Batshuayi at the double as Chelsea sink Magpies

CHELSEA 3

Batshuayi 31, 44, Alonso 72

NEWCASTLEUNITED 0

Michy Batshuayi scored twice as Chelsea marched on in the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

Defeat by Arsenal last Wednesday saw the Blues eliminated from the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage and increased the pressure on manager Antonio Conte. But they avoided elimination from a second cup competition in a week as Batshuayi’s first-half double and a brilliant Marcos Alonso freekick ensured progression to today’s fifth-round draw.

Chelsea had half-chances early on, but their accuracy in the final third was best summed up by a Danny Drinkwater shot which went out for a throw in. That changed when Antonio Rudiger fed Pedro down the right and the Spaniard threaded a crossfield pass 40 yards to Eden Hazard, turning the Magpies defence.

Hazard waited and teedup the on-rushing Alonso, who had the presence of mind to play the ball on for Batshuayi to tuck in.

The Belgian striker doubled Chelsea’s lead before the break. After good work from Pedro and Hazard, Batshuayi’s shot ballooned up off the leg of Jamaal Lascelles and in. He now has ten goals this season – not a bad record, given 14 of his 25 appearances have come off the substitutes’ bench.

Jonjo Shelvey and Chancel Mbemba tried to get Newcastle back into things but by now Chelsea had the tie under control.

With 20 minutes remaining, Alonso put any doubts to bed when he curled in a beautiful 25-yard free-kick after Davide Zappacosta was fouled.

“We tried and we put them under pressure,” said Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez afterwards. “The difference in quality in some situations was key.”