In the final FA Cup fourth-round tie of the weekend, Premier League champions Chelsea travelled to Championship side MK Dons.
Although the Blues have had a poor season in the league, they were irresistible today in a 5-1 win as Oscar scored a first-half hat-trick before goals from Eden Hazard - his first in 29 games this term - and Bertrand Traore - his first ever for the club - sealed a comfortable day at the office for the Blues.
Relive it all below with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates.
Afternoon all! The 16th and final match of the FA Cup fourth round takes place at Stadium MK as the Dons host the Blues.
Kickoff in the Midlands is just under an hour away, but we're still waiting on the team news from both teams to come through. How strong a side will Guus Hiddink put out?
CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Rahman; Matic, Fabregas; Oscar, Loftus-Cheek, Hazard; Diego Costa
Subs: Begovic, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Mikel, Pedro, Willian, Traore
Subs: Begovic, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Mikel, Pedro, Willian, Traore
Four changes it is from the visitors as Gary Cahill, Baba Rahman, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Eden Hazard come in for Kurt Zouma, Cesar Azpilicueta, John Obi Mikel and Willian.
MK DONS XI: Martin; Spence, McFadzean, Walsh, Lewington; Potter, Forster-Caskey; Carruthers, Hall, Murphy; Bowditch
Subs: Cropper, Hodson, Kay, Williams, Powell, Church, Maynard
Subs: Cropper, Hodson, Kay, Williams, Powell, Church, Maynard
As for the home side, Karl Robinson makes three changes to the side that were beaten 3-1 at the Championship's bottom club Bolton Wanderers eight days ago. Kyle McFadzean is back in defence after serving a ban and takes Antony Kay's place, while further forward Rob Hall and Dean Bowditch get the nod over Jonathan Williams and Simon Church.
So that's a pretty strong lineup from the visitors. No rests for the likes of Courtois, Terry, Fabregas and Costa, with Hazard returning to make his first start in almost a month. The Belgian was so good last season as the Blues cantered to the Premier League title, but he has failed to score in 28 appearances in all competitions this term 😳
In midfield, 20-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek makes only his fourth start of the season. When he broke into the team last season he played as a deep-lying playmaker, but it looks like he will be in an advanced position today.
There was one other match in the Cup today and it's just finished at Brunton Park, with Everton easing to a 3-0 win over Carlisle United. Read about it by clicking below:
So that's Everton, Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal and Spurs all through to the last 16. Liverpool drew 0-0 with West Ham last night, so all the so-called big boys are still in it. Can Chelsea join them? By the way, the draw for the fifth round takes place shortly after this match at Stadium MK.
It's a real surprise to see Courtois playing again today. You would have thought that Begovic would be given a game against a struggling Championship side
Still, you can't really argue with Hiddink's record since he succeeded Jose Mourinho last month. The Blues are unbeaten in eight matches under him and although some of those performances have still been below-par, they have been better than when Mourinho was enduring a torrid time.
Last Sunday they earned perhaps their most impressive win of the season, beating Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates to deny the Gunners returning to the top of the table. They were helped by an early red card to Per Mertesacker, but after that they played a really good game and frustrated the hosts to gain three valuable points.
That leaves the Blues 13th in the table and seven points above the bottom three. No-one really thought that the champions would be dragged into the relegation fight, but their improved form under Hiddink means that they are just four points from climbing into the top half. The top four seems an impossible task given that Spurs are 14 points above them and looking really good.
Enough about Chelsea, let's focus on the Dons, who were on a two-game winning streak before last weekend's defeat at lowly Bolton. The Dons' away form - they have not won on the road since the opening day almost six months ago - is the main reason that they are only one point above in the drop zone. At home, however, Robinson's men have won four of their last five games. Beware, Chelsea!
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Chelsea were tested at times by League One side Scunthorpe in the third round, but eventually came through 2-0 at home, while MK needed a replay to beat League Two high-flyers Northampton Town, winning 3-0 at home to book their place in the last 32.
Chelsea are appearing in the fourth round for the 18th consecutive season. This is where they went out last year, though, and surely everyone remembers Bradford's famous win at Stamford Bridge - something that MK will be trying to emulate today.
As for MK, this is their 12th appearance in the FA Cup since their formation. The furthest they have reached is the fifth round in 2013, when they lost to Barnsley.
The Dons do have a pretty good record against top-flight teams, winning four of their previous 11 cup matches against Premier League opposition. Interestingly, they scored four times in each victory, perhaps most memorably spanking Man Utd 18 months ago in the League Cup.
Chelsea have won the FA Cup seven times, most recently in 2012. Hiddink likes the competition as well, leading the Blues to their fifth title when he was last in charge of the club in 2009. This is probably their most realistic chance of silverware this season given their league position and a very difficult Champions League draw against runaway Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
PREDICTION: As mentioned, the FA Cup offers Chelsea a good chance of silverware in what has been a terrible season in the league. They should have too much for the Dons today - 3-0 to the visitors.
Here come the two teams out of the tunnel. Jonathan Moss will referee the first-ever competitive fixture between these two sides.
It's the biggest-ever crowd for a football match at Stadium MK!
KICKOFF! The hosts, all in white, get us underway. Chelsea playing in an all-blue kit today.
SAVE! He's missed it! Costa should put Chelsea in front as Hazard makes a great run forward before finding Oscar, who squares for Costa about six yards out. Martin makes a fabulous save, but that's no excuse. Costa has to score from there.
CHANCE! Everton dominated from the word go against Carlisle in today's earlier match and Chelsea are doing the same here. Hazard again at the heart of it as he tees up Oscar, whose side-footed attempt is a little on the stretch and goes wide.
What a run from Hall! He breaks past two Chelsea players in midfield before being brought down by Terry right on the edge of the Chelsea box. Chance for the hosts...
Forster-Caskey tees it up for Carruthers and his shot is blocked. MK get the ball back, though, and a superb dummy from Forster-Caskey gets Murphy into the box, but he then takes a very heavy touch and the ball goes out. Naff at the end, but that was good from the underdogs.
SAVE! MK fail to clear a corner and the ball breaks to Ivanovic, who does well to quickly turn and get off a shot that Martin saves with his foot.
MISS! Not quite sure how Chelsea haven't scored yet. Oscar again shoots wide after Hazard unselfishly teed up the Brazilian inside the box. You might think the Belgian would be anxious to finally break his duck this season, but he's been pass-happy so far.
GOAL! MK DONS 0-1 CHELSEA (OSCAR)
One thing MK can't afford to do is make silly mistakes, but that's exactly what they've done here. McFadzean with an awful backpass that Costa pounces on to square for Oscar, who slides in and beats the defender on the line with Martin out of goal. So easy!
CHANCE! Chelsea could have had four goals already. They break with ease through Hazard and he rolls in Loftus-Cheek, whose left-footed shot is straight at Martin.
The Dons have got to weather the storm here. If they can just ride it out for a bit and keep it at 1-0, they're still in with a chance.
CHANCE! And they will create the odd chance, which they do here as Spence charges down the right before cutting back for Carruthers. Teammate Bowditch is in his way a bit, so the midfielder's shot isn't struck well and Courtois makes an easy save.
GOAL! MK DONS 1-1 CHELSEA (DARREN POTTER)
Where did that come from? They don't deserve to be level at all and it's extremely fortunate as Potter's shot loops up and over Courtois off Matic. The Dons won't care, they're level with the Premier League champions!
OFF THE POST! Here's Hazard's big chance to score for the first time in 29 games. Fabregas plays him through on goal and you have to say Martin makes a great save as he tips the Belgian's shot onto the post before gathering the rebound as Hazard looked to stab home.
MISS! How are we still level?! MK's defending is simply atrocious as Chelsea get in again through Rahman. Costa and Oscar are in the middle and it's Costa who gets there first, toe-poking it wide when Oscar was in a much better position to tap home. Even the Chelsea players crack a wry smile, maybe it's going to be one of those days?
It's honestly a miracle that this match is all square. Chelsea have had 11 shots and almost all of them have been chances that you score more than you miss.
BOOKING! Chelsea captain Terry is the first player yellow-carded by Moss.
GOAL! MK DONS 1-2 CHELSEA (OSCAR)
The Blues are back in front as Loftus-Cheek rolls the ball into Oscar, who takes a quick look to see where Martin is before rifling across goal into the far corner. Top finish and a second goal for the Brazilian.
Chelsea fully deserve their lead, you have to say. They have cut the Dons open time and again, and the hosts have not helped themselves with some awful defending. The only positive for Robinson's men is that the lead is not much bigger.
SHOT! Oscar's on a hat-trick now and he threatens a third with a 20-yard shot that Martin initially parries before grabbing at the second attempt. A third Chelsea goal before half time might just kill the game off.
SHOT! Surely the Championship side can't pull level again? Forster-Caskey gets past one and the Chelsea defence back away so he tries his luck from 25 yards and whizzes a shot a yard or so over. Courtois seemed to know that was never going in.
GOAL! MK DONS 1-3 CHELSEA (OSCAR)
An Oscar-worthy performance from the Brazilian as he completes a first-half hat-trick with a fine finish from the edge of the area after the Dons' defence gave him far too much time. Chelsea have been good, but it's hard to put into words just how bad MK have been defensively.
Two minutes added on before half time. The hosts have a half-chance to pull one back, but Carruthers slices the ball way wide from the edge of the area.
HALF-TIME: MK DONS 1-3 CHELSEA
One of the most dominant halves of football you will ever see. Oscar has scored a hat-trick for Chelsea, who had 15 efforts on goal. They could have scored with about 10 of them, so the fact that it's only 3-1 is remarkable. Back for the second half soon!
The Chelsea players have just emerged from the tunnel for the second half, so the resumption is moments away. Oscar's first-half treble means that there have been eight FA Cup hat-tricks this term, which is already more than the whole of last season in the competition (7).
KICKOFF! The Blues get us back underway. No changes from either manager at the break.
Oscar is the first Chelsea player since Costa in September 2014 to score a treble and the first player to score a first-half FA Cup hat-trick sicne Plymouth's Reuben Reid in 2013.
Chance for MK to put the ball in the box from a corner, but Chelsea deal with the danger. An early goal in this second half for the home side would make it very interesting, but a fourth Chelsea goal would surely be game over.
If there was a game for Hazard to finally end his wait for a goal, this is it. He plays a neat one-two with Fabregas but his touch when the ball comes back to him is heavy and goes out for a goal kick.
Comical moment for Loftus-Cheek as Oscar crosses for the youngster and his first-time effort goes completely sideways.
PENALTY TO CHELSEA! Hazard brought down in the box...
GOAL! MK DONS 1-4 CHELSEA (EDEN HAZARD, PEN.)
The wait is over! Hazard rolls home the penalty for his first Chelsea goal in 273 days. It's also his 50th goal for the Blues and he kisses the badge on his shirt as he celebrates in front of the away fans.
CHELSEA SUB: Hiddink makes his first change, taking off Costa and replacing him with Bertrand Traore, who comes on for his sixth Chelsea appearance.
SHOT! They're out of the game now, but MK won't give up and they go close as Hall winds one up from range that Courtois tips over the bar.
Now the hosts want a penalty as Murphy goes down in the box. He was just eased out and Moss rightly pointed for a goal kick.
GOAL! MK DONS 1-5 CHELSEA (BERTRAND TRAORE)
A first-half Oscar hat-trick, Hazard's first goal of the season and now a first Chelsea goal for Traore, just five minutes after coming on. Hazard got in behind MK's defence and waited for support before teeing up Traore, who finished really well across goal. They've scored five, but it could easily be a lot more for Chelsea.
CHELSEA SUBS: Goalscorers Oscar and Hazard off, Pedro and Willian on. A former Barcelona star and Chelsea's best player this season, no let-up for the Dons!
DONS SUB: First change for the hosts, with Murphy off and Crystal Palace loanee Williams on.
🙈 🙈 🙈
With the match a little quieter now, let me just bring you the ball numbers for the fifth-round draw, which takes place shortly after the final whistle here:
1 West Bromwich Albion or Peterborough United
2 Leeds United
3 Arsenal
4 Manchester United
5 Reading
6 Liverpool or West Ham United
7 Manchester City
8 Shrewsbury Town
9 Watford
10 Everton
11 Crystal Palace
12 Blackburn Rovers
13 AFC Bournemouth
14 Tottenham Hotspur
15 Hull City
16 MK Dons or Chelsea*
*definitely Chelsea
SAVE! Fabregas almost gets in on the act as his low shot is saved by the foot of Martin after a neat reverse pass from Pedro.
BOOKING! Loftus-Cheek rolls Walsh and the latter has little option but to bring down the young midfielder on the edge of the box.
Willian has scored several free kicks this season, but not here as he shoots into the wall.
DONS SUB: Change in attack for the home side as Maynard takes Bowditch's place.
CLOSE! Traore almost gets a second, shooting wide after Baba beat the offside trap and cut back for the striker.
BOOKING! Baba's in again and this time Spence cynically tugs him back just before he got into the area. The Dons just want the full-time whistle now.
Willian again takes the free kick, this time crossing into the middle but too long as Martin comes out to collect.
SHOT! A similar effort to one in the first half from Forster-Caskey as he hits it well, but just over the top.
DONS SUB: Third and final change for the home side, with Carruthers going off and academy product Daniel Powell on.
Pedro with a good chance to make it six, but his shot is blocked by McFadzean.
SAVE! Powell with a superb twisting run in the box but he can only fire at Courtois after beating Ivanovic and Cahill to open up a shooting chance.
Worrying moment here for Chelsea as Willian grimaces on the turf after a kick on the toe from Powell. Not much in that, but it probably hurts like when you stub your toe. He'll be fine.
Just the one minute of added time.
FULL-TIME: MK DONS 1-5 CHELSEA
Chelsea wrap up FA Cup fourth-round weekend with a totally-dominant 5-1 win over MK Dons. The Championship side undeservedly pulled level in the first half, but Chelsea didn't let up and ended up with five.
Thanks a lot for joining us this afternoon. I'll leave you with our match report and kindly ask you to keep your eyes peeled for news of the draw, which is coming up very shortly. Goodbye!
