Ivanovic scores as Chelsea cruise past Brentford
Chelsea 4 Brentford 0
Branislav Ivanovic came off the bench to score on what could be his final appearance for Chelsea as Antonio Conte’s side cruised through the FA Cup fourth-round derby.
Ivanovic, linked with a move to Zenit St Petersburg, grabbed the third goal on 69 minutes as he latched on to a Pedro pass before drilling a firm shot beyond Brentford goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.
Willian’s free-kick and a clinical finish from Pedro put the Blues 2-0 up after just 20 minutes, but Brentford improved after the break and Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic did well to deny Nico Yennaris.
But Ivanovic’s goal killed off any hopes of a comeback, and Michy Batshuayi wrapped it up with a late penalty.
It took a moment of brilliance from Willian to break the deadlock on 14 minutes as he curled an inch-perfect free-kick into the top right-hand corner, though Brentford were unhappy that Lasse Vibe was penalised.
There was no debating the second goal, however, as Pedro latched on to Batshuayi’s through ball before slipping a shot past Bentley.
The Bees keeper twice denied Ruben Loftus-Cheek as Chelsea dominated the rest of the first half – but Dean Smith’s side were more competitive after the break, and when Yennaris fought his way through inside the box, only the alert Begovic prevented him from making life uncomfortable for Chelsea.
Instead, the Blues were a regular threat on the break, with Loftus-Cheek lifting the ball on to the top of the crossbar after Willian’s dynamic run through midfield.
Ivanovic’s goal was greeted by a rapturous ovation – though not matched by his own relatively muted celebration – and the Serb had a further impact when he was brought down by Yoann Barbet and Batshuayi blasted home the spot-kick.
Brentford had attempted to change things by bringing on Jota, who went close with a free-kick, and Scott Hogan, the latter’s first appearance for the Bees since West Ham firmed up their interest in him.
Chelsea: Begovic; Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta (Kenedy 70); Pedro (Costa 76), Chalobah, Fabregas, Ake; Willian (Ivanovic 64), Batshuayi, Loftus-Cheek.
Subs not used: Eduardo, Moses, Matic, Hazard.
Brentford: Bentley; Egan, Dean, Bjelland; Colin, McEachran (Kerschbaumer 77), Woods, Yennaris, Barbet; Sawyers (Jota 65); Vibe (Hogan 65).
Subs not used: Bonham, Field, Clarke, Hofmann.
