Chelsea have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup after thrashing West London rivals Brentford 4-0 in Saturday's clash at Stamford Bridge.
Willian opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a stunning free kick before Pedro doubled his side's tally seven minutes later.
The Bees had goalkeeper Daniel Bentley to thank for keeping them in the game but in the second half substitute Branislav Ivanovic struck to make it three for the hosts.
Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi rounded off the scoring with an 81st-minute penalty which sent Bentley the wrong way and sent the Blues into the next round of the competition.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action at Stamford Bridge.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup fourth-round tie between Chelsea and Brentford.
Today's game at Stamford Bridge sees the Blues aim to keep their hopes of a domestic double alive, while their West London rivals will be hoping to condemn the hosts to the same outcome as two years ago, when Bradford City knocked Chelsea out of the competition at this same stage.
With Antonio Conte's side not in Europe and having been knocked out of the EFL Cup last year, their workload has been somewhat lighter than many of the other big teams in England, so they will be hoping to reap rewards from the two competitions that they're still involved in - and they're doing pretty well so far, leading the Premier League by eight points and still in the FA Cup, where they are favourites to go through today.
Just six miles separate Stamford Bridge from Griffin Park, so the Bees will undoubtedly give it their all to claim their local rivals' scalp, and given that Bradford managed to defeat Chelsea in the fourth round two years ago, they will have it in the backs of their heads that it can indeed be done.
Now, let's have a look at the team news for today's game at the Bridge.
CHELSEA STARTING XI: Begovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta, Pedro, Chalobah, Fabregas, Ake, Willian, Batshuayi, Loftus-Cheek
BRENTFORD STARTING XI: Bentley, Colin, Bjelland, Dean, Yennaris, McEachran, Egan, Woods, Sawyers, Vibe, Barbet
CHELSEA SUBS: Eduardo, Ivanovic, Moses, Matic, Kenedy, Hazard, Costa
BRENTFORD SUBS: Bonham, Hogan, Hofmann, Kerschbaumer, Clarke, Jota, Field
Conte has opted for widescale changes to his starting XI - nine in total - with Cesar Azpilicueta and Pedro the only players who started their side's 2-0 win against Hull City in the Premier League.
Backup goalkeeper Asmir Begovic starts in goal for the Blues, despite being linked with a move to Bournemouth in recent days, while the likes of Michy Batshuayi, Cesc Fabregas and recent loan returnee Nathan Ake are also given a rare start today.
Dean Smith, meanwhile, has made just one change this afternoon, with Yoann Barbet coming in for Tom Field, while striker Scott Hogan has once again been left out amid speculation linking him with a move to West Ham United in the current transfer window.
The fixture list has not been particularly kind to Chelsea, who find themselves travelling to Liverpool in the Premier League just three days from now, while the weekend sees them face Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. A crucial week if there ever was one, so you can understand the widescale changes for today's game.
That said, the same can be said for Brentford, who host Aston Villa on Tuesday before facing Brighton & Hove Albion next Sunday. They're not quite fighting relegation, but sitting eight points above the Championship drop zone, they will certainly be looking over their shoulders.
Chelsea and Brentford have not faced off that often in their history - just 13 times, in fact. The first fixture came in 1935, with the Blues winning 2-1 in their First Division match, while the last fixture saw the Bees fall to a 4-0 FA Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge in February 2013.
The record currently stands at four Brentford wins, two draws, and seven Chelsea wins. And one stat which will not make for pleasant reading for Bees fans - they have not beaten the Blues since 1939!
Despite the shock 4-2 loss to Bradford in the fourth round two seasons ago, Chelsea have impressed at this stage of the FA Cup over the last two decades - in their last 20 appearances in round four, they have been eliminated just twice (Everton is the other team to have this honour, in 2011).
Today's retro look matchday programme, inspired by the one produced for the same fixture back in 1935... 👌 pic.twitter.com/NqNqAovjel — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) 28 January 2017
Just 15 minutes until kickoff here at Stamford Bridge, which is filling up nicely. Both sets of players well into their warm-ups.
Chelsea forward Pedro, who leads the line against Brentford today, is in fine form, scoring twice and assisting another goal in Chelsea's 4-1 win over Peterborough United in the third round, while the Bees' Tom Field, who netted twice in his side's third=round 5-1 victory over non-league Eastleigh, will be hoping to make an impact from the bench.
PREDICTION: Less than 10 minutes to go until kickoff, so it's time for me to have a go at predicting the result today. I can't see past Chelsea getting a comprehensive win, in all honesty - Brentford will most likely do well in the opening stages, but I reckon the Blues will get one goal in the first half then another three in the second, and safely make it through to the fifth round.
13 - Chelsea have won 13 of their last 14 matches in all competitions, losing only to Spurs earlier this month. Imposing. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 28 January 2017
Both sets of players emerge from the tunnel and are out on the pitch, kickoff is imminent!
KICKOFF! Lasse Vibe stands over the ball and Brentford get the action underway.
Tentative start at the Bridge as Chelsea keep possession, while Brentford are holding back, not yet pressing up the pitch. Both sides trying to get a feel for the game amid a very loud atmosphere in the away end.
Loftus-Cheek tries to go round Colin but the ball goes out for a throw-in, while Willian gets to the byline and crosses into the hands of the Bees keeper. No concrete attacks as of yet.
CHANCE! The first effort on goal of the game is from Pedro, Chelsea's hero in the third round, who cuts in the right flank but skies his shot over the bar.
CHANCE! Zouma heads behind Woods's free kick to gift Brentford a corner, which Dean meets 12 yards out but fails to hit the target, nodding wide of the left-hand post.
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 BRENTFORD (WILLIAN)
Just under quarter of an hour on the clock and the Blues have the lead against Brentford! A corner is swung from Fabregas into the path of Pedro, who is fouled by Vibe on the edge of the box and, from the resulting free kick, Willian expertly curls the ball round the wall and past Bentley into the top corner for the breakthrough!
That was a sensational free kick, little the Bees keeper could do about it. Now the visitors set about trying to carve their way back into the game as former Blue McEachran tries to set up Vibe, but Azpilicueta is over to cover.
Willian and Pedro work a corner short to Terry, who is waiting to pounce on to the ball outside the box, but his side-footed effort drifts wide.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 BRENTFORD (PEDRO)
Looks like it's going to be a long, long afternoon for Brentford, as Chelsea double their lead not long after their breakthrough. The hosts carve through the opposition defence as Willian, on the halfway line, finds Batshuayi, who then picks out the run of Pedro, and the Spaniard makes no mistake with a low finish through Bentley. His third goal in two FA Cup ties.
Brentford find space down the right as Barbet and Vibe link up with Colin, but the latter's ball is intercepted before Woods can pull it back.
Loftus-Cheek does well to control a long ball from Fabregas in the box and has a shot blocked behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Chelsea within a whisker of making it three as the corner leads to a scramble in the box and Batshuayi knocks the ball towards goal from Terry's header back in, before Bentley keeps the ball out off the line, and referee Michael Oliver says there is no goal!
CHANCES! No remorse from Chelsea as Loftus-Cheek fires in a long-range effort that Bentley tips over the bar, before Ake shoots wide from Fabregas's low corner.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Yet again Chelsea cause all sorts of trouble as Batshuayi fires into the net, but Pedro is ruled offside from Fabregas's lofted ball over the Brentford defence.
Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup earlier today by Wolverhampton Wanderers but there looks to be no such outcome at the Bridge, as Chelsea have dominated proceedings on the pitch against Brentford and could easily be three or four to the good by now.
CHANCE! The Blues players are pretty much lining up to have a pop at the Brentford goal and now Fabregas decides to let rip from long range, forcing Bentley into a smart stop down by his near post.
CHANCE! Yet another impressive save by Bentley, this time to keep out a stinging Loftus-Cheek shot from just outside the box.
We now have a rare Brentford foray as Chelsea fans give their ex-player McEachran a round of applause as he goes to take a corner - moments earlier he had nearly put Barbet through with a neat pass.
CHANCE! Begovic makes his first save of the game as he parries a header away from danger, before Vibe sees his effort deflected over the bar.
CHANCE! One minute added on as the Bees come forward once again, Begovic needing to pull off another save as Barbet volleys from a tight angle.
HALF TIME: CHELSEA 2-0 BRENTFORD
Referee Oliver blows his whistle and the players head back to the changing rooms with Chelsea leading Brentford by two goals to nil.
Conte will be happy with his side carving out a two-goal lead, but may bemoan the fact that the Blues are not even further ahead, such was their dominance in the first 45 minutes.
Willian's peach of a free kick gave Chelsea the lead in the 14 minutes, while Pedro slotted home seven minutes later. Save for a bright few minutes from the visitors late in the first half, it's been all Blues so far and, were it not for Bentley's excellence in the Bees goal, this game could be over by now. As it stands though, Brentford are still in it, just about.
Chelsea have had 59 percent possession, 11 shots - five of which were on target - and won six corners, while Brentford have had 41 percent possession, three shots - one on target - and won three corners. Will it be more of the same in the second half, or can Brentford rally round and maybe sneak an early goal to make things tense for the Blues?
We have a frankly sensational upset possibly on the cards as Tottenham Hotspur are two down against Wycombe Wanderers. If you're a Chelsea fan, that will pretty much make it a perfect hat-trick for you if things remain as they are - Chelsea through, Liverpool and Spurs out to lower-league opposition!
KICKOFF: The hosts get the second half underway - no changes from either side at the break.
CHANCE! And it's Brentford who register the first effort of the second half as Vibe breaks free in the six-yard box but cannot sort out his legs quick enough, allowing Begovic to spread himself and keep his effort out.
Now Barbet gets in behind the Chelsea defence again and whips a low cross across the face of goal but nobody is on hand to poke home before Ake clears.
CHANCE! Brentford began the half brightly but now here come Chelsea as they break upfield and Willian cuts in from the left and tries to go for goal, but fires over the bar.
BOOKING: We have the first yellow of the game, Colin bringing down Loftus-Cheek as the home side launch a counter-attack.
CHANCES! Normal service appears to have resumed as Chelsea pummel the Brentford goal with three quick chances in the space of two minutes, Batshuayi firing straight at Bentley who holds the ball, then Loftus-Cheek rattles the woodwork, and Pedro fives over from outside the box.
CHANCE! Now Brentford come close to halving the deficit as Yennaris bursts through on goal, but Begovic stands tall and makes a great stop to deny the ex-Arsenal man.
SUBSTITUTIONS: A host of changes are made as both sides opt to switch things round - Chelsea bring on Ivanovic for Willian, while the Bees introduce Hogan and Jota in place of Vibe and Sawyers.
CHANCE! Loftus-Cheek has impressed today and he poses danger once again as he powers through the Brentford defence and lines up to fire towards goal, but Egan gets back in to make the block and force a corner.
GOAL! CHELSEA 3-0 BRENTFORD (BRANISLAV IVANOVIC)
Brentford have done well to still remain in with a shout of coming back up until now, but Chelsea make it three to put the game beyond the reach of their opponents, and it comes courtesy of substitute Ivanovic, who launches forward from the right and latches onto Pedro's ball to slam home with his first touch from 15 yards out.
SUBSTITUTION: Another Chelsea sub as Kenedy comes on for Azpilicueta.
CHANCE! Chelsea are not letting up as they break upfield and Batshuayi is given the ball on the right of the box, but from a tight angle the Belgian fires wide of the far post.
SUBSTITUTION: Pedro is given a standing ovation for another great FA Cup display as he is replaced by Diego Costa.
CHANCE! Zouma advances and tries his luck from distance, but his attempt at glory ends up sailing well wide of the right-hand post.
SUBSTITUTION: The final Brentford change - and indeed last change of the game - sees Kerschbaumer come on in place of former Chelsea midfielder McEachran.
PENALTY! Chelsea have a chance to make it four as Ivanovic is felled in the box and the referee points to the spot!
GOAL! CHELSEA 4-0 BRENTFORD (MICHY BATSHUAYI PENALTY)
And there's the icing on the cake as Chelsea sail into round five of the FA Cup! Costa hands Batshuayi the ball, the Belgian takes to the spot and sends Bentley the wrong way to make it four for the dominant hosts at Stamford Bridge.
CHANCE! Brentford have the opportunity to grab themselves a consolation as Kerschbaumer is bundled over in a good area, but Jota's free kick ends up on the roof of the net.
Credit to the Brentford fans, who are still singing, but Chelsea have been superb today, ferocious and clinical, and the visitors were simply unable to withstand the barrage of Blues shirts.
CHANCE! Ivanovic swings in a pinpoint cross from the right which finds Costa, but the high-flying forward heads just past the far post as three minutes of added time are confirmed.
BOOKING: Chalobah is shown a yellow for a foul on Woods late on here, the first booking for Chelsea this afternoon.
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 4-0 BRENTFORD
The full time whistle blows at Stamford Bridge and ultimately it's an easy win for Chelsea, who have claimed a 4-0 win over Brentford, and Antonio Conte's charges are safely through to the fifth round!
Willian opened the scoring with a wonderful free kick before Pedro made it 2-0 heading into the interval. Branislav Ivanovic sealed the win with a third, and Michy Batshuayi added a fourth for good measure from the spot.
That's all we have time for here but don't go anywhere as Sports Mole is on hand to bring you all the latest match reports, reaction and news from the weekend's football action! Thanks for following and, until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
