Jonathan Wilson was our man at Stamford Bridge this evening. His report has landed, and is begging to be clicked. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!
FULL TIME: Chelsea 5-1 Chesterfield
Chelsea are through to the fourth round, while Chesterfield retain their dignity ... and Akwasi Asante will always have a goal scored at the home of the reigning European champions. Chelsea still haven’t lost a third-round tie in the 21st century.
90 min +3: Ziyech dribbles into the box from the right and wallops a shot straight at Leach, who parries. Chesterfield were three down after 20 minutes, so this has been an impressively determined last 70 from the National League side.
90 min +2: Ziyech takes it himself and pulls a poor effort well wide right.
90 min +1: Ziyech is flattened by Weston as he jinks down the inside-right channel. A free kick. Everyone lines up on the edge of the Chesterfield box.
90 min: There will be three added minutes.
89 min: Barkley shapes to shoot, 25 yards out. He thinks about it for an age, and suddenly Weston arrives from nowhere to steal the ball off his toe.
87 min: Whittle has an ambitious look at goal from a wide position on the right. High and wide. He grins widely anyway. Chesterfield are enjoying themselves.
86 min: Chelsea probe this way and that. Loftus-Cheek rolls a pass down the right channel for Vale, who clips a weak cross from the byline into Loach’s arms.
84 min: The visiting fans are giving it plenty. They’ve had a hellish few years. They deserve to enjoy the moment. It’s lovely to witness.
82 min: Yeah, yeah, Chelsea are going through with a swagger, while Chesterfield are going out. But that’s the magic of the FA Cup third round, right there. It was a fine goal, too.
GOAL! Chelsea 5-1 Chesterfield (Asante 80)
The loudest roar of the night as the men from the National League score at the home of the champions of Europe! A long ball down the middle. A flick on by Asante. Tshimanga barrels down the inside-right channel, turns Sarr and Baker brilliantly, and slams a shot at Bettinelli. The keeper parries, but the ball breaks to Asante, who rolls into the empty net from six yards. What scenes!
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78 min: Mandeville, who has looked lively, dribbles down the inside-right channel before sending a pea-roller towards goal. Straight at Bettinelli. That’s Chesterfield’s first attempt on target.
77 min: Hall is back in the thick of it.
76 min: Chelsea have the ball in the net again, but it won’t count. Barkley slips Werner clear down the left. Werner draws Loach and crosses for Havertz, who slides to poke home. But Werner had gone a tad too early, and up goes the flag.
75 min: Chelsea are currently down to ten men, young Hall having gone down with a serious case of cramp.
73 min: Chesterfield hit long. Kerr latches onto a flick-on down the right, and lashes a shot into the side netting. As close as the visitors have come. Few would begrudge the National League side a consolation.
72 min: Here comes number ten. Oyeleke is replaced by Harry Maguire’s brother Laurence.
70 min: This game is now exactly how you’d expect it to be with nine substitutes on the field.
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68 min: Barkley’s first act is to take up possession to the left of the Chesterfield D, shift his feet, and whip a splendid effort towards the top right. Inches wide. Had it been on target, Loach was nowhere near.
66 min: Barkley comes on for Hudson-Odoi, while Asante replaces Kellerman for the visitors.
65 min: Baker goes up for a header with Kellerman and lands on his back. Ooyah, oof, that’ll have taken the wind out of him. Happily he pings back up quickly enough.
63 min: Werner cuts in from the left and slices a wild effort over the bar. Seconds earlier, Ziyech had teed up Havertz, whose attempted curler towards the top left was blocked by Grimes.
62 min: All a little bit shapeless since the slew of changes.
60 min: Chesterfield replace Gunning with Grimes.
58 min: Pulisic and Christensen make way for Lewis Baker and Harvey Vale. It’s over eight years since Baker’s one and only previous appearance for Chelsea.
56 min: Mandeville takes an optimistic shy at the Chelsea goal from the best part of 30 yards. The effort flies harmlessly into the Shed.
GOAL! Chelsea 5-0 Chesterfield (Ziyech 55 pen)
Ziyech drills into the bottom right. Loach gets fingers to the ball, but it’s travelling too fast to stop.
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Penalty for Chelsea
54 min: Havertz drives at Chesterfield down the middle. The ball’s shuttled right for Pulisic, who nudges the ball past Miller and enters the box. Miller slips and crudely brings Pulisic down. The referee has no option but to point to the spot.
52 min: Kerr gives Pulisic an awful clatter as he races towards the Chesterfield box. The ref waves play on, and Ziyech swings a cross into the box from the left. Gunning clears with a spectacular diving header. Chesterfield break quickly, Mandeville showing some fancy footwork down the right. But he can’t release Tshimanga with an overhit pass.
50 min: Gunning is good to continue.
49 min: Ziyech drops a shoulder to beat a couple of men, then threads a shot towards the bottom left. Loach parries. The ball breaks to Ziyech, who screams a shot goalwards from an angle on the left. Gunning bravely gets in the road to block, and requires some treatment as a result.
48 min: Saul very nearly releases Havertz down the left with a fine first-time pass. After a sluggish start to his Chelsea career, Saul is beginning to show what he can do.
46 min: It’s nearly a sensational start to the second half as Tshimanga chases after a long blooter and nearly gets ahead of Sarr. The Chelsea man sticks out a telescopic leg to poke the ball away from the Chesterfield striker, just as he was preparing to lob over the out-of-position Bettinelli.
Chelsea get the second half underway. Both teams have made two changes. Chelsea send on Loftus-Cheek and Havertz for Kovacic and Lukaku, while Chesterfield replace Khan and King with Mandeville and Miller.
Half-time entertainment. Newcastle might not be all that great at the moment, but this still registers as one of the biggest third-round shocks for a while. Penny for the thoughts of new boy Kieran Trippier, because that’s one hellish debut.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 4-0 Chesterfield
Chelsea are as good as in the fourth round, though we still have 45 minutes to play. Their record FA Cup win - because it might come to this - is 9-1 against Worksop Town in 1908. Much will depend on their approach to the second half, and their willingness to show mercy.
45 min: There will be one minute of added time. Chesterfield can’t wait to hear the whistle.
44 min: This lad Hall really does look the part. He sashays down the middle and reaches the box. He’s entitled to shoot but opts to tee up Lukaku instead. The move breaks down. Chesterfield break, but who’s back in the box mopping up? Hall. He’s having one hell of a debut.
43 min: Hudson-Odoi and Kovacic shuttle the ball in from the left, teeing up Ziyech on the edge of the D. Ziyech aims for the bottom left, but the shot is weak and telegraphed, and easy for Loach.
41 min: Kellerman clips Sarr on the ankle, betraying Chesterfield’s frustration. Just a free kick, nothing more.
GOAL! Chelsea 4-0 Chesterfield (Christensen 39)
Hudson-Odoi, out on the left, rolls infield for Hall, who takes a whack from 25 yards. Loach stoops and parries, but only straight into the air, and straight at Christensen, who loops a careful header over the keeper and into the top right.
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38 min: Kovavic and Lukaku exchange passes again, this time to the left of the Chesterfield D. Kovacic’s shot is dragged wide left.
36 min: Christensen rolls a long pass down the right to release Ziyech, who cuts infield and looks to beat Weston on the edge of the box. He drops a shoulder, then falls over, claiming a free kick he’s never going to get. Had he stayed upright, a shooting opportunity would surely have presented itself.
34 min: Another long throw flung into the Chelsea box from the right. After a quick game of bagatelle, the ball breaks to Oyeleke, who bobbles a shot wide left from the edge of the box. Bettinelli had it covered.
33 min: Lukaku instigates a one-two with Kovacic down the inside-right channel, but doesn’t receive the return. Nearly a lovely crisp move.
31 min: Ziyech pulls the corner back for Lukaku, who whip-cracks a first-time shot wide left from 12 yards. Less than a minute later, a carbon-copy miss, Werner pulling back from the left in open play, Lukaku sending it wide left again. The big man could easily have pouched the match ball already; he’s had the chances.
30 min: Hudson-Odoi, Werner and Kovacic combine down the left to win a corner. Chesterfield aren’t being given a moment’s peace, which is testament to Chelsea’s relentless press.
29 min: King comes through the back of Hudson-Odoi in a very agitated manner. He quite correctly goes into the book.
28 min: Chesterfield’s 5,000-strong support are still giving it plenty, determined to enjoy their day despite the scoreline. An admirable racket.
26 min: Chelsea ping it around the back, their work tonight already effectively done. No drama required.
24 min: From Ashley Cole to Ben Chilwell, they love a good left-back at Chelsea. Lewis Hall looks the business too. He’s not been afraid to get involved, and strokes his passes around with a pleasing swagger. Just 20 minutes in, and he’s already got an assist to his name.
22 min: Kovacic tries to release Lukaku down the middle but his volleyed pass is too strong. Chelsea look in the mood to fill their boots.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Chesterfield (Lukaku 20)
The debutant Hall dribbles his way down the left. He loses control, but persists, nipping between Kellerman and King to reclaim possession. He reaches the byline and rolls across for Lukaku, who pinball-flippers a shot home from close range.
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GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Chesterfield (Hudson-Odoi 18)
Hudson-Odoi drifts in from the left wing, uses a line of four defenders as a shield, and curls a delicious shot into the bottom right. Loach had no chance. Perhaps the defence allowed Hudson-Odoi too much time, but let’s not dwell on the negatives. A glorious strike.
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17 min: Saul goes up with Tshimanga and accidentally clumps him with his elbow. Purely accidental, though he’s already on a yellow, so wants to watch himself.
15 min: Chesterfield are knocking it around with confidence, undeterred by falling behind. Their captain has already made his mark on this tournament, of course: Watson became the youngest finalist of all time in 2004, coming on for Millwall against Manchester United at the age of 17 years and 119 days. He’s 34 now. Time flies, huh. Feeling old?
13 min: A free kick for Chesterfield near the centre circle. King shovels it down the inside-right channel for Tshimanga, who has the chance to volley the ball that’s dropping over his shoulder, but opts to take a touch instead. Bad idea. His touch forces him wide and the opportunity is gone.
11 min: More space for Ziyech on the right. He dances his way past Croll and sends a vicious low shot goalwards from a tight angle. Loach does extremely well to parry clear.
10 min: Kellerman busies himself down the left and earns Chesterfield’s first corner of the evening. It’s wasted, driven low to the near post by King and bundled out of play by Oyeleke. A decent enough response to falling behind by the non-league club, though.
8 min: Saul is booked for an hysterical slide through the back of Oyeleke. That’s a poor challenge and he can have no complaints.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Chesterfield (Werner 6)
Chelsea get the early goal they craved, and Chesterfield feared. Kovacic drives at the Chesterfield back line and slips a pass wide right for Ziyech, who attracts two red shirts and rolls across for Werner. A simple tap-in.
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5 min: Chesterfield’s captain Weston spins out of trouble in his own box, nipping between Ziyech and Pulisic and sending both off to the shops. Delightful skill.
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3 min: Ziyech takes the corner from the left. He pulls back for Lukaku, who has ghosted around the pack in the box to make space. Lukaku launches into the Shed. A lovely run to create the opportunity, a clever training-ground job, but a dreadfully poor shot. He should have scored.
2 min: Saul rakes a pass down the left to release Hudson-Odoi, who enters the box, contemplates shooting, but then pulls back for Kovacic, whose shot is deflected out for the first corner of the evening.
1 min: Chesterfield launch it long, and win a throw deep in Chelsea territory. King flings it into the box. Bettinelli gathers without fuss.
Chesterfield get the ball rolling ... but only after a knee is taken. Plenty of applause all around the Bridge for the gesture. There’s no room for racism.
The teams are out. Chelsea are in royal blue, forcing Chesterfield into a red change strip. The Liquidator blasts from the PA system, which can only mean one thing at Stamford Bridge: we’ll be off in a couple of minutes. Hit that Hammond organ, Winston!
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Thomas Tuchel talks to the BBC. “It is always a strong line-up when you play for Chelsea. We expect to win but we have to show in every single minute. It’s on us to not make it a pleasant experience for Chesterfield.”
James Rowe, Tuchel’s opposite number, adds: “It’s a strong line-up, so that’s a compliment to us, and to the competition. If we don’t shut the space, we will be in trouble, but if we can do that, we can gain confidence. Enjoy it, with a smile on our face. We’ll have a right go!”
Pre-match reading. Nick Ames talks to the folk who saved Chesterfield during the pandemic, putting their club “back on the map”.
Can Chesterfield Make It Three dept. There are already two non-league teams in the velvet bag for the fourth-round draw. Sixth-tier Kidderminster Harriers have beaten Reading 2-1, while Boreham Wood have knocked out 1988 winners Wimbledon. Big shocks both, though the unique spirit of the FA Cup third round has best been illustrated by Cambridge United, who have knocked out Newcastle United, the richest club in the world, on their own turf. Newcastle’s wait for a first FA Cup since 1955 goes on. Barry Glendenning, fingers red raw with all the goals that have been flying in, has all the details in today’s Clockwatch.
The teams
Chelsea: Bettinelli, Hudson-Odoi, Christensen, Sarr, Hall, Kovacic, Saul, Ziyech, Pulisic, Werner, Lukaku.
Subs: Baker, Arrizabalaga, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Havertz, Simons, Vale, Webster.
Chesterfield: Loach, Kerr, Gunning, Croll, King, Weston, Oyeleke, Whittle, Khan, Kellermann, Tshimanga.
Subs: Miller, Maguire, Asante, Mandeville, Minter, McCourt, Tyson, Grimes, Payne.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia).
Chelsea give a senior debut to 17-year-old left-back Lewis Hall, while Marcus Bettinelli makes his first appearance for the club in goal. Mateo Kovacic captains, while Christian Pulisic, Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner hope to get the job done up front.
Fraser Kerr and Jim Kellerman start for Chesterfield. The National League club are 91 league places below the European champions in the pyramid.
Preamble
This should have been the 1997 final. With Chelsea having seen off Wimbledon easily in the first semi, Jon Howard put third-tier Chesterfield 3-1 up in the second against Premier League strugglers Middlesbrough … or at least he thought he had. His shot hit the underside of the bar and came down well over the line, but referee David Elleray was too busy performing donuts in his square-wheeled collapsing car to notice, instead awarding a spurious free kick to Boro, who made it 2-2 soon after. Chesterfield kept battling to secure a 3-3 draw after extra time, but their moment had passed, and they lost convincingly in the replay. There still hasn’t been a third-tier finalist in the FA Cup.
The Spireites have since fallen out of the Football League, and even though Chelsea are likely to make wholesale changes this evening, a shock is extremely unlikely. A side from the National League beating the reigning champions of Europe? Come off it and come on. And yet the FA Cup is the FA Cup is the FA Cup, and Chelsea have suffered losses to sides from lower divisions before, most notably when third-tier Bradford City came from two down at Stamford Bridge to beat Jose Mourinho’s men in 2015. So you never know. The Blues take on the dreaming Spireites at 5.30pm, with extra time and penalties to follow should the match end in a draw. It’s on!
