In their FA Cup fourth-round match, Chelsea and Aston Villa were unable to break the deadlock and had to settle for a goalless draw.
After defeating Middlesbrough with six goals in their previous game, Mauricio Pochettino’s team advanced to the Carabao Cup final the following month. However, Unai Emery’s Premier League champions proved to be a more formidable opponent as a total of 23 shots from both teams were unsuccessful in producing a winner.
Villa’s best chances were thwarted by John McGinn in both halves, and Emiliano Martinez twice denied Chelsea, leaving Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer frustrated.
In west London, it was the order of the night, with a replay at Villa Park calling.
After ten minutes, Youri Tielemans had a free header from six yards out that he hammered into the ground to give Villa the lead. However, Djordje Petrovic saved it because of the pace at which the ball was taken off the board.
When Douglas Luiz scored from nearly on the goal line, the visiting fans leaped to their feet. However, their celebration was short-lived as VAR determined the midfielder had handled as the ball deflected off Alfie Gilchrist.
Palmer found Madueke, who could have scored more with his low finish after aiming for the corner but firing straight at Martinez instead.
Clement Lenglet then gave Palmer a ridiculous gift. The defender’s square ball was easily cut out by the former Manchester City player, who once more found only the goalkeeper.
The next player to come close was Madueke; following Matty Cash’s dazzle on the right, Palmer was fed by Sterling, who then struck Martinez with a close-range effort.
In what was essentially the last play of the first half, Moussa Diaby darted down the right and found McGinn, who curled a shot that narrowly avoided the crossbar with a sweep of his right boot.
Villa defeated Middlesbrough in the third round of the FA Cup, snapping an eight-game losing streak. However, they had to weather a first half in which Chelsea had the better of the chances, as Pochettino’s team lacked quality in front of goal as they have so often this season.
Halfway through the second half, Palmer attempted to take advantage of another Villa defensive gaffe.
Martinez’s clearance was not high enough and struck Chelsea’s top scorer, who appeared to be in a rush to complete the play. With a sigh of relief, Emery saw that the goalkeeper, who was trying to catch him off guard, completely missed his kick.
The game was getting stretched when Thiago Silva threw his head at a Luiz attempt that was headed for goal.
Ollie Watkins deftly struck a rocket of a shot that Petrovic parried, and the keeper then produced the game’s greatest save, reaching down to save Cash’s left-footed piledriver from the base of the post.
Four minutes from time, McGinn had the opportunity to settle the score and avoid a replay by getting to the near post in time to meet Nicolo Zaniolo’s cross. Nevertheless, the opportunity and the game were lost because he took too many shots at the ball while Silva was applying pressure.
