Chelsea 5-0 Watford: Rampant Chelsea Wallop Watford

Chelsea v Watford: Line-up & Stats

Chelsea steamrolled their way into the fourth round of the FA Cup after a convincing victory over a poor Watford side. Two goals from Daniel Sturridge, a John Eustace own goal, a deflection from Florent Malouda and a Frank Lampard  screamer secured a resounding victory.

Chelsea dominated from the kick-off looking very positive and exerted huge amounts of pressure on the Watford defence.

After five minutes Chelsea were in front when a corner from Frank Lampard on the left hand side found Alex who nodded it back to John Terry. The England captain hit a wayward shot that was sure to be heading out for a goal kick only for it to be turned in by Daniel Sturridge six yards out.

The Premier League leaders continued to apply pressure and nearly doubled their lead just minutes later. Joe Cole then played a corner straight to Lampard who was waiting on the edge of the 18 yard box. Lampard hit the ball first time and was thwarted by a great save from Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach.

The relentless Blues did double their lead on 14 minutes after Florent Malouda drove down the right flank and hammered a ball into the danger area that evaded everyone. Joe Cole prevented the ball from running out of play and fizzed the ball back into the Watford penalty area where it took a number of deflections, the last coming of the unfortunate John Eustace and the ball squirmed in the net for an own goal.

Watford struggled to get the ball out of their own half and found themselves three goals down just 7 minutes later. Yuri Zhirkov travelled through Watford’s half and hit a mediocrelacklustre shot that Loach would have dealt with comfortably. Unfortunately for the visitors the ball hit the Frenchman Malouda on the way through and completely wrong-footed the goalkeeper, adding to the misery of the travelling players and fans alike.

Looking even more relaxed on the ball, Chelsea started producing some fantastic one-touch football that Watford could not get anywhere near. After a move that consisted of at least 15 passes, Terry played a lofted ball to the lively Sturridge who ran onto the ball and smashed it across goal towards the far post only for it to go a yard wide.

Watford Manager Malky Mackay looked resigned to the outcome of the game before the half time whistle blew. Nevertheless, his speech at half time looked like it spurred his side on when the two teams came out for the second half.

The first few minutes of the half were very end-to-end and in the 48th minute Watford had their first chance of the game. A long throw-in from Don Cowie produced a goal mouth scramble in the Chelsea box that ended up with Henri Lansbury swivelling a firing a shot towards goal which was blocked by man-mountain Terry.

Chelsea responded in a typical fashion and again started to produce some outstanding football. Spraying the ball across the pitch with consummate ease, the Blues started to dominate possession and created some very good chances.

On the stroke of the hour Joe Cole drilled a short corner to the edge of the 18 yard box. Running onto the ball, Lampard fired a shot across the goal that viciously dipped over the helpless Loach into the top left-hand corner of the goal for Chelsea's fourth of the game.

Incensed, Chelsea hunted for a fifth and were rewarded in the 68th minute when England left-back Ashley Cole raced down the flank and crossed the ball to Sturridge. The young striker placed a left footed strike neatly into the corner of the goal to score his second goal of the game.

Chelsea could have and should have perhaps scored a sixth but the 5-0 victory ensures that the Blues march on to the fourth round of the FA Cup.