Chelsea’s nightmare after Christmas continues
When Chelsea final met Brighton in late September, they scored 4 objectives. Cole Palmer bought all of them. Crucially, they have been within the run of being the Premier League’s nice entertainers.
Now the Blues’ output seems to have frozen. This was the fifth time since Christmas the place Chelsea have taken a lead and never seen the win via. Leads have been chucked away for dropped factors towards Fulham, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Man Metropolis and now Brighton.
After their final defeat towards Metropolis, Gary Neville accused Chelsea of lacking a chance on the Etihad and their FA Cup exit adopted the identical story.
They confronted a Brighton aspect who shipped seven final weekend, noticed their goalkeeper chuck one into his internet after 5 minutes on Saturday and even captain Lewis Dunk got here off at half-time to destabilise the Seagulls’ backline even additional. However Chelsea might muster only one shot on track – which got here simply 4 minutes in.
After scoring 4 within the final encounter between these two, Palmer was nullified. Christopher Nkunku’s rustiness was clear to see – his 33 touches was the second-lowest tally out of Chelsea’s starters. He additionally didn’t have a shot all sport.
Nicolas Jackson might come again for the following journey to Brighton on Valentine’s Day however even he has gone eight video games with no objective. How Chelsea get out of this rut of not scoring sufficient and throwing away leads is unclear for the time being.
Sam Blitz
Man Metropolis survive scare – however at a value
Nico Gonzalez got here off injured on his Man Metropolis debut
Manchester Metropolis survived Leyton Orient’s scare from the primary half to progress into the fifth spherical – but it surely got here at a value.
Their £50m Deadline Day signing Nico Gonzalez – who was dubbed as Rodri’s alternative as he continues his comeback from harm – lasted 22 minutes earlier than limping off the pitch on his debut.
Previous to exiting the sphere with what regarded like a hip or decrease again harm, Nico was caught on the ball earlier than Jamie Donley launched his shot from simply contained in the midway line to offer his aspect a shock lead.
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Pep Guardiola loved the ‘actually good’ ambiance in Manchester Metropolis’s 2-1 FA Cup fourth spherical win towards Leyton Orient on the Gaughan Group Stadium
A whirlwind debut for the 23-year-old, who has shortly realized what English soccer might have in-store for him.
“I think Nico understood immediately what the Premier League is and referees,” Pep Guardiola mentioned after the sport. ” I don’t know how hard the shot was but he couldn’t continue.”
Patrick Rowe
Dorgu is Man Utd’s shining gentle
Patrick Dorgu on his Man Utd debut vs Leicester within the FA Cup
Patrick Dorgu was the shining gentle in Manchester United’s dire first-half efficiency towards Leicester.
The £30m signing from Lecce made his debut at Outdated Trafford though was unexpectedly deployed at proper wing-back whereas Diogo Dalot performed on the left.
“He played a lot of time at Lecce on the right and the left,” defined Amorim. “Sometimes you need a left foot on the right side to come inside and connect in a different way, and sometimes you need a right-footer to connect and cross more balls.”
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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim says his aspect have a lot to enhance on however admits generally you deserve a little bit of luck after his aspect beat Leicester Metropolis within the FA Cup
Dorgu linked up properly with Amad Diallo on the appropriate and raided ahead, albeit he could not discover a telling go on one event when he bought into the field.
“He was a little bit anxious in the first touch with the ball,” added Amorim, who substituted Dorgu at half-time. “It’s a different league for him, different speed of the game, but he did well.”
David Richardson
Newcastle increase possibilities of long-awaited Cup success
Callum Wilson celebrates with Bruno Guimaraes after scoring Newcastle’s second objective at Birmingham
It has been 70 years since Newcastle final lifted a significant home trophy – they’re heading in the right direction to win two in a single season.
Eddie Howe’s aspect backed up reaching the Carabao Cup ultimate on Wednesday evening by coming via a tricky check at League One leaders Birmingham Metropolis within the FA Cup fourth spherical.
Newcastle made 9 adjustments but their second-string aspect confirmed character after falling behind contained in the opening 40 seconds and mettle to match the hosts’ robust tackling within the second half.
The one blight on their night was an harm to Dan Burn. “In the last couple of weeks, we seem to have picked up a couple. It would be the last thing [we need] to derail us,” mentioned Howe.
For a membership that is waited 70 years for silverware, the following few months could possibly be nothing in need of historic.
David Richardson
