Callum Hudson-Odoi was Chelsea's star as Frank Lampard's side alleviated into the fa Cup fourth round with a 2-0 home defeat of Nottingham Forest. Hudson-Odoi's sixth-minute opener at Stamford Bridge on Sunday got the Blues off to a flyer and Ross Barkley doubled their lead before half-time.
It was a welcome win for Chelsea, who had lost 3 of their past four home games within the Premier League.
Second-tier side Forest, who was a lot of modified, we're unable to get a glove on the eight-time winners.
Chelsea, who additionally knocked Forest out at this stage last year, opened the scoring too soon.
Quick build-up play led to Hudson-Odoi being gobbled the right, with the England international cutting within and firing a low end through the legs of Yuri Ribeiro to beat Jordan Smith.
The Championship side was awarded a penalty within the twenty-second minute once Alex Mighten was bundled over by Fikayo Tomori, however, a var check showed the lively 17-year-old was offsides.
Chelsea then doubled their lead, Smith parrying Hudson-Odoi's powerful drive, with Barkley inbound late to tuck home the rebound at the near post.
A third nearly arrived on the hour-mark, Smith creating an excellent save to tip Barkley's header onto the post when Hudson-Odoi spread out the Forest defense another time.
Ryan Yates then had a close-range header ruled out for offsides at the opposite finish.
Teenage defender Tariq Lamptey was given another cameo off the bench within the closing stages, once Chelsea nearly got a 3rd through Hudson-Odoi just for Smith to push his attempt wide with the final act of the game.
