Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Aston Villa host Chelsea in FA Cup action.
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
If that’s winded me, spare a thought for Villa’s XI. The next goal felt crucial for the hosts to get a foothold on a lacklustre night, but they now have an enormous task to overturn a 3-0 scoreline.
One team that might not be impossible against is, in fact, Chelsea, who have a supremely uneven second-half record, but they will have to get into top gear sharpish.
GOAL!!! Fernandez unleashes a freekick missile (Fernandez 54′)
Fernandez goes hunting on the edge of the area and wins a good-looking freekick after getting muddled up with Tielemans drawing back his foot for a strike.
10 yards ahead of the D, bullish Chelsea players bob over the ball, jostling for it, but it’s the World Cup winner who gets to kick it – and what a kick!
It goes flying past Martinez, an absolute peach!
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Okay, neither team has come sprinting out of the starting gates. Chelsea don’t have to do much to keep Villa out as things stand, but they’re not bubbling over with full-throated attack.
As I type that, Madueke turns on the afterburners on the right, working with Jackson to usher the ball up the pitch.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Villa haven’t come sprinting out of the starting gates this half, shall we say, allowing Chelsea to continue looking reasonably confident this side of the break.
Moreno looks to get Luiz away over the halfway line, but Chelsea remain dominant in midfield, and an optimistic long ball to try and outfox them it quickly trapped by Gallagher.
SECOND-HALF: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Both teams stream out of the tunnel, and the Chelsea get things underway for the final 45 minutes.
Will Aston Villa’s nine-year wait for a spot in FA Cup fifth round roll on?
That’s some drought Gallagher has ended
WATCH: Madueke runs the show on the right
The England under-21 star will start to feel a little vexed if he can’t get on the scoresheet in the second-half with this performance.
HALF-TIME: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
McGinn has a gilt-edged chance from the edge of the area that just kisses Petrovic’s gloves for a Villa corner, but Chelsea defend it with minimal fuss before the whistle blows on a cursed half for the home side.
Villa have looked drained by Chelsea’s peppy press, and will be grateful for the break. If both sides come out as they go in, the next goal should be blue.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Two added minutes at Villa Park to come.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Chilwell yanks at Bailey to win the ball but commentary is split on whether this collaring constitutes a foul. It’s given as one, allowing Villa to try again in Chelsea’s half.
They still can’t find the right root through, outfoxed by a buzzing midfield, and Caicedo goes toe-to-toe with Luiz to win back possession.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Chants dedicated to Thiago Silva ricochet around Villa Park, the jubilant Chelsea fans in much better voice than the home contingent as things stand.
But Villa aren’t giving up, with Cash catapulting a throw in the direction of the Chelsea box. Instead of finding its intended target, however, the ball is finally punted up the pitch by a lingering Chilwell.
Chelsea have swarmed Villa this evening – and would do well to keep this up.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Moreno tips back his head in frustration as he streaks forward after a ball he’s unable to keep in play, deep inside the Chelsea half.
But Villa get a look in after Tielemans and Fernandez tango on the dead ball line, winning a corner for the claret and blue. The Argentine is aggrieved, but little comes of it.
As Chelsea break, Gusto is barrelled off the ball by Carlos, who is rewarded with a yellow card for his troubles.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Villa looks under pressure, as a round of squabbling breaks out between the hosts’ backline over a failure to play out quickly.
But the home side wins a freekick halfway inside Chelsea’s half and have the opportunity to push forward – only to be thwarted by a Chelsea head.
Madueke once again takes up the charge, gamefully surging up the on the right past two befuddled Villa players, looking for team-mates. Jackson hangs back, so Palmer in the box knocks it towards Martinez, who makes a springing save before the ball is booted away by a defender.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
The corner only finds Aston Villa heads, before Lenglet boots the ball out. Bailey looks to get on the end of it, but he’s stymied by Gallagher with a well-timed challenge, that yields Chelsea another corner for a do-over.
Chilwell ends up shooting from distance after being played the ball short, but his effort slides just wide of Martinez’s sticks.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Villa, who have been looking a second off-beat, give the ball away to launch another attack from the visitors, but it’s limited and Chelsea are pushed back to their half.
Caicedo tangles with Watkins as Villa look to overturn their fortune, but this time Chelsea can only get as far as setting up another corner.
WATCH: ITV’s social media manager hits the nail on the head
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
In the battle of the rampant lions, Chelsea are a cut above as things stand, but Villa aren’t looking to give way that easily.
The ball is fired at Luiz and only a clinging Gusto stops a threatening Villa attack. Chelsea haven’t totally pushed back the hosts, but are handed a lifeline as Cash strays offside.
GOAL!!! Chelsea double their lead (Jackson 20′)
Madueke passes in front on the right to Gusto, who sends in a delightful cross tailormade for Jackson’s head.
Aston Villa are all at sea in defence, and in the face of gaping holes in the box, nothing can stop the highly inconsistent striker – who now has a goal and an assist upon his return in royal blue.
Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea
Madueke wafts the ball into the box, but his effort is too soft to find Palmer, and instead Martinez cautiously leaps off his line to gather the ball up.
Villa force their way up the field, but Chelsea – keen to protect their lead – make the midfield a sticky prospect, and win back possession to set off again.
But Madueke in the end slingshots a ball on the run and finds stand instead of net.
Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea
Villa are keen to immediately level terms again, with Watkins forcing Petrovic into two fine springing saves, but quick as a flash, Chelsea have the opportunity to break and look to double their lead.
In the end, the opportunity is squandered, with Gusto dejected on the turf after funking his effort. But Chelsea would do well to capitalise on whatever momentum they can find.
‘We’re winning away, we’re winning away, how s*** must you be, we’re winning away,’ the beleaguered home fans sing prematurely.
GOAL!!! Gallagher gets his first of the season (Gallagher 10′)
Gallagher hands off to Jackson running down the right, the forward sneaking the ball to Madueke in the centre of the area.
He flicks the ball to Gallagher, and the England international smashes his effort past Martinez.
Few in the Chelsea side are as deserving of a goal as the sometime captain – but this is just the first of his campaign.
Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea
The visitors win the first corner of the contest, and inswinger Chilwell boots in from the left looking for team-mates in the box.
It falls from a header to Fernandez, who forces his compatriot Martinez into a save flicking the ball towards the net. It’s a quick-thinking save well made.
Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea want to sink their teeth into things too, and Madueke on the right does a good job of skirting the ball left to Palmer on the edge of the box.
He pokes the ball to Gallagher, but he can’t get a clean touch on it, and the attack is smothered by Villa.
Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea
Already, Villa look comfortable and threatening, with Luiz at the top of the box prompting a roar of ‘shoot’ from the zesty home fans.
Instead, the attack looks for Watkins and can’t pull off a perfect cross – but it’s still a relief when Petrovic gets his boot on the ball for a Chelsea kick.
Gallagher ushers the ball to Chilwell running on the left, but as he passes off to Jackson, the Senegal striker is caught by Bailey – fouling him in return.
Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea
Early feistiness from the home side sees McGinn and Tielemans ferreting around in Chelsea’s penalty area, but the visitors are quick to get the ball away and set up their own quick counter.
But Aston Villa neutralise the threat with ease, and begin to play out from the back again.
KICK-OFF: Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea
Tonight’s showpiece fixture, by contrast, is just getting underway, with the hosts getting things started at Villa Park.
GOAL!!! Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bristol City
That didn’t take long – a response from the visitors in Nottingham.
It’s Jason Knight on the scoresheet, just six minutes after Origi’s strike.
A dismal lack of aluminium FA Cups in the ground
But the visitors will no doubt be pleased they still have the unconditional love of one fan.
GOAL!!! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Bristol City
It hasn’t taken long for the hosts to draw first blood!
Divock Origi does the honours just eight minutes into the City Ground clash.
Unai Emery tells ITV he’s not writing off Chelsea
Every match is different, we are very excited to play here with our support. We have been successful for a long time at Villa Park, and we want to keep doing the same.
We are going to adapt now for Chelsea, they were pressing very good – they lost the last two matches, but they have a very good coach, and very good players. They’re astute tactically too.
Domestic cup action for both sides’ other sides
Both Aston Villa and Chelsea’s womens’ teams are in action in the Conti Cup tonight, but with differing fortunes.
Creeping towards half-time, the serial-winning Blues are off to the races against Sunderland and 2-0 up, whereas Villa trail Brighton away 1-0.
Pochettino on Chelsea unity, speaking to ITV
We are Chelsea, and we know very well we need to win every single game, and if not, it’s a problem.
Today is a different competition, again a very good team, (but) we are in the final of the Carabao Cup because we made very good things, but we need to accept that too many things happen around (us).
But I think we are convinced we can compete in our best way.
Pochettino might be here to listen to the fans’ disparagement, but one man isn’t
That would be Todd Boehly – barring a surprise appearance – who gets shouted out by a platform full of supporters calling for his swift exit.
Pochettino on the decision to overlook Silva
I am a professional. I always pick my players because of performance, balance, and I think I understand the question but… no. I want to be calm, because I am a professional, I want to be professional, and I always make a professional decision.
When doggedly asked if that was why he benched the defender, Pochettino said – with no little twinkle:
TEAM BOOS – in brief
As Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill warned, the atmosphere has been… testy on arrival.
FA Cup action elsewhere!
There’s another replay scheduled for this evening, as Bristol City trek north to try and overturn Premier League opponents Nottingham Forest on foreign soil.
Nuno Espirito Santo has overhauled the Forest side that last ran out against Bournemouth over the weekend with a whopping eight changes, whilst Bristol City make just three from the team that last faced Leeds.
That tie kicks off at the City Ground at 7.45pm – and we’ll keep you updated on developments as they come.
Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill is on duty at Villa Park
… with the latest on Pochettino’s soundtracked entrance at the ground.
In a massive blow for the home side, Emery shared the extent of Konsa’s injury – picked up against the Blades – with the press on Tuesday afternoon.
You can read about his absence – and the looming consequences – below.
TEAM NEWS – in brief
The hosts make just one change from the side that thumped five past Sheffield United, with Cash coming in for Konsa, who is out injured, whilst the visitors have a more thorough shuffle of the deck, dropping Sterling to back to the bench for Madueke.
Jackson comes back into the side fresh from representing Senegal with AFCON at the expense of Nkunku, and Silva is swapped for Badiashile.
Breaking: TEAM NEWS – How Aston Villa and Chelsea line-up
Here’s another hypothetical – what would Chelsea do for a player like Didier Drogba in their side this season?
A player synonymous with the boundless success of the Abramovich era, the Ivory Coast international hasn’t come down quite as hard on Pochettino’s fledgling squad as some of his former team-mates… but shares his thoughts with a warning.
Chelsea will hope to take inspiration from the past
What Chelsea actually would do for an FA Cup trophy this year probably doesn’t bear asking – it could get embarrassing.
This match will mean everything to the visitors
The moods in the two dressing rooms at Villa Park could hardly be more different.
The hosts may struggle to find their motivation this evening – Premier League form remains the focus, and before long, focus will switch back to Europe too, where the club remains in contention for Europa Conference League glory.
Chelsea, however, have the opportunity not only to help win back supporters furious after Sunday’s defeat, but project a message of squad harmony after rampant speculation over Pochettino’s divided squad.
With Leeds in their sightline, the Blues could also target a significant run in the FA Cup – with Europe achingly far away from their 11th-place spot in the league, domestic cups are likely Chelsea’s only hope of clawing their way back into UEFA competition next season.
Things became almost Dream Team-esque in west London after Belle Silva – the wife of Blues veteran defender Thiago Silva – posted a tweet on Sunday appearing to call for the exit of Pochettino, stage left.
Cue a barrage of questions about the coach’s relationship with his player – good, nay ‘strong’ – and rumours to the contrary.
You can read more on the latest installment (at the time of writing) below.
The winner of tonight’s clash will face…
… Leeds, after they left it late to smash four past Plymouth Argyle on an apocalyptically soaked night at Home Park in their fourth round replay.
The winner of tonight’s tie will host the clash.
Unlike at last night’s feature, there will be VAR in play this evening, much to the horror/delight of the home/away fans, no doubt.
Less than two seasons ago, Steven Gerrard was heading through the door – and one Mauricio Pochettino had been on an early shortlist to replace him.
Instead, Aston Villa plumped for Unai Emery – and began a charge up the Premier League table few could have anticipated.
Read Mail Sport Tom Collomosse’s report as the two managers – and former derby rivals – prepare to go head-to-head once again.
Good evening!
Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of the FA Cup fourth round replay tie between Aston Villa and Chelsea – a match which could come with the subheading ‘Pochettino’s battle to keep his job’.
Things may not have got that severe yet – the Argentine manager was keen to stress that the reactions to Chelsea’s defeat against Wolves wildly differed to those after Liverpool’s loss at the Emirates – but after two heavy defeats home and away, the chance to black their Premier League rivals’ eye at Villa Park would offer a strong rejoinder to those currently calling for his head.
The first time these two met just under two weeks ago, it was a cagey, goalless affair, where either side could have edged it and deservedly progressed. But what happens tonight?
Stick around to find out – kick-off comes in just over an hour and a half, but we’ll bring you all the team news and more in the build-up.
Key Updates
GOAL!!! Fernandez unleashes a freekick missile (Fernandez 54′)
GOAL!!! Chelsea double their lead (Jackson 20′)
GOAL!!! Gallagher gets his first of the season (Gallagher 10′)
KICK-OFF: Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea
GOAL!!! Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bristol City
GOAL!!! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Bristol City
Pochettino on the decision to overlook Silva
TEAM NEWS – How Aston Villa and Chelsea line-up
The winner of tonight’s clash will face…
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Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea – FA Cup: Live score, team news and updates as Enzo Fernandez curls home STUNNING free-kick to stretch lead