Chelsea avoid Preston slip-up with second-half blitz

Chelsea scored three times in 11 second-half minutes to ease into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-0 win over Preston at Stamford Bridge.

A frustrating showing from Mauricio Pochettino's side, in which they hogged the ball throughout the first half but carved few openings, burst to life 13 minutes after the break with Armando Broja heading in his second goal of the season from Malo Gusto's cross.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

That was followed by two in rapid succession, first from substitute Thiago Silva, who nodded in from Cole Palmer's corner, then another when Raheem Sterling whacked a free-kick beyond the dive of goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, as Preston's accomplished first-half defensive showing faded into memory.

Enzo Fernandez tapped in right at the end from a yard out, a final reminder of the gulf to Ryan Lowe's side who are 14th in the Championship.

Sterling had had the game's first chance, shooting towards Woodman's top corner after 17 minutes, his effort turned behind at the near post. Moments later Palmer should have opened the scoring when he beat the Preston offside trap from Mykhailo Mudryk's lofted pass and tried to lift the ball into the goal, but saw his dinked attempt drop inches wide.

Preston contained Chelsea well for the opening half-hour and carved an opening of their own, Milutin Osmajic darting into the box from a headed flick-on and attempting a finish across Djordje Petrovic, though it was light work for the goalkeeper to drop to his right and save. Will Keane's scuffed shot from the edge of the box was fielded with similar ease.

Fernandez might have done better when he flung his head at Sterling's deflected cross, in the end an easy catch for Woodman as a frustrating first half stubbornly failed to