Hudson-Odoi shines as Chelsea see off Forest

Chelsea 2 Forest 0

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Goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ross Barkley put Chelsea through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Hudson-Odoi set the tone with his second goal of the season just six minutes in – a year to the day since the Blues beat the same opposition by the same scoreline at the same stage of the competition – taking a touch to cut inside and beat goalkeeper Jordan Smith at his near post after good work from Pedro.

Chelsea dictated much of the play throughout, though they suffered a scare as referee Peter Bankes awarded a penalty for Forest midway through the opening period after Fikayo Tomori brought down Alex Mighten, only for VAR to overturn the decision due to an offside in the build-up.

And the impressive Hudson-Odoi was involved again shortly after the half-hour mark when he unleashed a low drive that was parried by Smith but only into the path of fellow England international Barkley, who reacted quickly to steer in and double the Blues’ lead.

The pair linked up again after the break, when Hudson-Odoi swapped flanks with Pedro, though Barkley’s header from the teenager’s floated cross could only find the post.

Forest barely looked like finding a breakthrough and the margin should perhaps have been larger, if not for the profligacy of striker Michy Batshuayi, who spurned a couple of chances at the back post.

Manager Frank Lampard also brought on youngster Tariq Lamptey for his first senior appearance at home.

And Hudson-Odoi almost capped off his excellent display with another goal as the last kick of the game, which Smith kept out well down low to his right, though Chelsea’s progression to the fourth round had already been assured.