[themaclad]

Chelsea 4 Broja, Silva, Sterling, Fernandez Preston North End 0

Chelsea line-up: Petrović; Gilchrist (Silva, 61), Disasi, Colwill, Gusto; Caicedo, Fernández (Golding, 89); Sterling, Palmer (Gallagher, 76), Mudryk (Madueke, 61); Broja (Deivid, 76). Subs not used: Bettinelli, Bergström, Maatsen, Williams.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes (Best, 74); Potts, Browne, Whiteman (Holmes, 87), McCann (Ledson, 88), Millar; Osmajić (Riis, 64), Keane (Evans, 64). Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Frøkjær, Woodburn.

Attendance: 39,705 (5,961 PNE fans)

Referee: Mr T Bramall.

Top day although having been up for 20 hours does knacker you a bit, early appearence on BBC I Player which seem to enhance my bald patch, journey down took in a detour of leafy foggy Cheshire due to an inability of a lorry not to hit a motorway bridge.

A wander round the Old Brompton cemetary interesting place for those that are still living that is, some exceedingly old graves in there.
Slightly over the top security but almost decent front row seats.
Team wise, raised a smile when they read out the home side, Caicedo, Fernandez, Sterling, Palmer and Mudryk not much change out of 300 million and on the bench for PNE Ben Woodburn. Fair play to Potch put out a strongish side
First half did all that was expected of them defended well, only two good chances for Chelsea, Sterling brought a good save from Sterling and Palmer missed a sitter, a couple of half chances Keane with a tame shot and Osmajic who maybe should have taken into a couple of strides further but comfortable save from the keeper.
Millar was a handful in the first period gave the young full back a tough time, but it was a well marshalled home defence with Disasi who never wasted a ball, he is a man who was truly made from rock, he is a giant.
Scoreless at half time and were well in the tie.
Early run by Millar but then the class of the home side eventually shone through, three goals in about 8 minutes killed the tie stone dead, for a side who are apparently crap in the air, the first two goals came from headers, first ball in from the left good header by Broja, second Tiago made a late run at a corner no ne picked him up, past Woodman at the near post, third Steling free kick which was always going in, after that it was damage limitations, they only got one they could have scored a few more. Fernandez tapped in from close range disallowed  by the linesman  but following a 12 hour VAR check it was given.
Millar, McCann were exceptional in the first period but it's a different game as you go up againt top tier sides, however Championship fans are far superior to Prem fans, ours were different class yesterday quite magnificent.