CHELSEA have been forced into an FA Cup replay with Aston Villa after a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge. The Blues dominated much of the game but failed to put away some key chances as Unai Emery’s side held firm in the capital.
Kick-off time: 7.45pm GMT
Stream/TV: Not televised in UK
Chelsea XI: To follow…
Villa XI: To follow…
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Farewell
That’s all from us tonight – this game will be rearranged for the replay, although no firm date has been given just yet.
Have a good evening.
Copy linkCopiedMauricio Pochettino
On tonight’s performance: “They have amazing players in attack. They didn’t score and we kept a clean sheet. We face a team like Aston Villa, it is difficult.
“Of course, we didn’t score but we created chances. I trust and believe in my players, for sure, playing in this way that we are going to score. Emiliano is an amazing keeper, he was really, really good and sometimes you need some luck to score.”
On Levi Colwill: “We don’t believe it’s too bad. A smaller issue. He didn’t feel comfortable. We knew before we might not start with him but then he was ready to play, but then he felt something.”
On Petrovic: “He’s doing fantastic. We need to give full credit. He arrived from the MLS, he’s really young, he’s competing really well. The way he behaves in the goal, it shows his quality and character. It’s amazing.”
Copy linkCopiedUnai Emery
“Very happy and proud of our work. I was aware about how we need to be competitive like before.
“We struggled in the first half, but we spoke in the dressing room about how we won here before and were competitive facing matches like tonight.”
The Spanish boss also says he is excited to get his side back to Villa Park having played the last four games away from home.
“In the second half we were getting progressively better and we finished strong.
“We were as well trying to win the mach with our game plan like we prepared before. I have to accept the draw and we are going to be motivated with our supporters [at home].”
Copy linkCopiedFT: Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
We’re just waiting to hear from the managers here inside the press room. Sadly no more food or beverage updates to bring you.
But we’ll have word from the managers as soon as they arrive.
Copy linkCopiedFT: Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
Copy linkCopiedFT: Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
Copy linkCopiedFT: Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
Cole Palmer will surely be running over those chances in the dressing room now.
Twice Aston Villa players passed him the ball inside the box and twice he was unable to find the back of the net.
It wasn’t quite the horror show of the Riverside a couple of weeks ago, but an England international and player of his technical quality really should be doing better with both of those changes.
The first was hit straight at the keeper and the second was a total mishit.
Copy linkCopiedEmi Martinez reacts quickly to stop Conor Gallagher racing onto a loose passCredit: AFP
Copy linkCopiedFT: Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
All over here at Stamford Bridge in what was a proper cup tie – fast, frantic, often lacking in quality but never in excitement.
Chelsea dominated possession and probably had the better opportunities, with Cole Palmer having two clear attempts that he should have done better with.
Both of those came from Aston Villa mistakes, who were often guilty of overplaying at the back.
But the visitors also had their fair share of chancesm, with Djordje Petrovic making two very good saves to keep Unai Emery’s side at bay.
Neither manager will have wanted that one to end in a draw, but probably a fair result overall.
Copy linkCopiedFULL-TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
We’re heading for a replay at Villa Park.
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
90. In case you were wondering – yes, the game will go to a replay if there is a draw here tonight.
Replays are vaild in the third and fourth rounds but from the fifth round on matches go to extra-time then penalties.
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
90. Another sub for the visitors, with Leon Bailey replacing Moussa Diaby for the final couple of minutes.
The fourth official also tells us we’ve got just three minutes to play.
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
89. Another sub for the Blues, former Villa man Carney Chukwuemeka replaces Enzo.
Huge roar from the home end and huge boos from the away end, of course.
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
87. Almost a goal for Ollie Watkins!
Enzo Fernandez is beaten too easily by Zainolo who drops in a cross – Watkins gets ahead of Thiago Silva but his hooked effort goes right across goal and past the far post.
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
86. Both sides really pushing hard for this winner. Villa earn themselves a corner and after the ball is half cleared, it drops to Ezri Konsa who flashes an effort just wide of the post.
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
82. Villa nearly the architects of their own downfall again – this time its Boubacar Kamara with a loose back pass that almost falls at the feet of Conor Gallagher.
Thankfully for the visitors, Emi Martinez is alert to the danger and puts in an excellent tackle on the edge of the box before Gallagher can get the ball under control.
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
82. Now it’s Unai Emery’s turn to make a couple of changes – Nicolo Zainolo is coming on for Youri Tielemans and Matty Cash is being replaced by Diego Carlos.
Copy linkCopiedCole Palmer has had a couple of good chances but couldn’t find the net
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
76. Two more substitutions incoming for the Blues, with Poch desperate to stem a tide of VIlla attacks.
Armando Broja is coming on for Noni Madueke and Raheem Sterling is replaced by Mykhailo Mudryk.
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
74. Villa really finding their feet now and force Petrovic into two excellent saves within 90 seconds.
First, Ollie Watkins is set free on the right and fires across goal, but it is comfortably batted away by the Serbian.
The second was certainly not so easy – this time Matty Cash is set free down the right and cuts inside onto his left.
His effort looks like it will sneak into the far corner before Petrovic turns it round the post and out for a corner.
Copy linkCopiedView from SunSport’s Jordan Davies at Stamford Bridge
The end of the first half has spilled over into this opening period of the second half – a real lack of cutting edge from both sides.
As I am typing, Cole Palmer has missed an absolute sitter of a volley from another Villa mistake at the back, this time from Emi Martinez.
Other than that, a lot of the noteworthy action is away from the pitch.
Mauricio Pochettino has been left gobsmacked by several refereeing decisions, having to calm down his own bench from harassing the fourth official
Noni Madueke was forced to change his boots after one of them had ripped at the sole. Will be interesting to see if a change of footwear will change his fortunes in front of goal. Meanwhile, Ben Chilwell is on, and has taken the captain’s armband.
Aston Villa look relatively comfortably, but for the odd mad moment at the back, but Ollie Watkins needs more service to trouble Chelsea’s backline.
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
71. Absolutely frantic stuff here again, the temperature and pace of this game has gone through the roof.
Both sets of fans now in full voice – this is the loudest I’ve heard Stamford Bridge in weeks – and the game has become frantic and end to end.
Both teams believe they can win it.
We’re surely in for a thrilling final 20 minutes.
Copy linkCopiedNoni Madueke fires in a cross from the rightCredit: Getty
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
65. Here comes the change for Chelsea, with Chilwell replacing youngster Alfie Gilchrist, who has looked assured all evening.
A full reshuffle for the Chelsea back four now – Disasi slides over from centre-back to right-back and Badiashile moves from the left to the centre.
Chilwell takes up his usual position on the left and also collects the captain’s armband.
Copy linkCopiedChelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
62. Ben Chilwell, who played so well on his return to action against Middlesbrough, is now preapring to come on.
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