Aston Villa

Image source, Getty Images

Where did it go wrong for Aston Villa last night? A fantastic home record coupled with a visiting team who had been lacklustre all season should have seen Unai Emery's side safely through to the next round.

"We competed. We started the first 15 minutes creating chances but we didn't score. Maybe it was the key moment. And then they created chances, were clinical, and they scored," Villa boss Emery told Match of the Day.

"In the second half we started trying to score one more, to push and create some chances. We did not do this very clear and they scored the third goal. After that are speed was very good and the mentality as well. Even when we were losing 3-0 we created chances. We have to accept it.

"Chelsea is a very good team, they can play like tonight and get these performances. Of course we are going to try again and focus on the Premier League. We are being consistent there. It is a new challenge, and going for the league as well, it is important to be a contender at the end of the season.

"It's not a surprise because Chelsea can perform like this. We competed, but not over 90 minutes, in some periods. We have to accept it and of course we have to try to analyse and improve things."

Chelsea

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The buzziest person in the Chelsea dressing room was no doubt Conor Gallagher, who scored his first goal of the season at Villa Park last night.

"I think after our last couple of performances everyone was determined to have a good one tonight, and it was. Most importantly it was a win as well," Gallagher told Match of the Day.

"That's what we need every game. The last two games were not up to our standards. Everyone was really up for it and raring to give the fans a good performance, and that's what we did.

"The manager knows the level we can play at. We know how we can play and tonight we showed that. A lot of times this season we haven't been good enough. Also this season we've shown we've been really good against the top teams. So we know how good we can be. Like I said, tonight we showed that."

So, was there relief for the 24-year-old midfielder when the ball hit the back of the net? Yes, was the answer.

He added: "I'd like to score more. This season I haven't done so, so I'd like to get a few more.

"We're really buzzing, Villa are a top team. To beat them tonight, how we did, is brilliant. Hopefully we'll take a lot of confidence into the next game."

This guy here.

Have a watch of the match highlights from Villa Park last night.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea emerged from the crisis that has cast a cloud over the club in stunning fashion as they comprehensively outclassed Aston Villa in their FA Cup fourth-round replay.

Villa's formidable home form this season made them firm favourites to reach the last 16 but Chelsea produced a devastating attacking display to ease the pressure on manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Pochettino's short tenure at Stamford Bridge was under severe scrutiny after the 4-2 home defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday left them languishing in 11th place in the Premier League.

Chelsea's cup performances are rescuing their season, already reaching the EFL Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley on 25 February, while this was surely their best performance of the campaign against a Villa side who have lost only two games out of 16 on home territory.

Conor Gallagher set Chelsea on their way after 11 minutes with a composed right-foot finish at the Holte End, Nicolas Jackson swiftly adding a second with a neat header from Malo Gusto's cross.

Villa's hopes of a comeback were extinguished nine minutes after the interval when Enzo Fernandez curled a magnificent 25-yard free-kick into the top corner, tantalisingly away from the reach of Villa goalkeeper and fellow Argentina World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez.

Substitute Moussa Diaby pulled one back for Villa in stoppage time but it could not even be considered consolation for the home side and Chelsea now face Leeds United at Stamford Bridge in the fifth round.

Off to Villa Park we go first then.

Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea were in dire need of a win to boost what has so far been a pretty dreadful campaign.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, were fresh off a 5-0 Premier League thumping of bottom side Sheffield United.

Phil McNulty watched this one...

FA Cup

Now the fourth round is complete, this is how the fifth round of the FA Cup looks.

Monday, 26 February

Coventry City v Maidstone United 19:45

Tuesday, 27 February

Bournemouth v Leicester City 19:30

Blackburn v Newcastle 19:45

Luton Town v Manchester City 20:00

Wednesday, 28 February

Chelsea v Leeds United 19:45

Nottingham Forest v Man Utd 19:45

Wolves v Brighton 19:45

Liverpool v Southampton 20:00

The Guardian

Chelsea's fourth-round replay triumphant and the video assistant referee letting supporters down are what lead the Guardian this Thursday morning, with some of Six Nations and Tyson Fury news sprinkled in too.

Image source, Guardian

Daily Mirror

It's been a rough old time for Mauricio Pochettino lately but the Chelsea manager "finds salvation in Cup brilliance", writes the Mirror.

On the subject of VAR, Premier League bosses will be asked in a wide-ranging survey how they would fix the technology.

Image source, Mirror

The Daily Express

All aboard. The Daily Express is jumping on the good ship Enzo Fernandez following the Argentina World Cup winner's magnificent free-kick.

Top of the page is a nice shot of Nottingham Forest players enjoying the aftermath of Divock Origi's opening goal at the City Ground.

Image source, Express

The Times

VAR not good enough, Conor Gallagher's goal celebration and words from Brentford boss Thomas Frank make up the back page of The Times this morning.

Frank has said it is "obvious" that England striker Ivan Toney will likely be sold by the club this summer.

Image source, The Times

The Daily Star

Are we having that as a headline?

Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez get the top spot in the Daily Star after scoring two of Chelsea's three goals against Aston Villa last night at Villa Park.

The paper also writes that Manchester United's Marcus Rashford has been told to stop partying if he is to fulfil his potential and get the maximum from his career.

Image source, Daily Star

The Daily Telegraph

A topic we'll discuss in more detail a bit later but the Daily Telegraph leads with Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes' views on VAR and its effect on the in-stadium experience for fans.

Have a read of Simon Stone's full story here.

Image source, Telegraph

Hello, folks. Is there snow where you are yet? Let us know as we go along today.

Wednesday night was packed with joyous scenes for some and utter heartbreak for the others.

Chelsea and Nottingham Forest - well done, you get a ticket to the fifth round of the FA Cup later this month.

Nigeria and Ivory Coast - your ticket is potentially a golden one after booking a place in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

It's Thursday, there's a full Premier League schedule this weekend, so I'm pretty sure a few managers will be with us later on. Who will they be? Stay tuned.

Quick sip of the coffee and a browse through the back pages to start with...

Relived.

Image source, Reuters

Delighted.

Image source, Getty Images

Ecstatic.

Image source, Getty Images

Jubilant.

Image source, Getty Images