Chelsea progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with relative ease as Newcastle, now eliminated from each of their last five fourth-round ties, slowly accepted an inevitable fate. The gulf in class was slow to emerge but when it did, it suffocated the visitors.
When you consider how treasured Álvaro Marata and Eden Hazard are at Chelsea then it might come as a slight shock to learn that the oft-maligned Michy Batshuayi now has ten goals this season following the brace he scored here compared to Morata and Hazard’s 12 each.
The Belgian striker would not have featured in this fourth-round tie but for Morata’s back problem and Antonio Conte has made it plain that Batshuyai leaves the club the minute he brings a new centre forward. In this context you have to say that Batshuayi is exhibiting a remarkably composed work ethic.
Chelsea, the beaten FA Cup finalists last season and having just been knocked out at the semi-final stage of the EFL Cup, were keen to add some sparkle to their hunt for domestic silverware while Newcastle were keen to build on some recent good vibes having been, for much of the season, trapped in the limbo of being uncertain about both squad development and club ownership. That is not to state that anything has been resolved but when Rafa Benítez sounds happy and speaks of a bright future, then the fans are happy too.
It was, as a consequence, a helter-skelter opening as if the FA Cup was somehow delaying any imminent transfers and had to be dealt with as quickly as possible. It was feisty too, with Davide Zappacosta left writhing in agony after being caught by Massadio Haïdara, then it was Hazard’s turn after being scythed down by Chancel Mbemba - although this time the referee saw the foul and Chelsea were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. It was taken by Hazard, who failed to beat the wall. Isaac Hayden was briefly felled by the ball striking him too firmly on the head.
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Newcastle enjoyed the better initial chances, the most promising being Jonjo Shelvey’s near-post effort, but the home side gradually began to click through the gears. Zappacosta produced an impressive burst of speed down the right flank but his resultant cross into the box fizzed too heavily for any of his team-mates to connect with it and then Conte’s team resorted to a more subtle approach.
Pedro delivered a long, delicate pass to the feet of Hazard, who controlled the ball and laid it off to the onrushing Marcos Alonso, who flicked it to Batshuayi for a finish that required him to be alert rather than clever. The visitors picked up the pace once more - Willy Caballero saw a fine Dwight Gayle shot late but reached the ball smoothly enough.
Antonio Rüdiger produced a delightful curling shot with his left foot, after he had too easily wrong-footed Shelvey, that almost crept in past Karl Darlow and some hesitancy from Danny Drinkwater gave Shelvey the opportunity for a snatched strike. Chelsea, though, were far more confident in front of goal and Hazard fed Batshuayi, whose shot looped over Darlow off the legs of Jamaal Lascelles for Chelsea’s second. The Belgian had been part of the build-up to the goal and for all that his hours seem numbered in West London he has, of late, shown he has forged a productive and aesthetically pleasing partnership with Hazard and Pedro.
Shelvey had another chance to test Caballero but the former Manchester City keeper was able to stretch to push the ball away for a corner.
Benítez, who had been all bonhomie and handshakes at his former club before kick-off, became increasingly indignant, his hands on his hips as he survey his team’s increasingly fragile defending as Pedro was able to unleash a shot that only just failed to hit the target. Yet again, Newcastle responded with vigour but failed to make some slick passing count.
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Alonso let fly with a vicious volley as he met another fast-paced Zappacosta cross that Darlow saved but there was little the Newcastle keeper could do with Alonso’s brutally struck free kick in the 72nd minute, his seventh goal of the season.
It was then time for Conte to give Ross Barkley some much needed minutes on the pitch and to award the 17-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi his debut after Chelsea fans had been clamouring to see him in first-team action after impressing in the development squad.
