Chelsea welcomed Peterborough United to Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the third round of the FA Cup.
The Blues dominated the first 45 minutes in London and led 2-0 at the interval courtesy of goals from Pedro and Michy Batshuayi.
Willian scored Chelsea's third early in the second period, but John Terry was then sent off for the home side in the 67th minute and four minutes later, Tom Nichols was on the scoresheet for the visitors.
Pedro added his second in the 75th minute, however, as Chelsea comfortably advanced into the next round.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live FA Cup coverage continues from Stamford Bridge as Chelsea welcome League One outfit Peterborough United in the third round of the competition. The Blues will be confident of securing a spot in round four, but Peterborough have only lost six of their 24 league fixtures this season and will be eyeing an upset. Stay tuned for minute-by-minute coverage!
Somewhat surprisingly, this afternoon's fixture will be just the third time that Chelsea and Peterborough have met in a competitive game. Their first match-up came back in 1965, when Chelsea recorded a 5-1 victory in this competition. Meanwhile, the Blues also ran out 5-0 winners when they hosted Peterborough in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2001.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Stamford Bridge. Sweeping changes were expected from both managers, so who has made the two XIs?
TEAMS!
CHELSEA: Begovic; Zouma, Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic; Fabregas, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek; Pedro, Batshuayi, Willian
POSH: McGee; Smith, Bostwick, Tafazolli, Hughes; Edwards, Forrester, Nichols, Maddison; Angol, Lopes
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has made nine changes to the team that started Wednesday's Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur, with only Gary Cahill and Pedro keeping their spots. Kurt Zouma comes in for his first start of the season following a long lay-off, while John Terry also returns to captain the team. Elsewhere, Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are given midfield spots, while Michy Batshuayi is given a rare chance to impress in the absence of Diego Costa.
As for Peterborough, head coach Grant McCann has made just three changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Scunthorpe United in the league last weekend. It is the same back five, but there is one change in midfield as Leo Da Silva Lopes replaces Martin Samuelsen. The front two have also been changed as Tom Nichols and Lee Angol are selected over Junior Morias and Paul Taylor.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this cold afternoon in London. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's start with Chelsea, who are indeed seven-time winners of the FA Cup. They have actually lifted this particular trophy in four of the last nine years – the last of which arrived at the end of the 2011-12 season.
There is no question that it has been a spectacular start to life at Chelsea for head coach Antonio Conte, who took control before the start of the season after leaving his post with Italy following Euro 2016. The team wobbled in the early weeks, but 13 straight Premier League wins between October 1 and December 31 saw the London club open up a very healthy lead at the top of the table.
Chelsea's winning run came to an end on Wednesday night, however, as they lost 2-0 at Tottenham. Conte's side are still five points clear of second-place Liverpool in the league, but Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United are also chasing down the leaders and it is shaping up to be a sensational battle between the current top six in the second half of the campaign.
A disastrous Premier League title defence saw Chelsea finish 10th last season and as a result, there is no European football at Stamford Bridge this term. That has certainly helped their league form, however, and they will be targeting a run in the FA Cup as Conte looks to give some of his squad members valuable minutes on the field. Indeed, the Italian has made nine changes to his normal XI here.
In terms of what is ahead for the Blues, they will attempt to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they visit the champions Leicester City next weekend, before hosting Hull City and travelling to Liverpool before the end of the month. February then starts with a home game against Arsenal as Conte's side prepare to enter a very important run of matches in the Premier League.
While Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites for this match, their supporters will remember a 4-2 home defeat to Bradford City back in the FA Cup in 2015. Conte has made sweeping changes to his selection this afternoon and the fact that the club have had no European football this season means that a number of their first-team squad have had limited minutes on the field.
As for Peterborough, the League One side will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe United on Monday. Posh are actually unbeaten in the league since November 22 and that positive run of form has seen them occupy ninth position in the table – just two points off the playoff places with a game in hand as they look to secure a return to the Championship.
Only four teams have lost fewer League One matches than Peterborough (6) this season and they have won five of their 11 league fixtures on their travels. There is no question that the league is the club's main focus this season, but having the chance to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is not something that happens too often. Kickoff is now just around 20 minutes away this afternoon.
Peterborough have actually already lost to Premier League opposition during the 2016-17 campaign, however, after suffering a 3-1 defeat at home to Swansea City in the League Cup back in August. Posh did reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup during the 1964-65 season though and a cup run would certainly be welcomed by the League One club's chairman Darragh MacAnthony.
The away supporters have travelled in their numbers this afternoon...
PREDICTION! I am finding it difficult to predict anything other than a home win. Chelsea might well need to be patient against a Peterborough side that is almost at full strength, but the hosts have more than enough quality to advance comfortably into the next round. Chelsea to win 3-0 here.
Here we go then. Both sets of players are in the tunnel ahead of kickoff at Stamford Bridge. Not quite a full house this afternoon, but the away supporters are generating a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium. You just get the feeling that the first goal could be all-important in this match.
KICKOFF! Posh kick things off in the English capital...
... Kevin Friend is the referee this afternoon and you just hope that the man in the middle has a quiet match! As expected, Chelsea have taken immediate control of the possession on home soil and have already made ground down the left through the energetic and powerful Loftus-Cheek.
It had been claimed that Chelsea could switch to a back four this afternoon, but that is not the case. Cahill, Terry and Zouma are the three centre-backs, with Ivanovic and Willian operating in the two wing-back positions. Peterborough have been neat and tidy in the early exchanges of this game.
Peterborough have not come here to defend as they continue to make ground in wide positions. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Da Silva Lopes has also shown his ability in the middle of the park. It is not difficult to see why a number of clubs are monitoring the teenager, who looks a future star.
CLOSE! Cahill almost squeezes an effort home at the near post, but McGee just about does enough to clear behind for another corner. Good spell of pressure from Chelsea at the moment.
Kouma marks his comeback by finding Row Z with a wild strike.
CHANCE! Super chance for the away side this time as Angol meets a wonderful cross from Maddison, but Begovic is on hand to make a point-blank save. Really should have scored!
Nichols swings one wide and high from outside the Chelsea box as Peterborough continue to impress in the early exchanges of this match. Meanwhile, Ivanovic is down for Chelsea in some pain.
Ivanovic returns to his feet and the experienced defender is able to continue. Chelsea are still committing plenty of players forward, but they are having to be wary of the away side's counter-attacking threat. Maddison and Edwards are both seeing plenty of the ball in wide positions.
CHANCES! Batshuayi should score for Chelsea as Willian picks out the centre-forward with a near-post cross, but Bostwick blocks behind. Terry then fires straight at McGee from the resulting corner as the home have two good chances in quick succession. Very open game here!
CHANCE! Another chance! This time for the visitors as Tafazolli meets a dangerous corner from the right, but his header is wide of the post. Might already be 2-2 here!
Hardly time to take a breath in this match as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. Peterborough have not come here to sit deep and make it difficult for Chelsea.
Another half-chance for Chelsea as Willian meets a loose ball inside the away side's box, but his effort is into the stands. I am not entirely sure how this is still 0-0, but that is the case.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Peterborough (Pedro)
Chelsea make the breakthrough in the 18th minute of this match as Pedro curls one into the top corner after McGee had kept out a brilliant strike from Chalobah. It had been coming here.
Peterborough need to be really careful here. The visitors are impressing with their forward-thinking attitude and willingness to upset the likes of Cahill, but Chelsea are being afforded far too much space down the other end and they look capable of scoring every time they break forward here.
Decent spell of possession for the away side in the last couple of minutes and Da Silva Lopes is right at the heart of it. The 18-year-old has stuck out like a sore thumb for the League One outfit. I would be very surprised if they can keep hold of the midfielder for an extended period.
Chelsea have a free kick in a dangerous area as Forrester brings Fabregas to the deck...
BOOKING! Forrester (Posh) has actually been booked for that tackle on Fabregas.
Willian's free kick is straight into the Posh wall.
BOOKING! Fabregas (Chelsea) is booked for a late tackle on Nichols.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few moments, but Chelsea are in control of the possession as they pass and probe in the final third of the field. Peterborough are still well in this match, but they cannot afford to concede a second goal or it could well be tie over here.
Batshuayi twice tries to release a shot inside the Peterborough box, but Hughes challenges the striker at the right moment and the Chelsea forward stumbles before the danger is cleared.
Little under 15 minutes of the first period remaining and Chelsea still lead courtesy of that smart finish from Pedro, who picked out the top corner. It is still a very open game as both teams commit players forward and Loftus-Cheek has been very impressive for the home side in London.
CROSSBAR! Oh my word what a miss! Incredible miss from Pedro as the Spaniard hits the crossbar from close range after Loftus-Cheek had put one on a plate for the attacker!
There is some concern over Zouma here as the Chelsea centre-back stays down following a challenge with Nichols. Zouma has been out of action for almost 12 months and he is in trouble again.
Zouma is back on his feet and it does appear that he will be fit to continue here.
Chelsea could have scored three or four in this first period, but Peterborough have also had some really good moments and they can be pleased with their performance in the opening 37 minutes. This is a proper FA Cup tie and I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals here.
Fabregas and Loftus-Cheek continue to pick passes in the final third and Peterborough are not comfortable when the pace is lifted here. At 1-0, the visitors will always be in the game, but a second Chelsea goal would make things very difficult indeed. Big five minutes coming up here.
SAVE! McGee is down to keep out Willian's effort as the pressure continues.
Cahill heads a Willian corner over the crossbar as it remains 1-0 Chelsea.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Peterborough (Batshuayi)
Chelsea score their second of the match in the 44th minute as Loftus-Cheek sets up Batshuayi with a clever touch and the striker angles one into the bottom corner. Could well be game over!
We are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.
HALF-TIME: Chelsea 2-0 Peterborough
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Chelsea leading League One side Peterborough 2-0 courtesy of goals from Pedro and Batshuayi. The visitors have had their moments in the final third, but Chelsea have had a lot of joy and indeed space down the other end.
STATISTICS! Chelsea have dominated the possession with 68%, while they have hit the target with eight of their 20 attempts thus far this afternoon. Peterborough, meanwhile, have hit the target with just one of their five attempts. There have also been three bookings following some feisty tackles.
BENCH WATCH! Costa, Hazard, Moses and Kante are among those available for Chelsea this afternoon, should Conte wish to make changes. Peterborough, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Inman, Taylor and Samuelson. It is a really big ask for the visitors from this position.
It is all going well for Conte in his first ever FA Cup tie...
RESTART! Chelsea resume the action on home soil...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will already have alterations in mind for the second 45 minutes in London.
Batshuayi turns and strikes, but it is a comfortable save for McGee.
CHANCE! Loftus-Cheek has a super chance to score Chelsea's third of the afternoon after Fabregas releases the midfielder, but his low effort is just wide of the post.
The away side are struggling to keep hold of the ball at the moment as Chelsea continue to find space in the final third. You just get the feeling that a third for the home side will soon arrive.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Peterborough (Willian)
Chelsea have their third of the afternoon as Willian cuts inside his full-back before picking out the bottom corner with a super effort. Wonderful finish from the Brazilian attacker here.
You have to feel for Peterborough, who just cannot get near the ball at the moment. Chalobah should make it 4-0 following a brilliant move, but the midfielder's effort is wide of the post.
Peterborough have the chance to threaten on the counter-attack as Maddison uses his pace to open up space in the final third, but Chelsea have enough players back to clear the danger. Still 3-0 Chelsea with 56 minutes on the clock. It does not appear there will be an FA Cup upset here.
CHELSEA SUB! Aina replaces Cahill in Chelsea's first change.
POSH SUBS! Taylor and Samuelson replace Edwards and Maddison for the visitors.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes, although Chelsea are still very much in control of the possession. Still a lot of football to be played in London this afternoon.
Just a reminder that the draw for the fourth round of the competition will take place on Monday night and we are at that stage where some big teams could be drawn together. Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City have all already come through their ties this weekend.
Posh have a free kick in a dangerous area as Ivanovic brings Angol to the deck...
... Bostwick's free kick is straight into the wall.
RED CARD! TERRY!
Oh my word! Chelsea are reduced to 10 men as Terry is sent off for a last-man challenge on Angol! Big moment at Stamford Bridge as the club captain picks up a red card!
Taylor's resulting set piece is straight into the wall!
CHELSEA SUB! Azpilicueta replaces Loftus-Cheek for the home side.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-1 Peterborough (Nichols)
Peterborough have one back in the 71st minute as Nichols fires home from close range after Angol's effort had fallen to the number 21. Just a glimmer of hope for the away side here!
CHELSEA SUB! Kante replaces Willian in Chelsea's second change.
GOAL! Chelsea 4-1 Peterborough (Pedro)
Pedro has his second of the match and Chelsea have four as the former Barcelona attacker curls one into the bottom corner from outside the box. It is a brilliant finish from the Spaniard.
Little over 10 minutes of football remaining at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea have been very impressive in the final third of the field. They might have scored seven or eight this afternoon.
Decent spell of pressure from the away side in the last couple of minutes and Bostwick cannot resist the chance to have a shot from outside the box, but his effort is high and wide.
It would be fair to say that Pedro has not quite lived up to his Barcelona reputation at Chelsea, but the Spaniard has been very good this season and that form has continued this afternoon. The attacker is on a hat-trick and he will fancy his chances of getting another chance late on.
Batshuayi goes down inside the penalty box and wants a spot kick from the referee, but Kevin Friend is not interested. It would have been soft and the official was just not interested.
POSH SUB! Binnom-Williams replaces Hughes for the away side.
Half-chance for Angol to score as he finds some space inside the Chelsea box, but the striker's effort was always too high. The League One side have had plenty of chances this afternoon.
Just a reminder that Chelsea will return to Premier League action with a trip to Leicester next weekend. Their 13-game winning run came to an end against Spurs last time out, but they will fancy beating the champions at the King Power Stadium. Not long left in this FA Cup third-round tie.
Batshuayi curls another one just wide as he seeks a second goal.
We are into the first of three additional minutes here.
Pedro's final chance of a hat-trick might well have passed as the Spaniard curls one wide of the post from just outside the Peterborough box. The stands are emptying as the whistle approaches.
SAVE! McGee keeps out Batshuayi's close-range strike!
FULL-TIME: Chelsea 4-1 Peterborough
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period at Stamford Bridge to a close and Chelsea have booked their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 4-1 win over Peterborough. John Terry was sent off for the home side, but it mattered little in terms of the final result. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the live action once again. Until next time!
