Chelsea v Chesterfield Live Commentary & Result, 08/01/2022, FA Cup

For Chesterfield then, it is back to the lower leagues - they face Maidenhead United, next up. Chelsea though have a date with Tottenham in the Carabao Cup - and could book a spot at Wembley in short order. Until then, thank you for joining us - and have a great weekend!

For Thomas Tuchel, it is job done in more than routine fashion. His side enjoyed a very sturdy first half and delivered the goods. It's onwards and upwards now for the Blues boss, and he knows it.

James Rowe's men looked like they could be heading home with a cricket score at one point. Instead, they shipped just a penalty in the second half and nabbed one of their own too. In the end, it is not their day - but they will head home a little lighter than they might have otherwise done.

Five of the best for the Blues means that is Chelsea who book their place in the FA Cup fourth round at the expense of non-league Chesterfield, running out comfortable winners over the Spireites. There will be no upset for the minnows, but a consolation goal puts a smile on their faces nevertheless. Full-time at Stamford Bridge, it finishes Chelsea 5-1 Chesterfield.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 5-1 CHESTERFIELD

90' + 2' Ziyech almost adds another for the hosts, curling a free-kick the wrong side of the right post with a late set-piece.

90' Three added minutes are incoming to see this one out.

88' Some nifty interplay around the box from the Blues comes to nothing and Chesterfield pound back down the pitch to cut away from danger.

86' Vale is making a nuisance of himself as Chelsea look to finish on another high note. That Chesterfield goal has really got the visitors alive and kicking in this last act though.

84' A knock for Whittle draws some concern from the Chesterfield bench but he looks set to continue for the final stretch of this contest.

82' They won't be going home with their tail between their legs now! It may be a four-goal gap, but Chesterfield's supporters in the away end absolutely exploded at that one. James Rowe has a grin like a Cheshire cat on his face. It's sheer delight for the non-league side.

A. Asante

Goal

80' Goal Akwasi Asante

78' There is a little bit of spark for the Spireites here, but surely, it is too late for anything here. How would a consolation go down though? Something for the journey home.

76' What do these two sides learn from this contest, if anything? For Chelsea, it is the promise that their young guns have the skills to cut it on the big stage. For Chesterfield, it is a humble reminder that they have a long way to go.

74' Chesterfield pop up with a set-piece opportunity but Kerr steers it the wrong way in the end. Close but no cigar for the visitors.

L. Maguire

E. Oyeleke

73' Laurence Maguire replaces Manny Oyeleke in Chesterfield's fifth change of the game.

70' Non-league Chesterfield haven’t faced a Premier League side in the FA Cup since the 1996-97 semi-final against Middlesbrough – after a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford, they lost 3-0 in the replay at Hillsborough. Away from home, the Spireites have never won against a top-flight team in the competition (P13 D3 L10).

68' Barkley goes for goal! A near-instant impact from the replacement but he doesn't quite get it right at the first attempt.

R. Barkley

C. Hudson-Odoi

66' Ross Barkley replaces Callum Hudson-Odoi in Chelsea's fifth change of the game.

A. Asante

J. Kellermann

66' Akwasi Asante replaces James Kellerman in Chesterfield's fourth change of the game.

63' Back-to-back cracks from Chelsea now! Havertz is blocked and Werner puts it wide and high. Chesterfield narrowly avoid a sixth concession.

J. Grimes

G. Gunning

60' Jamie Grimes replaces Gavin Gunning in Chesterfield's third change of the game.

H. Vale

C. Pulisic

59' Harvey Vale replaces Christian Pulisic in Chelsea's third change of the game.

L. Baker

A. Christensen

59' Lewis Baker replaces Andreas Christensen in Chelsea's fourth change of the game.

56' Chesterfield fans have a long trip back tonight. Not the longest, of course, but long enough to feel the pain of this one.

H. Ziyech

Penalty Goal

55' Penalty Goal Hakim Ziyech

54' Penalty to Chelsea! Chesterfield's day continues to go from bad to worse now as Miller brings down Pulisic and the referee points to the spot. Ziyech will take...

52' Werner gets his wires crossed down the opposite end and can't bring a cross back in for the Blues. It's no small loss given the scoreline, but even so.

50' Chelsea remain in fine fettle however and continue to mark their turf out from the back. They have been a joy to watch today.

48' It's been a slower start to proceedings and that will suit the visitors just fine. If they can steady the ship, maybe they can survive unwanted history.

46' We're back underway at Stamford Bridge. Can Chesterfield rally some respect on the scoreboard here? Or will Chelsea continue to thrash them?

C. Miller

J. King

46' Calvin Miller replaces Jeff King in Chesterfield's second change of the game.

L. Mandeville

S. Khan

46' Liam Mandeville replaces Saidou Khan in Chesterfield's first change of the game.

R. Loftus-Cheek

M. Kovačić

46' Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaces Mateo Kovacic in Chelsea's second change of the game.

K. Havertz

R. Lukaku

46' Kai Havertz replaces Romelu Lukaku in Chelsea's first change of the game.

Expect changes at the break then - with victory secured, Tuchel will want to avoid big risks. But who could feature? That is the question.

Total dominance from Thomas Tuchel and company has put paid to any thought of an upset today - it's Chelsea who are on top in the FA Cup third round against Chesterfield. At the break, it is Chelsea 4-0 Chesterfield.

45' + 1' HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 4-0 CHESTERFIELD

45' There will be one added minute.

43' Thomas Tuchel, on the other hand, will have nothing but praise for his side. This has been a dominant performance. It may only be fifth-tier opposition, but even so.

41' Chesterfield are really being put through the wringer right now. James Rowe's team talk will have to be something, to put it mildly.

A. Christensen

Goal

39' Goal Andreas Bødtker Christensen

38' Is there a fourth before the break? The Blues are swarming. Hall, in particular, is seizing this chance to impress.

36' Chelsea, who have been finalists in the FA Cup in four of the last five seasons, have lost just one of their last 34 FA Cup matches against sides from outside the Premier League (W28 D5), a 4-2 home defeat to League One side Bradford City in January 2015.

34' Oyeleke! On the volley! Chesterfield enjoy a half-decent opportunity, with Chelsea unable to defuse a long-throw-in, and the midfielder curls a volley the wrong way around the left post, thrashed diagonally across the area.

32' Lukaku! The Belgian nearly gets a second, just forcing Werner's low pass wide of the near post on the left edge. It's poaching season at Stamford Bridge.

J. King

Yellow Card

29' Yellow Card Jeff Francis King

28' If the Blues are to make history, they'll need a couple more before the break, you imagine. They move forward again, and Chesterfield hurry to contain them.

26' Looking in your history books? Chelsea's record FA Cup win was an eight-goal margin, way back in 1908, when they beat Worksop Town 9-1 in the first round. Could we see that trumped today?

24' Bettinelli looks like he'll be in for a particularly quiet evening on this occasion. There is work, and plenty of it, for his team-mates to get through as they run rings around their visitors. Him? Not so much.

22' Three goals from five shots on target. The trick for Chesterfield may well be letting this one slip off them psychologically. If they take it to heart, it could prove very tough for them beyond this.

L. Hall

Assist

20' Assist Lewis Hall

R. Lukaku

Goal

20' Goal Romelu Lukaku Menama

C. Hudson-Odoi

Goal

18' Goal Callum Hudson-Odoi

C. Pulisic

Assist

18' Assist Christian Pulisic

15' King has looked one of the livelier options so far from a Chesterfield perspective and he now entraps Hudson-Odoi into committing the foul. That will be a free-kick in their own territory for the visitors.

13' The gulf in quality can be so pronounced in games like these. Chelsea may have failed to live up to their billing on a few occasions this season, but if anything, they are an arguably improved version of the side who won the Champions League last year. They are more than a class above Chesterfield.

11' Ziyech comes close! Loach has to rise to the occasion, tapping away a low finish from the Blues man, as the hosts continue to pound for a second, before his defence manage to see off the danger.

10' It has been the worst possible start for the visitors here - but given the amount of dominance Chelsea have showcased so far with their muscle, it may yet get a lot worse. It could be a long evening for them.

Saúl

Yellow Card

8' Yellow Card Saúl Ñíguez Esclapez

T. Werner

Goal

6' Goal Timo Werner

5' It isn't too long since Chesterfield scaled some big heights in this competition of course - or, at least in the history of the competition. They made the semi-finals in 1997 - where they went down to Middlesbrough 3-0 in a replay after forcing a draw the first time around.

3' It's very much a case of starting as you mean to go on for Chelsea - they win an early corner and put Chesterfield straight under pressure. The visitors ride out the storm but it is an omen for things to come.

1' We are underway in this FA Cup third round tie between Chelsea and Chesterfield!

The teams have emerged at Stamford Bridge and we are only a few moments away from kick-off.

Chesterfield’s one victory against Chelsea was back in October 1905 in a league match, winning 1-0 – it was Chelsea’s first ever home defeat in the Football League.

Chelsea haven’t faced Chesterfield in the FA Cup since the 1949-50 season, winning 3-0 in a fifth round replay after a 1-1 draw.

Subs: Akwasi Asante, Laurence Maguire, Jamie Grimes, Calvin Miller, Liam Mandeville, Stefan Payne, Nathan Tyson, Melvin Minter, Jak McCourt.

CHESTERFIELD (3-4-3): Scott Loach; Fraser Kerr, Gavin Gunning, Luke Croll; Jeff King. Curtis Weston, Manny Oyeleke,Alex Whittle; James Kellerman, Saidou Khan, Kabongo Tshimanga.

Subs: Kai Havertz, Ross Barkley, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Xavier Simons, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Charlie Webster, Lewis Baker, Harvey Vale.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1) Marcus Bettinelli; Callum Hudson-Odoi, Andreas Christensen, Malang Sarr, Lewis Hall; Saul Niguez, Mateo Kovacic; Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic; Romelu Lukaku.

The hosts are taking no chances though - while several younger faces get a run-out, along with Marcus Bettinelli between the posts, several key figures, including the returned Romelu Lukaku, feature in this encounter.

To do so though, they'll have to make the fourth round - and while opposition from the fifth tier would typically prove no trouble, the magic of the FA Cup is that it always throws up a shock or two. National Conference leaders Chesterfield are one such foe - and James Rowe will hope his side can deliver a surprise.

A new year dawns and with it, the top-flight of English football finds their way into the game's most storied club tournament. Last year, a Wembley finish was not enough for Thomas Tuchel's Blues, falling short at the last hurdle to Leicester - but could they put their name back on the trophy this term?

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2021-22 FA Cup, as Premier League heavyweights Chelsea look to kick-start another sterling knockout run against non-league opposition, in the former of Chesterfield, at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea v Chesterfield Live Commentary, 08/01/2022

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