Chelsea 4 Morecambe 0: Werner and Mount on target as Blues cruise into FA Cup fourth round
TIMO WERNER brought his two month goal drought to an end to seal Chelsea’s place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The £47.5 million striker has been defended by boss Frank Lampard despite not hitting the target since November 7.
But he was finally in the right place at the right time to convert a header across goal from fellow German Kai Havertz a minute before half time to ease pressure on himself and his team.
Chelsea were already leading thanks to a classy Mason Mount opener on 18 minutes but were struggling to turn their domination against League Two opposition into goals.
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And for a team which has been expensively assembled on a recent poor run there was a growing sense of frustration until Werner popped up at the far post.
Chelsea reached the final of last year’s FA Cup and boss Lampard takes the competition extremely seriously. He named a strong side which also included skilful Hakim Ziyech - the first of his six major signings last year.
And it was winger Ziyech’s deep cross from the right wing that sliced open Morecambe’s defence and allowed Havertz time and space to redirect the ball across the face of goal.
Werner was on hand to convert the cross in mid-air using the instep of his right boot. There was no way back for Morecambe after that.
The visitors did provide one momentary scare when the score was 0-0 when winger Adam Phillips caught £72m reserve Chelsea keeper Kepa off guard with a low cross that went behind the Spaniard.
Kepa was forced to scramble back onto his line and rescue the ball before it crossed.
The victory is the first of any kind for Chelsea since December 21 when they beat West Ham 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.
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Homegrown winger Callum Hudson-Odoi was particularly dangerous on the left flank, teeing up Mount for the opener and causing constant problems.
Hudson-Odoi made it 3-0 four minutes into the second half when he timed a run perfectly to latch onto a through ball over the defence by Ziyech before planting a shot past Morecambe keeper Mark Halstead.
Havertz made it 4-0 five minutes from time when he converted a header this time to divert a cross from captain Cesar Azpilicueta into the net from six yards.
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