CHELSEA STUNNED ASTON Aston Villa with a 3-1 win to march on in the FA Cup and ease the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino.
Enzo Fernandez’s sensational free-kick added to first-half goals from Conor Gallagher and Nicolas Jackson.
Moussa Diaby’s injury-time strike failed to ruin Chelsea’s night and the Blues now host Leeds in the fifth round.
There were alarm bells for Chelsea in the opening three minutes when John McGinn roughed up Axel Disasi before Alex Moreno fluffed his lines.
Half chances for Cole Palmer and Fernandez hardly hinted at what was to come and it took just 10 minutes for the Chelsea fans to chant former owner Roman Abramovich’s name – yet a minute later the visitors struck.
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Enzo Fernandez, centre, celebrates his stunning free-kick. Nick Potts / PA
Nick Potts / PA / PA
Jackson teased his way into the area to find Noni Madueke, a constant bright spark for the visitors, and the forward had enough presence of mind to hold the ball up for Gallagher.
There was still plenty for the midfielder to do but he avoided the massed ranks to pick out the top corner from 16 yards.
With the lead, Pochettino’s side came to life and doubled their advantage with an excellent, flowing, move after 21 minutes.
Conor Gallagher set Chelsea on their way. David Davies / PA
David Davies / PA / PA
It was built down right with Disasi and Madueke involved before Malo Gusto was released to brilliantly cross for Jackson, who directed a precise header into the corner.
The hosts needed a response but instead, they conceded a third soon after the break.
Fernandez may have been fortunate to earn a free kick while being shadowed by Youri Tielemans but there was nothing lucky about his 25-yard strike which arched into the top corner.
With a cushion Chelsea eased off which gave Villa brief cause for optimism but they never launched a recovery, despite Diaby’s stoppage-time consolation.
(After extra time; Nottingham Forest won 5-3 on penalties)
IRELAND INTERNATIONAL JASON Knight’s goal helped Bristol City to the brink of an upset before Nottingham Forest won a penalty shootout to set up a mouth-watering tie with Manchester United.
Under-fire goalkeeper Matt Turner was Forest’s hero, keeping Bristol City at bay throughout 120 minutes and then saving Sam Bell’s spot-kick.
Divock Origi’s first goal for Forest since his summer move from AC Milan had given them an early lead but the spirited Championship side troubled their Premier League hosts throughout and levelled through Knight.
They could have won the tie in both normal time and extra time had it not been for Turner, who pulled off a string of saves throughout the night.
Forest’s reward is a fifth-round match against Manchester United at the City Ground in three weeks, though they will have to improve immeasurably considering they have laboured past League One Blackpool in the third round and now the second-tier Robins.
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Chelsea respond to pressure with a dominant FA Cup victory at Aston Villa
LAST UPDATE | 7 Feb
Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea
CHELSEA STUNNED ASTON Aston Villa with a 3-1 win to march on in the FA Cup and ease the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino.
Enzo Fernandez’s sensational free-kick added to first-half goals from Conor Gallagher and Nicolas Jackson.
Moussa Diaby’s injury-time strike failed to ruin Chelsea’s night and the Blues now host Leeds in the fifth round.
There were alarm bells for Chelsea in the opening three minutes when John McGinn roughed up Axel Disasi before Alex Moreno fluffed his lines.
Half chances for Cole Palmer and Fernandez hardly hinted at what was to come and it took just 10 minutes for the Chelsea fans to chant former owner Roman Abramovich’s name – yet a minute later the visitors struck.
Jackson teased his way into the area to find Noni Madueke, a constant bright spark for the visitors, and the forward had enough presence of mind to hold the ball up for Gallagher.
There was still plenty for the midfielder to do but he avoided the massed ranks to pick out the top corner from 16 yards.
With the lead, Pochettino’s side came to life and doubled their advantage with an excellent, flowing, move after 21 minutes.
It was built down right with Disasi and Madueke involved before Malo Gusto was released to brilliantly cross for Jackson, who directed a precise header into the corner.
The hosts needed a response but instead, they conceded a third soon after the break.
Fernandez may have been fortunate to earn a free kick while being shadowed by Youri Tielemans but there was nothing lucky about his 25-yard strike which arched into the top corner.
With a cushion Chelsea eased off which gave Villa brief cause for optimism but they never launched a recovery, despite Diaby’s stoppage-time consolation.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bristol City
(After extra time; Nottingham Forest won 5-3 on penalties)
IRELAND INTERNATIONAL JASON Knight’s goal helped Bristol City to the brink of an upset before Nottingham Forest won a penalty shootout to set up a mouth-watering tie with Manchester United.
Under-fire goalkeeper Matt Turner was Forest’s hero, keeping Bristol City at bay throughout 120 minutes and then saving Sam Bell’s spot-kick.
Divock Origi’s first goal for Forest since his summer move from AC Milan had given them an early lead but the spirited Championship side troubled their Premier League hosts throughout and levelled through Knight.
They could have won the tie in both normal time and extra time had it not been for Turner, who pulled off a string of saves throughout the night.
Forest’s reward is a fifth-round match against Manchester United at the City Ground in three weeks, though they will have to improve immeasurably considering they have laboured past League One Blackpool in the third round and now the second-tier Robins.
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Aston Villa Chelsea FA Cup