Aston Villa vs Chelsea LIVE: FA Cup result and reaction after Enzo scores a stunning free kick as Blues win

Chelsea silenced the doubters and relieved some of the mounting pressure on manager Mauricio Pochettino with a confident 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round.

The west London club had slipped into the bottom half of the table following back to back defeats to Liverpool and Wolves, but a youthful Chelsea showed fight and spirit at Villa Park.

Conor Gallagher opened the scoring with his first goal of the season for Chelsea in the 11th minute, with Nicolas Jackson, who had just returned from the Africa Cup of Nations doubling his side’s lead 10 minutes later.

In the second half Enzo Fernandes all but secured his side’s place in the next round with a stunning free kick straight into the top corner, and even a late consolation goal from Moussa Diaby could not deter Chelsea.

The previous fixture between the teams ended in a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge with Villa creating more chances on goal despite Chelsea seeing more possession. With the support of their home fans the midlands club will be hoping to get over the line and set up a fifth-round clash against Leeds or Plymouth Argyle.

Follow all the action below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:

Aston Villa vs Chelsea LIVE

• FT: Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

• GOAL! Diaby scores late consolation - Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea [90’]

• GOAL! Enzo Fernandes scores a stunning free kick - Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea [54’]

• HT: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

• GOAL! Nicolas Jackson doubles Blues’ lead - Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea [21’]

• GOAL! Conor Gallagher puts visitors ahead - Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea [11’]

• Chelsea XI: Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Chilwell, Gallagher, Caicedo, Enzo, Madueke, Jackson, Palmer

• Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Diego Carlos, Lenglet, Alex Moreno, Bailey, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Tielemans, Watkins

Aston Villa FC 1 - 3 Chelsea FC

Chelsea ease pressure on Mauricio Pochettino with 3-1 win at Aston Villa

22:37 , Sonia Twigg

Pochettino was asked on ITV if it was their best performance of the season: “I think so. It was one of the best, maybe the best performance of the season. I am so happy with the performance and the way the players enjoyed playing football. That pleased me the most.

“We are a young team and being consistent is the most difficult thing in a young team. With a young team to find the balance is the most difficult thing.”

Chelsea ease pressure on Mauricio Pochettino with 3-1 win at Aston Villa

22:29 , Sonia Twigg

Chelsea stunned Aston Villa with a 3-1 win to march on in the FA Cup and ease the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino.

Enzo Fernandez’s sensational free-kick added to first-half goals from Conor Gallagher and Nicolas Jackson.

Moussa Diaby’s injury-time strike failed to ruin Chelsea’s night and the Blues now host Leeds in the fifth round.

Having been humbled 4-2 by Wolves and thumped 4-1 by Liverpool in their two previous games there was an expectation Chelsea would lurch further into crisis in their fourth-round replay at Villa Park.

Chelsea ease pressure on Mauricio Pochettino with 3-1 win at Aston Villa

Ben Chilwell and Conor Gallagher shared their thoughts after the 3-1 win

22:20 , Sonia Twigg

When asked whether it was now a case of maintaining the high standards set at Villa Park, Gallagher said: “That’s been our problem this season.

“We’ve had games where we’ve been brilliant and a lot of games where we’ve not been good enough, so we need to just try and find that consistency and we’re working every day to try and get that so we’ve just got to keep working hard and sticking together as a team.”

Ben Chilwell and Conor Gallagher shared their thoughts after the 3-1 win

22:15 , Sonia Twigg

On whether the manager needed the result, Chilwell said: “I think we all did, the players, the manager, the staff, everyone at the training ground, the fans.

“I think everyone associated with Chelsea needed that result today so it wasn’t just us or the manager it was everyone associated with the club, we knew we needed to deliver today to get to the next round and we did.”

Ben Chilwell and Conor Gallagher shared their thoughts after the 3-1 win

22:10 , Sonia Twigg

On his first goal of the season, Gallagher told ITV Sport: “Finally the first goal anyway.

“As Chilwell said, the boys were really determined to get a better performance today after the last two that weren’t good enough by our standards at all.

“So, the boys were up for it and I think we worked really hard today and it was a good performance.”

Ben Chilwell and Conor Gallagher shared their thoughts after the 3-1 win

22:05 , Sonia Twigg

Ben Chilwell to ITV Sport: “It was exactly the reaction we wanted and needed. It wasn’t about wanting the reaction, we actually needed it today, and we delivered it.

“So, fair play to all the boys, there was pressure going into the game, but we wanted that pressure a little bit and we thrived off it.

“The confidence before the game in the changing room was the best I’ve seen it to be honest, the togetherness and we did it on the pitch today.”

FT: Aston Villa 1-3

21:55 , Sonia Twigg

Full time: Mauricio Pochettino has inspired a Chelsea performance that has not been seen for a long time.

Gallagher scored his first goal of the season, Jackson came back from the Africa Cup of Nations to double his lead, but it was all capped off by a stunning free kick from Enzo Fernandes.

Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

21:54 , Sonia Twigg

90+4’ Martinez is forced into a late save, and Chelsea will have a corner which could be the final action of the evening.

Enzo has been given man of the match by the commentators for his performance, and stunning free kick.

Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

21:52 , Sonia Twigg

90+2’ Villa are not giving up, they have had a shot blocked out for a corner, and almost had another!

Iroegbunam had a header but it was straight at the Blues goalkeeper.

GOAL! Diaby scores late consolation - Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea [90’]

21:51 , Sonia Twigg

GOAL! Diaby scores for Aston Villa!

That could be a late consolation goal, and it was scrappy, he fired it off the post and in after the ball was pulled back to Diaby in an unmarked position on the edge of the box.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:49 , Sonia Twigg

89’ Just one minute left of normal time and the game is just meandering on to what seems to be a foregone conclusion at the moment.

There was a brief fightback from Villa around the 70th minute, but they were not able to reduce the deficit.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:47 , Sonia Twigg

87’ Another lengthy delay for substitutions from both teams while Villa wait to take a throw in. It feels like five minutes later they are actually allowed to take it, and they throw it backwards towards their own half. Big anti-climax.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:44 , Sonia Twigg

85’ The urgency has just been taken out of the match, Villa are trying to get forward, but not with the same intent they showed around 10 minutes ago.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:42 , Sonia Twigg

83’ Will the substitutions have an impact on the game? There are just eight minutes left of normal time.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:40 , Sonia Twigg

80’ Thiago Silva is going to come on for the final 10 minutes of the game, and Caicedo will be coming off, along with Cole Palmer for Nkunku and the number six.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:37 , Sonia Twigg

78’ Caicedo has just gone down in the middle of the pitch and the ball is eventually kicked out.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:37 , Sonia Twigg

77’ The momentum has just started shifting in favour of the home side for the first time in the game in the last five minutes or so and Diaby made a good run and pull back from the goal line although Chelsea were able to clear.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:35 , Sonia Twigg

76’ CHANCE! Moreno has a header at the back post, he had the space to run into but his header was just over the bar and landed on the roof of the net.

Petrovic has been booked for time wasting after the subsequent goal kick.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:34 , Sonia Twigg

75’ Chelsea change now and Raheem Sterling has come on for the final 15 minutes of normal time.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:33 , Sonia Twigg

74’ That was a bit nervy from Chelsea and Petrovic’s clearance was almost charged down, in fact it was but the ball did not fall goalwards.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:31 , Sonia Twigg

72’ Emery does make a change, Diaby and Ramsey on for Tielemans and McGinn.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:30 , Sonia Twigg

70’ Bailey tries to create something with a run into the box, but another pass cannot find Tielemans after a good move.

Cash has a go and he pulls it back to John McGinn, but his shot was blocked! That was the best chance of the half so far for Villa.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:29 , Sonia Twigg

69’ Villa have another brief chance at a break but the ball from midfield cannot find the runner on the wing, and Chelsea easily win the ball back and immediately look to launch an attack of their own

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:26 , Sonia Twigg

67’ Still no substitutions from Unai Emery, and Villa are just a bit slow on the ball here, without the intensity that Chelsea have shown in their attacks.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:25 , Sonia Twigg

65’ CHANCE! John McGinn works space for a chance and he fires it wide!

Although he did have a good shout for a free kick as his leg was slightly taken from underneath him when he tried to take that shot.

And in the aftermath, Petrovic came very close to getting booked for time-wasting while taking a goal kick.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:24 , Sonia Twigg

64’ A probing ball bounces around the box, but there are no Villa playes on the end of it and instead the referee blows for a free kick to the visitors.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:23 , Sonia Twigg

63’ Bailey has made a really good run on the right, but instead of trying to pick him out Cash just turns and plays the ball backwards.

Villa are lacking a bit of direction here.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:21 , Sonia Twigg

61’ The game has become a bit choppy, there are still plenty of fouls and this broken play will only help Chelsea, as they can keep pushing for more goals while Villa are kept from mounting any form of attacks of their own.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:19 , Sonia Twigg

58’ McGinn takes a free kick and tries to pick out Diego Carlos, who gets good contact with his header, but can’t find the target.

Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

21:16 , Sonia Twigg

57’ Aston Villa had a chance, and Tielemans tries to pick out Mahrez, but the ball had just too much on it and the Chelsea goalkeeper was able to gather.

GOAL! Enzo Fernandes scores a stunning free kick! Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea [54’]

21:13 , Sonia Twigg

GOAL! 53’ Chelsea have a free kick inside the Villa half. Enzo will take, he goes for goal and he has smashed it into the top corner!

He takes his shirt off in celebration to show his name on the back of the shirt to the cameras.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

21:11 , Sonia Twigg

51’ There were discussions at the break over whether Chelsea would sit on a lead or go on the attack for a third and they have not been content to just sit this one out.

They are trying to create at every opportunity and Villa are struggling to find a way back into this match.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

21:08 , Sonia Twigg

48’ Chelsea have had an injection of pace, they are chasing down everything, even when the ball goes back to Martinez, although on one occasion Enzo took it slightly too far and the home side were given a free kick, although it was just in front of their own box.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

21:07 , Sonia Twigg

47’ The second half starts in the same way as a first and Aston Villa give away a cheap free kick inside their own half for a foul on Chilwell.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

21:05 , Sonia Twigg

46’ Chelsea were the last side to stop Aston Villa scoring at home and have won eight of their last nine cup replays. All of those stats work in the visitors’ favour, and the second half is underway.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

21:04 , Sonia Twigg

The players are back out on the field and the second half is about to get underway.

HT: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

21:03 , Sonia Twigg

Will there be any half time changes?

HT: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:58 , Sonia Twigg

Roy Keane says Chelsea are “playing like a team tonight” and have been “everything you want in a team” that’s a far cry from where they were at the weekend.

HT: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:55 , Sonia Twigg

Here are some photos from the first half at Villa Park:

HT: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:49 , Sonia Twigg

Half time: That was the final action of the half, and it is the struggling Blues who lead 2-0 at the break.

All the talk ahead of the match was dominated by Pochettino’s future, but his Chelsea side have come out of the blocks firing and have a deserved lead at Villa Park.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:48 , Sonia Twigg

45+2’ CHANCE! Chelsea make a mistake here and John McGinn had a chance to pull one back for the home side, hie tried to place it and the ball was tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:46 , Sonia Twigg

45+1’ There will be two minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:46 , Sonia Twigg

45’ Diego Carlos, Chilwell and Cash are among those who have conceded fouls in the last few minutes.

Chelsea are sending probing balls forwards, but it is when they attack with numbers that Villa are on the back foot.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:45 , Sonia Twigg

44’ There are a few fouls flying around just on the stroke of half time.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:42 , Sonia Twigg

41’ Aston Villa have not created chances and have even been a little bit static, occasionally resorting to fouls, like one on Gallagher, partly out of frustration that they have not been able to get going so far in this match.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:40 , Sonia Twigg

39’ Villa have just started growing into the game in the last couple of minutes, and have looked to try and pick out Watkins in the centre.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:39 , Sonia Twigg

37’ Villa attack on the break and they will have a corner, although Enzo was looking for a free-kick for a foul by Tielemans.

The corner was threatening and there was no one in the middle to put the ball in the back of the net, but it was a well-hit cross.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:37 , Sonia Twigg

35’ Chilwell will take, it comes out to Caicedo who fluffs his shot, and this time Villa are able to get the ball clear.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:36 , Sonia Twigg

SAVE! Martinez has to be alert to make a smart save as Chelsea’s runs behind the back line continue to cause problems.

And Chelsea have another corner.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:34 , Sonia Twigg

33’ Villa are really struggling to get going here. Chelsea do have a high press, but this is concerning for the home side.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:32 , Sonia Twigg

31’ Chilwell tries his luck from distance after a short corner, but his attempt is dragged wide of the target.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:31 , Sonia Twigg

30’ Chelsea have another chance, Chilwell’s corner is headed clear by Villa and the ball finds Bailey, but he cannot mount a counter attack.

Instead the Blues bring the ball back and will have another corner.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:30 , Sonia Twigg

29’ When Aston Villa do win the ball, there is none of the same urgency that saw them dominate against Sheffield United at the weekend, and instead they often have to turn backwards towards their own goal to keep possession.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:28 , Sonia Twigg

26’ Chelsea have another hint at a chance, but Jackson takes the ball out of play for a goal kick.

Jackson has got six goals in his last 13 appearances for Chelsea, despite not scoring at the Africa Cup of Nations

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

20:26 , Sonia Twigg

25’ Villa have struggled to get going, every time they do manage to get forward it is wasted, or the Blues end up with a free kick.

A ball from the left almost found Tielemans in the box, but Chelsea scramble the ball clear.

Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa

20:25 , Sonia Twigg

23’ This game is so open, there are mistakes from both sides that threaten to lead to chances.

It is frantic, and that is what has allowed Chelsea their two goalscoring opportunities.

GOAL! Nicolas Jackson doubles Blues’ lead - Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea [21’]

20:23 , Sonia Twigg

GOAL! Jackson! 21’ Jackson heads the ball past Martinez, there was a space between two defenders and the ball from the right was just inch-perfect, and it started from a quick run at the back four from Manueke, before Gusto’s cross.

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

20:21 , Sonia Twigg

20’ Chelsea do not look like the slightly frantic side that conceded four goals against Liverpool and Wolves in back-to-back matches, they are holding onto the ball well and looking to attack, especially with pace.

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

20:20 , Sonia Twigg

19’ Chelsea break again through Manueke, he runs hard at the defence, and runs into the box but instead of trying to pick out a teammate, he cuts inside and tries to go for goal himself, but his shot was well high and wide of the target.

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

20:19 , Sonia Twigg

17’ It has been an end to end match so far, but Chelsea have the crucial lead through Gallagher.

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

20:15 , Sonia Twigg

13’ Chelsea have another chance to break on the counter and they had the numbers, but Gusto tried to force one in at the far corner and Martinez was able to make the save.

GOAL! Conor Gallagher puts visitors ahead - Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

20:13 , Sonia Twigg

GOAL! 11’ Conor Gallagher fires Chelsea into the lead, Jackson makes a good run into the box, Madueke pulls it back and Martinez can only watch as the ball flies into the top corner.

Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea

20:11 , Sonia Twigg

10’ Chelsea look for the moment like they are content with holding on to possession as they try and build attacks from the back with caution.

Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea

20:09 , Sonia Twigg

7’ Chelsea have a chance to attack with a corner, which Chilwell takes, but when it comes back in Martinez has to make a smart save to deny Palmer’s header.

Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea

20:04 , Sonia Twigg

3’ Aston Villa look to drive forward, but McGinn tried to pick out the man at the back post, it proved to be the wrong option, and Chelsea clear

Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea

20:02 , Sonia Twigg

1’ The match is underway at Villa Park

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

19:58 , Sonia Twigg

The players are out on the field and the match is about to get underway

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

19:55 , Sonia Twigg

We are now just five minutes away from kick off at Villa Park.

Unai Emery has his say ahead of the match

19:52 , Sonia Twigg

Unai Emery said to ITVX: “Every match is different and every competition. Of course we are now in the FA Cup and we are very excited and very motivated to play here with our support at Villa Park.

“We have been successful for a long time at Villa Park and we want to keep doing the same. Trying to follow some tactics that we used in Sheffield but we are going to adapt now today against Chelsea.

“They were pressing very well, they lost the last two matches but they have a very good coach, they have very good players and tactically they are good.

“We are ready to play a very very tough match.”

Mauricio Pochettino on the FA Cup fourth-round replay

19:50 , Sonia Twigg

On the upcoming match, he said: “Two defeats. Against Wolverhampton I think if we draw the game it would be a different way and we are in Chelsea, we know very well that we need to win every single game.

“If not it’s a problem.

“Today is a different day, it is a different competition, again a very good team because Aston Villa are doing great, it is a fantastic season, we are in the final of the Carabao Cup because we did very good things.

“But now we need to accept that too many things happen around but the players are calm and we need to compete today against a very good team in a very good stadium.

“It’s going to be tough but as a team we are convinced that we have prepared in our best way.”

Pochettino responds to questions after leaving Thiago Silva on the bench

19:45 , Sonia Twigg

Pochettino was asked about the selection of Silva ahead of the game and he said: “I am professional, I always pick my players because of performance and balance and I understand the question but I think I want to be calm and I need to be professional.”

Thiago Silva’s wife calls for ‘change’ at Chelsea

19:40 , Sonia Twigg

Firstly, here is one of the stories that broke over the weekend:

The wife of Thiago Silva has said that “change” is needed before it is “too late” for Chelsea’s after their latest significant setback against Wolves.

The London club were beaten 4-2 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with a Matheus Nunes hat-trick and Axel Disasi own goal condemning Mauricio Pochettino’s side to a tenth Premier League defeat of the season.

The win lifted the visitors above their hosts, with Pochettino under renewed pressure after Chelsea dropped into the bottom half.

Thiago Silva’s wife calls for ‘change’ at Chelsea

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

19:34 , Sonia Twigg

We will soon be bringing some quotes from Pochettino

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

19:33 , Sonia Twigg

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

19:27 , Sonia Twigg

We are almost half an hour away from kick off at Villa Park and the players are out on the pitch warming up, while the fans arrive at the stadium:

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

19:19 , Sonia Twigg

Aston Villa made one change from their Premier League match at the weekend, with Matty Cash coming into the side in place of Ezri Konsa.

Chelsea also made a few changes with Thiago Silva among the substitutes, as are Raheem Sterling and Christopher Nkunku.

While, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson start.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

19:10 , Sonia Twigg

Here are some photos of the players arriving at Villa Park:

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

19:06 , Sonia Twigg

A quick reminder that the winner of this match will host Leeds in the fifth round.

Aston Villa team news

19:02 , Sonia Twigg

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Diego Carlos, Lenglet, Alex Moreno, Bailey, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Tielemans, Watkins

Chelsea team news

19:01 , Sonia Twigg

There are a host of changes from Chelsea, but here is the starting XI: Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Chilwell, Gallagher, Caicedo, Enzo, Madueke, Jackson, Palmer

Mauricio Pochettino is just a convenient fall guy for Chelsea’s ills – who would want to replace him?

19:00 , Sonia Twigg

“No one is safe,” said Mauricio Pochettino. And if the reality that he is the fifth man to take charge of a Chelsea game in the brief, ignominious reign of Clearlake Capital offers some proof, so does the maxim that it is cheaper to change the manager than the players. Especially when the context is that the manager was only given a two-year deal while 14 of the players have contracts until the 2030s, five more until 2029 and a further eight until 2028.

Such continuity ought to provide reassurance. Not when Chelsea are mired in the lower half of the table, for a second successive season, and when perhaps only one arrival in their £1bn recruitment drive – the outstanding anomaly Cole Palmer – can be classed as a definitive success.

Mauricio Pochettino is just a convenient fall guy for Chelsea’s ills

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

18:56 , Sonia Twigg

There’s some early team news from Chelsea:

Trevoh Chalobah – in team training for reconditioning phase.

Robert Sanchez – joined partial team training for reconditioning phase.

Levi Colwill – beginning reconditioning phase.

Marc Cucurella – continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme.

Wesley Fofana – continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme.

Reece James – continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme.

Romeo Lavia – continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme.

Lesley Ugochukwu – continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

18:52 , Sonia Twigg

There has been a lot of talk surrounding Mauricio Pochettino’s future at Chelsea in recent days.

Their league position following the Wolves defeat is almost identical to the one they found themselves in a year ago, that prompted the sacking of former manager Graham Potter.

Mauricio Pochettino rejects claims he said Chelsea players ‘are not good enough’

18:45 , Sonia Twigg

Mauricio Pochettino has rejected suggestions he said Chelsea’s players are not good enough, claiming his words following Sunday’s defeat by Wolves were taken out of context.

Immediately after the 4-2 loss at Stamford Bridge that left his team in the bottom half of the Premier League table, the Argentinian appeared to say he did not have the squad to significantly remedy the club’s plight.

Mauricio Pochettino rejects claims he said Chelsea players ‘are not good enough’

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

18:06 , Sonia Twigg

Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s live blog coverage of the FA Cup fourth-round replay between Aston Villa and Chelsea.

The Blues have been subject to two heavy defeats in their last two matches, a 4-1 loss at Anfield, followed by a 4-2 home defeat to Wolves, but will want to bounce back and perform in the cup.