Chelsea 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
by Amar Azam 
at Stamford Bridge

THIS was a far from accomplished display from Chelsea, but with their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup assured, manager Thomas Tuchel will now be targeting success in the Club World Cup.  

A positive Covid-19 test saw Tuchel forced to self-isolate, as assistant Arno Michels took charge for this hard-fought win over League One side Plymouth Argyle.  

Tuchel will join his players in Abu Dhabi later this week — potentially missing their first match on Wednesday — as they begin their assault on the tournament they qualify for as European champions. 

A winning goal from Marcos Alonso near the end of the first half of extra time sealed the victory. It could have been different had Plymouth’s Ryan Hardie converted a penalty kick in the 116th minute. 

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga easily saved the tame effort to help his side into the fifth round.  

Michels was positive in his assessment of the performance. In truth Chelsea’s players didn’t cover themselves in glory and were made to look desperately ordinary for much of this match. A subdued Stamford Bridge watched as the big money signings came on one by one.  

Soon Kai Havertz and Timo Werner were introduced into the play, joining the out-of-sorts Romelu Lukaku as the European champions struggled to exert their superiority on their lower-league opposition.  

Michels said: “We had 60 minutes where we could lead 3-1. We had many opportunities, crosses from the side, touches in the box. We were a little bit unlucky with the crossbar and post and at the same time, we score more or less an own goal. 

“So we had a little bit of difficulty but everyone will say in the FA Cup the most important thing is to go through and that is what we did.” 

After a pulsating first half in which Steven Schumacher’s team took an early lead against the Premier League giants, the game descended in the edge-of-the-seat stuff we associate with this grand old competition.  

Macaulay Gillesphey’s early header had put Plymouth on their way. However, Azpilicueta’s delightful flick late in the first half put Chelsea back in the match before Alonso struck in extra time. 

Hardie had a chance to take the game to penalties but Arrizabalaga saved the spot-kick. Schumacher reeled away in frustration. Stamford Bridge let out a collective sigh of relief.  

Schumacher said: “We are disappointed, obviously, we didn’t get through especially having a penalty so late on which would have taken it to a shoot-out and who knows from there, but overall it was a good day.”