toptop
Timo
Werner ended his 12-match goal drought as Chelsea cruised past Morecambe 4-0 at
Stamford Bridge and into the FA Cup fourth round.
Mason Mount toasted his 22nd birthday with a fine 25-yard strike, with Callum
Hudson-Odoi and Kai Havertz also on target.
Misfiring Germany forward Werner was pitched in despite the League Two
opposition, with boss Frank Lampard desperate to kick-start his £53m signing's
goal return.
Werner bungled an early chance to raise fears that Lampard's plan could
backfire, but the 24-year-old later tapped home the easiest of finishes, much to
Chelsea's collective relief.
Summer RB Leipzig capture Werner wound up toiling 827 minutes without a Chelsea
goal, charting back to the Blues' 4-1 thrashing of Sheffield United on November
7.
Lampard will desperately hope the goal infuses the pacey forward with
confidence, with the Blues expected to rise quickly from ninth place in the
Premier League table.
How a strong Chelsea team saw off Morecambe
So desperate for a victory were Lampard and Chelsea that they resisted entirely
the chance to blood their latest crop of hugely-talented youngsters.
At least five academy players spent the week training with Chelsea's first team,
but all were ignored as Lampard sought to ease the pressure built up by four
losses in six league matches.
That Werner needed to play in this match was evident almost immediately.
Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech conspired to wrap up what should have been a gift
of a drought-ending goal, but instead of nod in at the far post Werner flicked
tamely wide.
Werner's brittle confidence was on view again just minutes later when he failed
to gamble and dart deep into the area. Hudson-Odoi's clever first-time ball
across the six-yard box begged for a tap-in, but Werner was out of range.
Birthday boy Mount finally lashed Chelsea into the lead with a crisp long-range
strike, the England midfielder's effort almost venting frustration at his
colleagues' lack of sharpness in front of goal.
In total control, Chelsea meandered through the remainder of the half,
dominating possession and territory without cutting loose, but just before the
half-time whistle, up popped Werner - finally - to tap home for a goal when it
truly would have been tougher to miss.
Ziyech's back-post cross allowed Havertz to nod square in the six-yard box and
all Werner had to do was tap into the empty net.
Hudson-Odoi slotted home in style to put the Blues 3-0 up after the break, the
England winger latching on to Ziyech's lofted pass for a well-worked finish.
The shape of this goal will have pleased Lampard no end, with one winger in
Ziyech drifting into the number 10 berth and the other in Hudson-Odoi running
beyond the central striker. On such fluidity must Chelsea base their bid to
climb the Premier League table.
Another prolonged period of dominance without end-product followed until Havertz
nodded in captain Cesar Azpilicueta's cross at the death.
FA Cup 2020/21 - key dates and draw
The FA Cup schedule has been confirmed, with the final scheduled at Wembley on
Saturday May 15.
There will be no replays this season to help ease fixture congestion.
The draw for both the fourth and fifth rounds will take place on Monday January
11, ahead of the third-round tie between Stockport and West Ham.
Fourth round: Saturday January 23
Fifth round: Wednesday February 10
Quarter-finals: Saturday March 20
Semi-finals: Saturday April 17
Final: Saturday May 15
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
Teams
Chelsea Kepa, Azpilicueta (c), Rudiger, Zouma (Tomori 80),
Emerson, Gilmour, Mount (Abraham 74), Havertz, Ziyech (Pulisic 68), Werner
(Giroud 68), Hudson-Odoi (Anjorin 80)
Subs Not Used Caballero, Chilwell, Kovacic, Jorginho
Booked
Goals Mount 18, Werner 45, Hudson-Odoi 49, Havertz 85
Morecambe Halstead, Hendrie (Gibson 62), Knight-Percival,
Davis, Slew (O’Sullivan 62), Stockton (McAlinden 86), Wildig (c), Mendes Gomes
(Lyons 74), Phillips, Cooney (Mellor 62), Songo’o
Subs Not Used Turner, Diagouraga, Kenyon, Leitch-Smith
Booked Gibson
Goals
Attendance 0
Referee Darren England
VAR Jonathan Moss