Batshuayi brace helps Chelsea sink Newcastle
london — Michy Batshuayi took advantage of a rare start to score twice as Chelsea eased past Newcastle United 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.
The Belgian’s goals could not have been better timed with reports suggesting that Chelsea are close to signing a striker ahead of Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
Batshuayi was one of four changes from the team knocked out of the League Cup in midweek and Antonio Conte’s show of faith in his reserve striker was quickly rewarded when he got on the end of a slick move started by Pedro’s probing pass to put Chelsea ahead on 31 minutes.
Although Batshuayi seldom gets game time in the Premier League, he remains the Italian’s go-to man in the FA Cup, with no Chelsea player having scored more in the competition under Conte.
Another strike quickly followed although this time Batshuayi needed a huge slice of luck when, set free by Eden Hazard, his shot was deflected over the keeper by the diving Jamaal Lascelles just before the break. The goal was Batshuayi’s 10th of the season. Asked after the match about his future, the striker said: “I don’t know, it’s better you speak to Conte.
“When I have a chance I want to take it. I work every day and today I am very happy here.”
Marcus Alonso added Chelsea’s third just after the interval with a superb 72nd-minute freekick over the wall. While Chelsea have been in the fifth round 18 times in the past 20 years, Newcastle last reached that stage in 2006.
Cardiff City host Manchester City in the day’s other game later on Sunday. Earlier, Pauricio Pochettino questioned his Tottenham Hotspur players’ appetite for the fight after were nearly knocked out of the FA Cup by fourth-tier Newport County.
The Spurs manager was angered by his side’s attitude during their fourth-round tie at Rodney Parade on Saturday where they were indebted to an 82nd-minute goal from Harry Kane that salvaged a 1-1 draw.
Pochettino was unimpressed that Spurs took so long to rouse themselves against their fired-up Welsh opponents who deservedly led this match through a 38th-minute goal from Irish striker Padraig Amond.
It almost led to Spurs losing their first match since December 16, until England striker Kane’s 30th goal of the season ensured a Wembley replay.
“The team didn’t show they wanted to get into the next round, which was disappointing,” said Pochettino.
Spurs have won plaudits for the attacking football they have played under their Argentinian manager in recent seasons but the hard fact is that it is 10 years since the north London club, eight-times FA Cup winners, last lifted a major piece of silverware — the League Cup.
“It’s easy to say we want win trophies, but we missed a massive opportunity today to show we wanted it,” said Spurs manager Pochettino. “I hope we have learned today that we have to fight to win things.
“I heard the FA Cup was magic and today you didn’t see any difference between a team in the Premier League and League Two.”
The former Southampton boss added: “We need to realise if we want to do something special we can’t miss the opportunity. Why did we have to wait until the end of the game to fight? “If you fight from the beginning of the game you can show your quality.” A year ago, Pochettino was kept in the FA Cup by a 97th-minute goal from Son Heung-min as Spurs overcame Wycombe Wanderers 4-3 at White Hart Lane. — Reuters/AFP