toptop
Chelsea
face an FA Cup replay against Norwich after producing a largely listless display
in a 0-0 draw at Carrow Road on Saturday.
The Premier League side, who reached the final of the FA Cup last season,
created few chances of note after making nine changes to their starting line-up.
Their best openings came in the second half as Danny Drinkwater shot wide from
near the penalty spot and Willian saw an effort turned past the post by Angus
Gunn.
Player ratings
Norwich: Gunn (6), Pinto (7), Zimmermann (7), Hanley (7), Klose
(7), Lewis (6), Tettey (6), Trybull (6), Pritchard (6), Maddison (6), Murphy (7)
Subs: Oliveira (5), Wildschut (5)
Chelsea: Caballero (6), Rudiger (6), David Luiz (6), Cahill
(6), Zappacosta (7), Bakayoko (6), Drinkwater (5), Kenedy (5), Willian (7),
Batshuayi (4), Pedro (5)
Subs: Morata (5), Sterling (5), Musonda (5)
Man of the match: Christoph Zimmermann
Championship side Norwich rarely threatened themselves but will be more content
with the result than Chelsea, who also face Arsenal in the two-legged
semi-finals of the Carabao Cup over the next few weeks, live on Sky Sports.
The replay at Stamford Bridge will take place in the week of January 15.
Chelsea set the tone for their below-par performance in the first half when they
regularly gave the ball away and failed to trouble Norwich goalkeeper Gunn.
The hosts looked comfortable in defence and also created opportunities, with
Josh Murphy dragging a shot wide from inside the box and James Maddison firing
over the bar late in the half.
Chelsea did improve after half-time, with Willian injecting some much-needed
pace and drive around the box.
The Brazilian saw a couple of shots saved by Gunn and also picked out Drinkwater
with a low cross from which he fired wide.
But Norwich managed to stem the tide and Alex Pritchard shot over in a rare
second-half opening for the hosts.
Chelsea pressed late on but the closest they came to a winner was when Davide
Zappacosta shot narrowly wide in injury-time.
Man of the match - Christoph Zimmermann
While Willian tried to make something happen for Chelsea, he could not find a
way past Norwich's defence, with Zimmermann particularly impressive in the back
three.
The German came into the side in place of Nelson Oliveira and helped keep Michy
Batshuayi and then Alvaro Morata quiet in a solid display.
What's next?
Norwich return to Sky Bet Championship action next Saturday when they travel to
Bristol City. Chelsea host Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup
semi-final on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports, and then face Leicester in the
Premier League on Saturday.
Teams
Norwich City Gunn, Hanley, Zimmermann, Klose, Pinto (c),
Tettey, Trybull, Lewis, Pritchard (Wildschut 87), Maddison, Murphy (Oliveira 83)
Subs Not Used Husband, Vrancic, Watkins, Hoolahan, McGovern
Booked Hanley 76, Tettey 86
Goals
Chelsea Caballero, Rudiger, Luiz, Cahill (c), Zappacosta, Drinkwater,
Bakayoko, Kenedy (Musonda 78), Willian, Batshuayi (Morata 74), Pedro (Sterling
89)
Subs Not Used Eduardo, Clarke-Salter, Ampadu, Hudson-Odoi
Booked Luiz, Cahill
Goals
Attendance 23,598
Referee Stuart Attwell