Leicester 0-1 Chelsea: The one that saw a TRIPLE sub

This guy loves an FA Cup goal

Traditionally domestic cup games have been used as an opportunity for fringe and academy players to get a look in. And while useful to keep the squad fresh and give as many players an opportunity throughout the season making six changes to the team against opposition higher in the table isn't really best practice. This isn't the Chelsea of old where academy kids don't get a chance.

Frank Lampard has given no less than eight academy products a debut this season. There's no need to experiment for cup games especially on the back of this restart. The team need a little cohesion. This was the time to keep your back-line together, maybe make three changes to give players a rest - and use those five subs when the game is in hand.

How Chelsea got to the break unscathed is little short of a miracle. They looked off the pace and disorganised. Maybe in part due to the number of changes, maybe with the matches coming thick and fast. Facing Manchester City is going to take it out of anyone.

The bromance is real

Lampard laid into his team at the break letting them know their performance was not 'good enough for the Chelsea badge'. He pulled no punches in that dressing room. And when they came back out he only went and pulled a Jose Mourinho - the triple sub. After the match he said he could have made eight or nine changes at the break. Harsh but fair.

Between the personnel changes and that half-time team talk, Chelsea looked a different side. Leicester were almost immediately on the back foot struggling to the spark Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic brought to the midfield.

Just past the hour mark Willian and Cesar Azpilicueta toyed with Chelsea target Ben Chillwell - who was visibly distressed - before swinging in a cross. Barkley with a neat finish slotted past Kaspar Schmeichel to hand Chelsea the lead.

A little post-match tapping up

With the exception of the last few minutes, Chelsea looked the more likely of the two sides to score again. And for my own peace of mind, it would have been nice to get that second goal. But it wasn't to be.

The Blues knocked Leicester out of another FA Cup quarter-final to book at date with Manchester United in the final four. Because Chelsea have not faced them enough times this season.

As for Mason Mount, Billy Gilmour and Reece James -- it just wasn't their day. They've all shown incredible amounts of potential and each have had man of the match performances throughout the season. Lampard was right to take them out of the firing line and focus on the win. They'll learn from this experience and be better for it.

jb xx


RESULT: Leicester 0-1 Chelsea

GOALS: Barkley 63

CHELSEA XI: Caballero, James (Azpilicueta 46), Rudiger, Zouma, Emerson, Mount (Barkley 46), Kante, Gilmour (Kovacic 46), Willian (Pedro 78), Pulisic (Loftus-Cheek 72), Abraham

STAR MAN: Ross Barkley