Chelsea And West Ham Make Statements Of Intent In Fa Cup

Goals from Diego Costa, Willian, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and Bertrand Traore underlined Chelsea’s superiority against a much-changed City side who were level at the interval after David Faupala scored an equaliser against the run of play.

West Ham avoided a fifth-round upset with a 5-1 comeback victory at Blackburn.

Rovers’ early lead had been overturned but their start to the second half was promising and they had West Ham under pressure until Taylor chose to take out Victor Moses in a no-man’s land near halfway.

City were resting their big names for their midweek UEFA Champions League tie, while Chelsea were intent on putting everything that they had into the FA Cup.

And, if that wasn’t enough, Payet also looks to have quickly struck up an understanding with new boy Emmanuel Emenike, setting the striker up for the second of his two goals to give Hammers fans further cause for optimism.

West Ham last won the FA Cup in 1980 and finished runners-up in 2006. There won’t be a more exciting individual performance in the FA Cup this year as with even more clinical finishing he’d have created another four.

The visitors’ cause was given a further boost after the break when Chris Taylor was sent off for a second bookable offence just before the hour-mark.

Payet has now scored nine times and set up eight goals in 25 appearances in all competitions for West Ham; the France global has been the main driving force behind the London club’s exciting season.

Chelsea, without injured captain John Terry, are at home to Manchester City, with City manager Manuel Pellegrini, threatening to field a weakened team after the FA bowed to demands from broadcasters to move the game from Saturday.

And it was West Ham who fashioned the opening chance of the game on three minutes when Payet’s inswinging free-kick was cleared into the path of Moses but his effort was deflected wide of the Blackburn goal.

Crystal Palace’s reward for a 1-0 win at Premier League title-chasers Tottenham Hotspur was a plumb away tie with second-tier Reading who shocked top flight visitors West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on Saturday.

Payet was a class above anyone else on Sunday and drew team-mates into his orbit with one of his most dominant displays yet in a West Ham shirt.

“I think you’ve got to win 17 games to win the Europa League, that’s almost half a season”.

Rovers manager Paul Lambert added: “I thought for 55 mins we were very good and well in the game”.

Indeed, it is worth remembering that Blackburn forced Liverpool to a replay in the sixth round of the Cup last season and Rovers have drawn each of their last five against the London club.

“We played great football”. Payet played the ball forward and Emenike coolly rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home for his second to start a stampede of home fans heading for the exit door.