Hello and welcome to live coverage of Chelsea’s FA Cup third round tie against Morecambe at Stamford Bridge.
It’s a welcome respite from the relentless Premier League schedule as the Blues will have the chance to rest a few players and rotate their squad for the visit of the League Two side to west London.
But, as we all know, FA Cup third round games can often spring a surprise and this is a potential banana skin for a side like Chelsea who are dreadfully out of form.
On paper, the Premier League side should breeze through but you just never know, especially in a season as unpredictable as 2020/21 has been so far.
Lampard promoted youngsters Tino Anjorin, Henry Lawrence, Lewis Bate, Tino Livramento and Jude Soonsup-Bell to the training squad this week and all five will be hoping for a place in the matchday squad for the game.
With Lampard being able to name nine substitutes and use five of them in the game thanks to a change in the rules, either of the quintet could be in line for some substantial minutes.
Lampard said on Friday that his side cannot afford to be complacent.
“No matter form, status, the FA Cup has a magic that’s been there forever, which means underdogs will turn up, try to win and make things difficult for you,” he told reporters on Friday.
“And considering our current form we have to be even more on guard and worry about ourselves and get ourselves playing well. If we play well and do our job right, we will win the game I believe.
“But we have to respect Morecambe and the FA Cup.”
We will have all the latest build-up from Stamford Bridge ahead of the game with our reports Adam Newson, who is in west London, and Sam Inkersole.
There will be live coverage of the match throughout on the blog below and all the post-match reaction from the manager, including everything Lampard had to say at his press conference after the game.
So don’t go anywhere and stick with us for the afternoon.
Full time
A cruise for Chelsea in the end as they beat Morecambe 4-0 to progress through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Goals from Mount, Werner, Hudson-Odoi and Havertz do the damage. A morale-boosting win for the Blues.
Almost a fifth
Lovely ball in but Giroud can't get a clean connection on the ball and Halstead collects comfortably.
GOAL CHELSEA!
It's 4-0 as Kai Havertz heads home Cesar Azpilicueta's centre. Cherry on the top.
Ten to go [3-0]
Bit of a training session now for Chelsea, who are cruising along here. Good shift from Hudson-Odoi today, who was replaced by Anjorin. Zouma went off for Tomori.
More changes [3-0]
Tino Anjorin is going to get some minutes, as is the lesser spotted Fikayo Tomori
Another Chelsea change
Tammy Abraham is coming on Mason Mount, who got us up and running earlier with the first goal of the game
Double save [3-0]
Excellent double save from Halstead, denies Havertz first and the Pulisic on the follow-up.
Changes for Chelsea [3-0]
Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner are done for the afternoon, Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud enter the fray.
Well wide [3-0]
Ziyech tries a volley from just outside the box but gets it wrong and the ball dribbles wide.
Chance for a fourth [3-0]
Havertz ghosts in behind the Morecambe defence and tries to find Huson-Odoi with a pull back but it's cleared, CHO probably would have his second of the game there if the ball had reached him.
In control [3-0]
Chelsea strutting about now, teasing Morecambe really.
Tino Anjorin and Christian Pulisic have gone to warm up, maybe the youngster might get some minutes?
Changes afoot?
Pulisic has been undertaking a strenuous warm-up for the last five minutes or so, doubt it will be too long before he is introduced. Perhaps for Ziyech given he is still returning from injury.
Tino Anjorin has also now been sent out by Lampard.
Over [3-0]
Ziyech, who has been excellent today, has a go from distance but can't just get enough dip on the ball and it goes over.
GOAL CHELSEA!
3-0 and that should settle it. Lovely floated pass from Ziyech and Hudson-Odoi springs the offside trap, take the ball down and fires home.
An important moment
There have been several reports that Frank Lampard's future at Chelsea partly hinges on getting the best out of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, so that second goal will undoubtedly be a pleasing moment for the Blues head coach.
For me, there's a world in which they play alongside each other upfront but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Half time
Some breathing space for Cheslea thanks to Timo Werner's goal on the stroke of half time, giving his side a 2-0 lead. Mason Mount with the opener.
GOAL WERNER
Ziyech with the deep cross, Havertz with the header down and Werner taps home. That's much needed for the German.
A bit flat [1-0]
Chelsea have been a tad one-paced since they went 1-0 up. All a bit predictable and flat since then, haven't gone for the jugular since Mason Mount's opener.
Over the bar [1-0]
Difficult chance for Werner, who slips as he goes to strike and the ball goes way over the bar.
Interesting [1-0]
Havertz gets his head onto a long throw into the Chelsea box and Kepa has to claw it away. Looked like it was going wide anyway but the German must not have got a call from his keeper there.
The visitors have responded [1-0]
It has taken them going behind to start playing some football and they are starting to gt on the front foot a bit more. Not tested Kepa since that early Phillips cross, however.
Substitutes emerge
Tino Anjorin, Christian Pulisic and Ben Chilwell emerge from the bench to warm up. Can't really blame them!
Lovely goal
Very little backlift from Mount, who strikes into the bottom corner for his second goal of the season from about 20 yards out. Very clean hit. Lampard's side are ahead.