FA Cup: Michy Batshuayi brace ensures Blues bash Newcastle 3-0

Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi (second from right) celebrates his goal with teammates during a FA Cup match against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge in London yesterday. Chelsea won 3-0. Pic/AFP

Michy Batshuayi scored twice as Chelsea marched on in the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge. Defeat by Arsenal last Wednesday saw the Blues eliminated from the League Cup at the semi-final stage.But Chelsea avoided elimination from a second cup competition in a week as Batshuayi's first-half double and a brilliant Marcos Alonso free-kick ensured progression to today's fifth-round draw.

A second win from eight games this month, not including the third-round penalty shootout victory over Norwich, eased talk of crisis, on the field at least. Antonio Conte has insisted he is happy at Chelsea, but did little to diffuse talk of friction with the club hierarchy. The Belgium striker now has 10 goals this season. With 14 of his 25 appearances coming off the substitutes' bench.

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