Chelsea 7-1 Grimsby Town, League Cup: Post-match reaction

Chelsea started brightly and with purpose and efficiency, quickly putting any nerves about a potential historic upset to bed with two goals inside of seven minutes. First, a Ross Barkley individual effort found its way past the goalkeeper, then a Reece James cross found Michy Batshuayi, who turned and shot and scored as he tends to do in such games.

Chelsea could’ve piled on a couple more, but instead it were the visitors who found the back of the net next, as a long goal kick was allowed to bounce through the midfield and defense. Matt Green ran onto it and unleashed a simply unstoppable power-drive into the top corner for what was probably the best goal of the night — and that’s saying something.

A period of ascendancy followed from Grimsby, but Chelsea held on and slowly and steadily re-established possession and control. Just before half-time, we added a third thanks to Pedro converting a penalty after Zouma was dragged down.

More of the same was to follow in the second half, as Zouma turned goalscorer to notch Chelsea’s fourth, and the Blues kept up the pressure and control even as we introduced younger and younger players from the Academy.

The tie was long over, but the fun continued all the way to the end, with Reece James and Michy Batshuayi getting goals, and Hudson-Odoi, Anjorin, and Pulisic wasting several golden opportunities. Then CHO got his as well, to set in the final 7-1 scoreline.

Job very well done either way.

KTBFFH

• Back to the 4-2-3-1, with no fewer than 4 Academy graduates starting (Hudson-Odoi, James, Guehi, Gilmour). 6 more were on the bench (Cumming, Tomori, Maatsen, Mount, Abraham, Anjorin).
• Maatsen and Anjorin make their senior debuts, off the bench for the final 25 minutes.
• Scoring: James (1G, 2A), Batshuayi (2G, 1A), Pedro (1G, 1A), Zouma, CHO, Barkley with a goal each. Pulisic adds an assist.
• So who’s on penalty kick duty then? (Pedro taking with Barkley on the pitch...)
• The draw for the fourth round follows shortly
• First home win of the season! First home win for Frank Lampard as manager. Still no clean sheet...
• Next up: Brighton on Saturday at the Bridge in the Premier League
• Carefree

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