Chelsea are into the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley after thrashing League One bottom club Port Vale 7-0 at Stamford Bridge.
After four defeats in a row and an international break which saw the club post a record financial loss as well as Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella make uncomfortable headlines, Liam Rosenior and Chelsea needed a lift. This FA Cup tie provided it.
Rosenior and Chelsea won’t have it so easy back here next Sunday when Man City visit in the Premier League but this was a timely boost for the decisive run-in, in which the Blues will target a first FA Cup success since 2018 and a top-five finish for Champions League football next season.
Any prospect of an upset from a Vale side 61 places below Chelsea in the pyramid was effectively squashed after just 64 seconds when Jorrel Hato capitalised on a poor punch from goalkeeper Joe Gauci.
Vale – who had shocked Premier League Sunderland in the previous round – seemed to be getting a foothold in the game when poor defending from Liam Gordon allowed Pedro Neto to find Joao Pedro for a sharp finish.
Game over? It was when Cole Palmer, wearing the captain’s armband, diverted a third in just before half-time off Jordan Gabriel after Malo Gusto’s shot was parried.
Jorrel Hato celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after giving Chelsea an early lead against Port Vale
Confidence restored, Chelsea stepped up a gear after the break, with Tosin towering to head in number four after Estevao clipped a post. The Brazilian struck the woodwork again before unmarked Andrey Santos powered in another header for Chelsea’s fifth.
Estevao did eventually get his goal – although he had to wait for a long VAR check to finally correct a narrow offside call against him when he followed up Alejandro Garnacho’s strike against an upright.
And Garnacho was not to be denied either, winning a penalty off Tyler Magloire before sticking it away himself with the last kick of the game for Chelsea’s seventh.
Andrey Santos scores Chelsea’s fifth goal against Port Vale
It was a bruising, brutal ending to what had been a fantastic run by Port Vale to their first FA Cup quarter-final in 72 years.
With relegation from League One now highly likely, boss Jon Brady will hope this cup run can be a galvanising inspiration as they try to rebuild through the summer and into next season.
Rosenior will hope the result can give his Chelsea side an instant impact.
Rosenior pleased with Chelsea ‘application’
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior:
“I was very happy with the application and the intensity of the team. Obviously we have outstanding players but the way we chased, the way we tackled, how it gave us the basis to go on and win the game.
“We can still have an outstanding season in terms of winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League.”
On Palmer being captain: “It’s a natural step for Cole. He shows leadership. You have different types of leadership. He’s so brave and will take the ball on the pitch that’s what reflects what I want in my team.”
Brady: We’ve created a huge amount of history
Port Vale boss Jon Brady:
“We set out some goals to try not to concede in the first 20 minutes. To concede in the first minute was really tough. Three set-pieces as well. Overall, where we’re at and where they’re at it shows the levels. If that’s not inspiring to our players, to me, to our coaching staff to try to strive to be better everyday – can we aspire to be better everyday?
“We’ve created a huge amount of history for the club. To beat Bristol City and then Sunderland, what a week that was for the football club. We’ve created memories for a lifetime for a lot of our fans and to have 6,000 of them here today, we’re hugely appreciative.”
What’s coming up?
Chelsea host Man City live on Sky Sports on Sunday April 12, kick-off 4.30pm.
Port Vale are back in League One action on Tuesday night at home to Rotherham, live on Sky Sports+; kick-off 7.45pm.
