC – 6
• MALO GUSTO – 8
• AXEL DISASI – 8
• BENOIT BADIASHILE – 7
• BEN CHILWELL – 7
• MOISES CAICEDO – 9
• ENZO FERNANDEZ – 9
• NONI MADUEKE – 7
• NICOLAS JACKSON – 7
• COLE PALMER – 6
• CONOR GALLAGHER – 8

SUBSTITUTES

• RAHEEM STERLING (for Madueke, 75mins) – 6
• THIAGO SILVA (for Palmer, 81) – 6 
• ALFIE GILCHRIST (for Badiashile, 88) – 5
• CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU (for Jackson, 88) – 5

Read more on each rating

Up next…

In this competition, Chelsea will welcome Leeds United to Stamford Bridge in the fifth round.

After consecutive 3-1 drubbings at home, Aston Villa have the chance to put it right when Manchester United visit on Sunday.

Chelsea go to Crystal Palace in Monday Night Football.

Chilling Well

Chelsea skipper Ben Chilwell says tonight’s result and performance was ‘needed’ and said the changing room were confident before the game that they’d get through.

He told ITV’s coverage: “It was exactly the reaction we wanted and needed. It wasn’t about wanting a reaction. We needed it. Fair play to all of the boys.”

“We wanted that pressure. We thrived off it. The confidence before the game in the changing room was the best I have seen it – the togetherness.

“We delivered on the pitch today.

“As a club, the players, manager, the staff, the fans everyone involved in the club. It wasn’t just the manager. Everyone associated with the club needed that today.”

Numbers from Villa Park

Aston Villa fought back in that second half, according to the stats.

But the game was done by Chelsea’s third goal and they let Villa enjoy more of the ball at that stage.

Petrovic didn’t have too much to do in the Blues goal, for the amount of attempts Villa had.

Match report from inside Villa Park

Thiago Silva’s missus had demanded that it was ‘time to change’ at Chelsea – and Mauricio Pochettino agreed.

He dropped Thiago, fielded even more inexperienced kids than usual, and watched his youthful side tear Aston Villa to shreds to reach the FA Cup fifth round. 

The Blues had lost all of their last six matches north of the Watford Gap, with everybody telling Poch that his side lacked experience and nous. 

But in the FA Cup, you often have to forget everything you thought you knew. 

This certainly wasn’t a classic David-versus-Goliath Cup upset, given that Pochettino’s squad has had £1billion spent on it.

Yet it was a genuine shock, given Villa’s outstanding campaign and Chelsea’s calamitous recent form. 

Read the full report

Cruise control

A fantastic win for Chelsea tonight – who saw that coming!

Their 7,000 fans didn’t have long to wait to celebrate when Conor Gallagher scored the opener on 11 minutes.

Jackson’s header made it two before the break when it could’ve been more.

It was more when Enzo fired a sensational free kick into the top corner from 25 yards.

Villa got a late consolation through Diaby, which was more than they deserved on the night.

Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

90+4. Almost number four!

Great play in the Villa box which sees Caicedo break the defensive lead and he’s 1v1 with Martinez.

The big keeper stretches an arm out to keep out the delicate chip.

Corner Chelsea.

Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

90+3. No.

They win the second ball and Moreno clips a cross to the back post but the header from eight yards is weak and straight at the keeper.

Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

90+2. Another Villa corner late in the day.

They couldn’t, could they?

Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

90+2. Gallagher picks the ball up as Chelsea push forward for a fourth.

He cuts back on his right foot and strikes from 25 yards but Martinez saves comfortably.

Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

90. Clean sheet gone for Chelsea and Petrovic will be gutted.

The corner was taken short to Cash on the edge of the box and his shot was blocked.

It’s eventually cut back for Diaby who scuffs his shot from just inside the box and it drifts across goal and in off the post.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

Four minutes added

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

89. Moreno tries to get by Gusto on the left but the Chelsea right back wins the battle once more.

He does have to concede the corner, however.

Late chance to get on the board for the home side.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

88. Villa creating even less since the Blues switch to a back five.

Douglas Luiz goes for the World Cup pass which is too high for Cash and drifts away for a throw in.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

86. Double change for Chelsea:

• OFF: Badiashile & Jackson
• ON: Gilchrist & Nkunku

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

84. Bailey drives at Gallagher down the right and his cross is blocked.

Claims for handball but they’re desperate claims at this stage.

Gallagher gets the ball cleared for a throw in as the Villa fans head for the exits.

Badiashile goes down and needs treatment.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

82. Chelsea move to a back five after that substitution with Caicedo back on the field.

They’re letting Villa have the ball on halfway and the hosts look out of ideas.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

80. Caicedo gets back to his feet and trudges to the touchline.

Chelsea make a change for the final 10 minutes – but it isn’t Caicedo that’s off!

• OFF: Palmer
• ON: Thiago Silva

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

77. Jackson is allowed to drive into the box after another flowing Chelsea counter.

He’s stopped in his tracks and the play is stopped as Caicedo is down and needs treatment.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

74. Chelsea change:

• OFF – Madueke
• ON – Sterling