Match ends, Chelsea 3, Bristol Rovers 2.
Chelsea 3-2 Bristol Rovers
- From the section Football
Striker Michy Batshuayi scored twice to edge Chelsea past a spirited Bristol Rovers and into EFL Cup round three.
The £33m summer signing from Marseille volleyed in, and Victor Moses struck from close range two minutes later.
Peter Hartley halved the lead by heading in a free-kick before Batshuayi restored the hosts' two-goal cushion.
Ellis Harrison scored a penalty and struck the crossbar for League One Rovers, but Chelsea maintained their 100% record under Antonio Conte.
The Premier League side enjoyed the vast majority of possession in the first half, but were denied by excellent goalkeeping from Steve Mildenhall and wasteful finishing.
Batshuayi, initially guilty, took his tally to three goals in three games courtesy of two smart finishes, with the bright Ruben Loftus-Cheek involved in the build-up to both.
Around 4,000 vocal Rovers fans had plenty to cheer with two goals, in addition to spells in the second half when their side caused problems.
That revival persuaded Conte to send on Eden Hazard, John Terry and Oscar in an attempt to preserve Chelsea's lead, while Batshuayi was denied a hat-trick in the closing stages by the referee's assistant's flag.
Line-ups
Chelsea
- 1Begovic
- 34AinaSubstituted forTerryat 77'minutes
- 2Ivanovic
- 24Cahill
- 28Azpilicueta
- 4Fàbregas
- 21Matic
- 15Moses
- 14Loftus-CheekSubstituted forOscarat 82'minutes
- 11PedroBooked at 48minsSubstituted forE Hazardat 75'minutes
- 23Batshuayi
Substitutes
- 8Oscar
- 10E Hazard
- 13Courtois
- 19Diego Costa
- 26Terry
- 29Chalobah
- 41Solanke
Bristol Rovers
- 1Mildenhall
- 2Leadbitter
- 4Lockyer
- 6Hartley
- 3Brown
- 8O Clarke
- 24Sinclair
- 23BodinSubstituted forEasterat 45'minutesBooked at 71mins
- 14Lines
- 29JamesSubstituted forTaylorat 45'minutesBooked at 86mins
- 9HarrisonSubstituted forGaffneyat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Taylor
- 15J Clarke
- 17Easter
- 21Montaño
- 25Puddy
- 27Broom
- 30Gaffney
- Referee:
- Keith Stroud
- Attendance:
- 39,276
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamBristol Rovers
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home28
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home12
- Away3
- Corners
- Home9
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away12
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea 3, Bristol Rovers 2.
Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers).
Attempt missed. Victor Moses (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ollie Clarke.
Attempt blocked. Victor Moses (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Daniel Leadbitter.
Gary Cahill (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers).
Foul by Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea).
Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt saved. Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Oscar replaces Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Lee Brown.
Attempt blocked. Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. John Terry replaces Ola Aina because of an injury.
Attempt missed. César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Eden Hazard replaces Pedro.
Attempt missed. Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Booking
Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Gary Cahill (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers).
Pedro (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Chris Lines (Bristol Rovers).
Attempt missed. Stuart Sinclair (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Rory Gaffney replaces Ellis Harrison.
Attempt missed. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Victor Moses (Chelsea) right footed shot from long range on the right misses to the right.
Foul by Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea).
Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Victor Moses (Chelsea).
Stuart Sinclair (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Cesc Fàbregas.
Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Asmir Begovic.
Attempt saved. Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
