Chelsea saw off the challenge of Peterborough United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday
Chelsea made no mistake at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as they progressed into The Emirates FA Cup fourth round at the expense of Peterborough United.
After seeing their League One visitors start brightly and miss a flurry of early opportunities, Chelsea took the lead somewhat against the run of play when Pedro finished off inside the box after Nathaniel Chalobah’s shot had been parried by Posh keeper Luke McGee.
Michy Batshuayi, given a starting berth by Antonio Conte, then reminded the Blues boss of his worth by doubling the advantage two minutes before the break after finishing in the area from a Ruben Loftus-Cheek knock down.
And Willian added a third goal early in the second half when Pedro set-up the Brazilian to fire home in the 52nd minute with a low shot into the bottom corner.
Peterborough gave their large number of travelling fans something to cheer in the later stages though, when Tom Nichols scored from close range after Chelsea defender John Terry had earlier been sent off for the hosts.
But Pedro restored Chelsea’s third goal advantage with his second of the afternoon with a precise shot to seal progress for the west London outfit.
There was also no upset in the north-east, where Middlesbrough progressed past Championship high-fliers Sheffield Wednesday with a 3-0 win.
Second-half goals from Grant Leadbitter, Alvaro Negredo and Marten de Roon proved enough to see Aitor Karanka’s men into the hat for Monday’s draw despite finishing the game with ten men following Daniel Ayala’s red card.
The youngest goalscorer in the third round was comfortably Ryan Sessegnon, who scored Fulham’s winner against Cardiff City in the day’s early game.
Sessegnon, who has represented England at U19 level this season, secured victory for the Cottagers at the Cardiff City Stadium with a close-range finish after Stefan Johanson had previously equalised Anthony Pilkington’s early free-kick.
Aged just 16-years-old and 94 days, Sessegnon is just a little too old to break the record for youngest FA Cup goalscorer in the competition proper, with his Craven Cottage squad-mate George Williams holding that title after scoring for MK Dons when he was 16-years and 66 days young in 2011.
