CHELSEA RATINGS: Forced into routine saves by Osmajic and Keane in the first half. Was a spectator for most of the second half. Reuters
Djordje Petrovic 6/10
CHELSEA RATINGS: Forced into routine saves by Osmajic and Keane in the first half. Was a spectator for most of the second half. Reuters
CHELSEA RATINGS: Forced into routine saves by Osmajic and Keane in the first half. Was a spectator for most of the second half. Reuters
Enjoyed an impressive outing on the right side of defence on his full debut. Dealt well with everything thrown at him and didn't look out of place. Reuters
Alfie Gilchrist 7/10
Enjoyed an impressive outing on the right side of defence on his full debut. Dealt well with everything thrown at him and didn't look out of place. Reuters
Enjoyed an impressive outing on the right side of defence on his full debut. Dealt well with everything thrown at him and didn't look out of place. Reuters
Had a shaky first half, with misplaced passes and rash decisions, but improved in the second. Made an important acrobatic clearance in the 74th minute. Reuters
Axel Disasi 6/10
Had a shaky first half, with misplaced passes and rash decisions, but improved in the second. Made an important acrobatic clearance in the 74th minute. Reuters
Had a shaky first half, with misplaced passes and rash decisions, but improved in the second. Made an important acrobatic clearance in the 74th minute. Reuters
Playing in his preferred left centre-back position, Colwill enjoyed a good outing and looked assured on the ball. PA
Levi Colwill 7/10
Playing in his preferred left centre-back position, Colwill enjoyed a good outing and looked assured on the ball. PA
Playing in his preferred left centre-back position, Colwill enjoyed a good outing and looked assured on the ball. PA
A candidate for the man-of-the-match award, he was solid in defence and exciting going forward in the second half. Whipped in a lovely cross for Broja to open the scoring. Getty Images
Malo Gusto 8/10
A candidate for the man-of-the-match award, he was solid in defence and exciting going forward in the second half. Whipped in a lovely cross for Broja to open the scoring. Getty Images
A candidate for the man-of-the-match award, he was solid in defence and exciting going forward in the second half. Whipped in a lovely cross for Broja to open the scoring. Getty Images
Sat deep, helped break up the few attacks the visitors mustered and helped kickstart attacks. Stayed close to Keane and stopped him from hitting what could have been a dangerous effort in the 23rd minute. Reuters
Moises Caicedo 7/10
Sat deep, helped break up the few attacks the visitors mustered and helped kickstart attacks. Stayed close to Keane and stopped him from hitting what could have been a dangerous effort in the 23rd minute. Reuters
Sat deep, helped break up the few attacks the visitors mustered and helped kickstart attacks. Stayed close to Keane and stopped him from hitting what could have been a dangerous effort in the 23rd min
Hit a lovely dinked pass over the visitors' defence for Palmer to run onto in the 21st minute. Made it 4-0 with a simple tap-in at the back post. AFP
Enzo Fernandez 8/10
Hit a lovely dinked pass over the visitors' defence for Palmer to run onto in the 21st minute. Made it 4-0 with a simple tap-in at the back post. AFP
Hit a lovely dinked pass over the visitors' defence for Palmer to run onto in the 21st minute. Made it 4-0 with a simple tap-in at the back post. AFP
Got his finish all wrong when he tried to dink the ball past the onrushing Woodman in the 21st minute. Whipped in an inviting cross for Silva to head in for the Blues' second goal. Getty Images
Cole Palmer 7/10
Got his finish all wrong when he tried to dink the ball past the onrushing Woodman in the 21st minute. Whipped in an inviting cross for Silva to head in for the Blues' second goal. Getty Images
Got his finish all wrong when he tried to dink the ball past the onrushing Woodman in the 21st minute. Whipped in an inviting cross for Silva to head in for the Blues' second goal. Getty Images
Stung the palms of Woodman with a fierce effort in the 19th minute. Made it 3-0 with a free kick into the top corner. AFP
Raheem Sterling 8/10
Stung the palms of Woodman with a fierce effort in the 19th minute. Made it 3-0 with a free kick into the top corner. AFP
Stung the palms of Woodman with a fierce effort in the 19th minute. Made it 3-0 with a free kick into the top corner. AFP
Endured a frustrating first half and struggled to beat his man or send in productive crosses. Sent in a dangerous cross that almost resulted in a goal on the hour mark. Reuters
Mykhailo Mudryk 6/10
Endured a frustrating first half and struggled to beat his man or send in productive crosses. Sent in a dangerous cross that almost resulted in a goal on the hour mark. Reuters
Endured a frustrating first half and struggled to beat his man or send in productive crosses. Sent in a dangerous cross that almost resulted in a goal on the hour mark. Reuters
Denied by a Hughes block in the 30th minute. Opened the scoring with a beautiful glancing header past Woodman in the 58th minute. Went close to making it two with a header that went just wide minutes later. Getty Images
Armando Broja 8/10
Denied by a Hughes block in the 30th minute. Opened the scoring with a beautiful glancing header past Woodman in the 58th minute. Went close to making it two with a header that went just wide minutes later. Getty Images
Denied by a Hughes block in the 30th minute. Opened the scoring with a beautiful glancing header past Woodman in the 58th minute. Went close to making it two with a header that went just wide minutes
SUBS: (Gilchrist, 61') Scored the second goal with a close-range header at the near post in minutes after coming on. Helped solidify the Blues' defence. Getty Images
Thiago Silva 8/10
SUBS: (Gilchrist, 61') Scored the second goal with a close-range header at the near post in minutes after coming on. Helped solidify the Blues' defence. Getty Images
SUBS: (Gilchrist, 61') Scored the second goal with a close-range header at the near post in minutes after coming on. Helped solidify the Blues' defence. Getty Images
(Mudryk, 61') Had a go from the edge of the penalty area in the 79th minute, but he failed to keep his effort on target. Tested Woodman with a left-footed effort in the 90th minute. PA
Noni Madueke 7/10
(Mudryk, 61') Had a go from the edge of the penalty area in the 79th minute, but he failed to keep his effort on target. Tested Woodman with a left-footed effort in the 90th minute. PA
(Mudryk, 61') Had a go from the edge of the penalty area in the 79th minute, but he failed to keep his effort on target. Tested Woodman with a left-footed effort in the 90th minute. PA
(Palmer, 76') Looked lively after coming on and helped the home side push more in attack. Getty Images
Conor Gallagher N/A
(Palmer, 76') Looked lively after coming on and helped the home side push more in attack. Getty Images
(Palmer, 76') Looked lively after coming on and helped the home side push more in attack. Getty Images
(Broja, 76') Displayed pure striker’s instinct by trying to redirect Madueke’s mishit effort on goal with his first touch after coming on. Reuters
Deivid Washington N/A
(Broja, 76') Displayed pure striker’s instinct by trying to redirect Madueke’s mishit effort on goal with his first touch after coming on. Reuters
(Broja, 76') Displayed pure striker’s instinct by trying to redirect Madueke’s mishit effort on goal with his first touch after coming on. Reuters
(Fernandez, 89') Went close to scoring a debut goal but failed to anticipate the ball falling into his path. Reuters
Michael Golding N/A
(Fernandez, 89') Went close to scoring a debut goal but failed to anticipate the ball falling into his path. Reuters
(Fernandez, 89') Went close to scoring a debut goal but failed to anticipate the ball falling into his path. Reuters
PRESTON RATINGS: Produced a good save to deny Sterling in the 19th minute and did enough to thwart Palmer twice soon after. Forced into a diving save by Gusto in the 80th minute. Couldn’t do a great deal about the goals. Reuters
Freddie Woodman 6/10
PRESTON RATINGS: Produced a good save to deny Sterling in the 19th minute and did enough to thwart Palmer twice soon after. Forced into a diving save by Gusto in the 80th minute. Couldn’t do a great deal about the goals. Reuters
PRESTON RATINGS: Produced a good save to deny Sterling in the 19th minute and did enough to thwart Palmer twice soon after. Forced into a diving save by Gusto in the 80th minute. Couldn’t do a great d
Wasn’t too convincing with his tackle on Sterling in the build-up to Chelsea's fourth goal. Put his body on the line to deny Madueke a goal in the 96th minute. AP
Jordan Storey 5/10
Wasn’t too convincing with his tackle on Sterling in the build-up to Chelsea's fourth goal. Put his body on the line to deny Madueke a goal in the 96th minute. AP
Wasn’t too convincing with his tackle on Sterling in the build-up to Chelsea's fourth goal. Put his body on the line to deny Madueke a goal in the 96th minute. AP
A terrible pass out from the back into the path of Sterling almost cost the visitors in the 17th minute. Made an important block to deny Broja half an hour into the game. Made a goal-line clearance to deny Broja in the 69th minute (no match photo available). Reuters
Andrew Hughes 5/10
A terrible pass out from the back into the path of Sterling almost cost the visitors in the 17th minute. Made an important block to deny Broja half an hour into the game. Made a goal-line clearance to deny Broja in the 69th minute (no match photo available). Reuters
A terrible pass out from the back into the path of Sterling almost cost the visitors in the 17th minute. Made an important block to deny Broja half an hour into the game. Made a goal-line clearance to
Got caught flatfooted for Broja’s goal in the second half. Failed to stay close to Broja and allowed him to go close with another header minutes later. AP
Liam Lindsay 4/10
Got caught flatfooted for Broja’s goal in the second half. Failed to stay close to Broja and allowed him to go close with another header minutes later. AP
Got caught flatfooted for Broja’s goal in the second half. Failed to stay close to Broja and allowed him to go close with another header minutes later. AP
Did well to pinch the ball off Mudryk and halt a Chelsea counterattack in the ninth minute. Enjoyed a good first-half performance against Mudryk but struggled in the second. Reuters
Brad Potts 6/10
Did well to pinch the ball off Mudryk and halt a Chelsea counterattack in the ninth minute. Enjoyed a good first-half performance against Mudryk but struggled in the second. Reuters
Did well to pinch the ball off Mudryk and halt a Chelsea counterattack in the ninth minute. Enjoyed a good first-half performance against Mudryk but struggled in the second. Reuters
Stood up to the task of dealing with Sterling and made a good tackle to stop him in the 13th minute. Had a good chance to run at Gilchrist after the half-hour mark, but he failed to make the most of his chance. AP
Liam Millar 5/10
Stood up to the task of dealing with Sterling and made a good tackle to stop him in the 13th minute. Had a good chance to run at Gilchrist after the half-hour mark, but he failed to make the most of his chance. AP
Stood up to the task of dealing with Sterling and made a good tackle to stop him in the 13th minute. Had a good chance to run at Gilchrist after the half-hour mark, but he failed to make the most of h
Tracked back well to dispossess Sterling at the edge of the penalty area early in the game. Intercepted what looked like a dangerous cross from Sterling in the 53rd minute. Reuters
Alistair McCann 6/10
Tracked back well to dispossess Sterling at the edge of the penalty area early in the game. Intercepted what looked like a dangerous cross from Sterling in the 53rd minute. Reuters
Tracked back well to dispossess Sterling at the edge of the penalty area early in the game. Intercepted what looked like a dangerous cross from Sterling in the 53rd minute. Reuters
Put in a vital tackle to stop Sterling from testing Woodman in the 62nd minute. Made a last-ditch challenge to stop Madueke in the 64th minute. AFP
Ben Whiteman 6/10
Put in a vital tackle to stop Sterling from testing Woodman in the 62nd minute. Made a last-ditch challenge to stop Madueke in the 64th minute. AFP
Put in a vital tackle to stop Sterling from testing Woodman in the 62nd minute. Made a last-ditch challenge to stop Madueke in the 64th minute. AFP
Had the game’s first shot on target with a weak effort in the 18th minute. Caused problems for the home side’s backline with his aerial dominance. AFP
Will Keane - 6/10
Had the game’s first shot on target with a weak effort in the 18th minute. Caused problems for the home side’s backline with his aerial dominance. AFP
Had the game’s first shot on target with a weak effort in the 18th minute. Caused problems for the home side’s backline with his aerial dominance. AFP
Had a chance to play Keane through on goal during the first half, but he chose to have a go at goal himself. Well marshalled by the Blues backline in the second half. Getty Images
Milutin Osmajic 5/10
Had a chance to play Keane through on goal during the first half, but he chose to have a go at goal himself. Well marshalled by the Blues backline in the second half. Getty Images
Had a chance to play Keane through on goal during the first half, but he chose to have a go at goal himself. Well marshalled by the Blues backline in the second half. Getty Images
The least impactful of the visitors' frontline, he did a lot of running but failed to influence the proceedings. PA
Alan Browne 4/10
The least impactful of the visitors' frontline, he did a lot of running but failed to influence the proceedings. PA
The least impactful of the visitors' frontline, he did a lot of running but failed to influence the proceedings. PA
SUBS: (Osmajic, 64') Worked hard by tracking back and tucking in to help in midfield after coming on. Failed to make an impact going forward. Getty Images
Emil Riis Jakobsen 5/10
SUBS: (Osmajic, 64') Worked hard by tracking back and tucking in to help in midfield after coming on. Failed to make an impact going forward. Getty Images
SUBS: (Osmajic, 64') Worked hard by tracking back and tucking in to help in midfield after coming on. Failed to make an impact going forward. Getty Images
(Keane, 64') At fault for the home side’s second goal as he was beaten to the ball at the near post by Silva. Struggled to get involved after coming on. AP
Ched Evans 4/10
(Keane, 64') At fault for the home side’s second goal as he was beaten to the ball at the near post by Silva. Struggled to get involved after coming on. AP
(Keane, 64') At fault for the home side’s second goal as he was beaten to the ball at the near post by Silva. Struggled to get involved after coming on. AP
(Hughes, 74') Intercepted a through pass into the path of Washington late in the game; Duane Holmes (Whiteman, 90') - N/A; Ryan Ledson (McCann, 90') - N/A. Getty Images
Kian Best N/A
(Hughes, 74') Intercepted a through pass into the path of Washington late in the game; Duane Holmes (Whiteman, 90') - N/A; Ryan Ledson (McCann, 90') - N/A. Getty Images
(Hughes, 74') Intercepted a through pass into the path of Washington late in the game; Duane Holmes (Whiteman, 90') - N/A; Ryan Ledson (McCann, 90') - N/A. Getty Images

Sport

Football

Chelsea v Preston player ratings: Broja 8, Palmer 7; Keane 6, Browne 4

Blues advance to the FA Cup fourth-round with a 4-0 win at Stamford Bridge

Olakunle Afolabi

January 07, 2024

  • English
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Armando Broja set Chelsea on their way to a 4-0 FA Cup third-round win over Championship side Preston North End on Saturday, answering manager Mauricio Pochettino's call for the Albania striker to seize his chance.

Broja, whose starts this season have been limited by injury and the presence of Nicolas Jackson who is now with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, scored Chelsea's opener in the 58th minute with a deft header from Malo Gusto's cross.

Broja had the chance for a brace but grazed the top of the bar before Thiago Silva, just off the bench, powered in a header from a Cole Palmer corner in the 66th minute as the Blues turned on the gas after a dull first half.

Raheem Sterling curled in a free kick and five minutes from time Enzo Fernandez turned the ball into an empty net to complete the rout, although he had to wait for a long VAR check before being able to celebrate.

The domestic cup competitions represent Chelsea's only realistic chance of silverware this season with the expensively assembled side lying 10th in the Premier League.

The Blues play Middlesbrough in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Tuesday.

Check out the photo gallery above for the player ratings from Stamford Bridge. To move on to the next slide, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.

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