Bristol Rovers 3-2

Guardian:
Michy Batshuayi leads Chelsea past Bristol Rovers and into third round
Chelsea 3 - 2 Bristol Rovers

Paul MacInnes at Stamford Bridge

Antonio Conte was made to feel a little sticky under his starched collar on this sweltering summer night as his makeshift Chelsea side were given a real game by the League One new boys Bristol Rovers.

A Michy Batshuayi double and a simple finish from Victor Moses looked to have been enough for Chelsea to win the game in the first half. But a towering header from Peter Hartley brought the deficit back to two at half‑time and, when Rovers converted a penalty early in the second half, the pressure was thrown back on Chelsea. While his side held on to the win, Conte will now be asking questions about which of his irregulars will be up to the task of meeting the club’s ambitions this season.

“It’s a pity,” the Italian said after the match, “because we were dominating this game and then we suffer. We created a lot of chances in this first half to score many goals but I don’t like when you concede two goals in this situation with a free-kick and with a penalty. We need to understand that when you have the opportunity to kill the game you must take it.”

Conte made six changes from the team that started the victory against Watford last weekend with Cesc Fàbregas returning to the starting line-up after his weekend assist and the summer signing Batshuayi earning his first start since his summer move from Marseille. There were also call-ups for the academy graduates Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ola Aina, with the left‑back making his full senior debut. The Rovers manager, Darrell Clarke, meanwhile, made only one change from the draw at Southend, with the winger Billy Bodin replacing James Clarke.

Conte, as is his wont, was permanently agitated from the first whistle, constantly gesticulating and bellowing instructions even though the noise from a lively Stamford Bridge crowd, attracted by reduced tickets prices for this match, made it unlikely anyone would hear him.

Batshuayi had already missed one good chance by the time he opened the scoring in the 29th minute. With Rovers regularly camped in their own box it had seemed only a matter of time before Chelsea pushed enough numbers on to make a difference. In the end it was Nemanja Matic who cut through, running past the right-back Daniel Leadbitter and cutting the ball straight back on to Batshuayi’s left foot for the Belgian to drive the ball into the roof of the net.

One became two only two minutes later. This time it was Pedro toasting Leadbitter and, though his cross missed everyone in the six-yard box, César Azpilicueta was able to stretch and get a toe on it at the far post to turn it back across. This time Moses was ready and waiting and able to apply the finish.

Just when it seemed as if Conte would have nothing more to point about, Rovers got themselves back in the game. A foul on the Chelsea left gave Chris Lines a decent free-kick opportunity. Rovers’ own youth team product swung in a beautiful delivery and the left-back Hartley rose John Terry-like to power home. Three minutes later Lines was at it again but the promising young forward Ellis Harrison could only head off target.

Chelsea restored their two-goal lead soon enough. Fàbregas started this move, his through-ball finding Loftus-Cheek in the box. The 20-year-old spun beautifully to elude his marker and cut the ball back once again, and Batshuayi was ready to score his second of the game from six yards.
Despite being in the ascendant as the whistle blew, Clarke opted to shake things up at half-time. His double substitution brought last season’s top scorer Matty Taylor off the bench and the switch immediately paid dividends. Trapping a long pass on his chest in the 48th minute, he pivoted and released the midfielder Stuart Sinclair past Chelsea’s high defensive line. Pedro was the man tracking back and a clumsy shove in the box drew a penalty from Keith Stroud. Harrison stepped up and coolly tucked the ball away.

Suddenly it was all Rovers. Harrison saw a piledriver go narrowly over from 18 yards and, shortly afterwards, Jermaine Easter forced a sprawling save from Asmir Begovic. Chelsea all of a sudden began to look shaky, with the energy and control visibly dropping from the home side. However, with Conte on the touchline, this situation was never going to be left to drag. First he brought on Eden Hazard, then Terry and alongside the more experienced heads such as the dominant Branislav Ivanovic, they kept a lid on any pressure. Batshuayi even had a chance to seal a hat-trick in added time but his rebound finish was adjudged to have been offside.

Clarke, who has brought Rovers from non-league to League One in two seasons was pleased with his side’s efforts. “It was a compliment that Chelsea played a strong side,” he said. “We rode our luck a lot but the character of the lads showed, they had a right good go. No bones about it, though, Chelsea deserved to win the game.”

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 3 Bristol Rovers 2: Antonio Conte survives scare after Italian is handed early lesson
 Sam Wallace, chief football writer, at stamford bridge

There are not many sides in the world who score one goal against teams managed by Antonio Conte, so to go to Stamford Bridge and score twice against his Chelsea is no mean achievement if, like Bristol Rovers, you happen to play your football in League One.

The club that came up from League Two in third place last season gave Chelsea’s new Italian manager perhaps his most profound lesson yet in the ways of English football: a club 58 places and two divisions below his own and yet they fought for the whole 90 minutes. More than once in this game it looked like manager Darrell Clarke’s side were finished - but they fought to stay in the tie.
Their second goal, from Ellis Harrison from the penalty spot, meant that it was a nervous second half for Chelsea and one in which Conte eventually brought on Eden Hazard, John Terry and Oscar from a very strong bench.

Michy Batshuayi, the £31 million man from Marseille, scored twice for Chelsea, and there was another from Victor Moses but twice trailing by a two-goal margin, Rovers never gave up.
Afterwards, Conte accepted that his defence needed improvement with the club chasing Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly. There was an injury for left-back Ola Aina which Conte said he hoped was not serious. “I think it’s right to pay the player in the right way. If a player is a great player it is important to pay him in the right way.” He added: “I don’t think when you concede two goals in this situation, a free-kick and a penalty [it is good]. We must understand that when you have the opportunity to kill the game, you must kill the game.” Victory gives Chelsea a place in the third round of the EFL Cup, and with no European commitments this is a competition they will seek to win this season. Certainly they will have to be better than they were against Rovers when their early domination gave way and there were times when the midfield especially looked weak.

Clarke paid tribute afterwards to his team’s determination, many of whom followed him from his previous job in non-league and are in just their second season of league football. “It just goes to show there are good players in the lower leagues. Sometimes you just need the opportunity.” There was a first start for Batshuayi for his new club. Playing just behind him, his first minutes of the season was Ruben Loftus-Cheek, occupying the No 10 role and performing well in the first half, albeit against a different standard of opponent than Chelsea are accustomed to.

Conte urged his players on as if this were the second leg of a Champions League semi-final rather than the second round of a competition he probably had not heard of until a few weeks ago. On 29 minutes when Loftus-Cheek glanced over his shoulder and played in Nemanja Matic down the left channel. He crossed for Batshuayi to belt on in on the volley with his left foot.

The second followed soon after when Cesar Azpilicueta stretched to keep in Pedro’s cross from the right and from close range Victor Moses scored. It was his first goal for Chelsea since May 2013 when he scored in the Europa League semi-final second leg 3-1 win over Basel. That was a long time ago and three seasons on loan for the now 25-year-old means that he is a strange fit at Chelsea but Conte seems to like what he has to offer for now.

The Chelsea manager was desperately trying to reorganise his defence three minutes later ahead of a free kick from the right from Chris Lines which was met well by Peter Hartley who headed it past Asmir Begovic. Batshuayi scored a second, and Chelsea’s third, from Loftus-Cheek’s pass after he had been picked out from midfield by Cesc Fabregas four minutes before half-time.

The Rovers manager Clarke made two changes at the break, bringing on the 34-year-old striker Jermaine Easter and another forward, Matty Taylor, and within two minutes the away team had their second goal. This time it was the excellent midfielder Stuart Sinclair who drove forward into the Chelsea area and was brought down by Pedro for a penalty.

That was converted in front of the travelling fans by the Wales Under-21 striker Ellis Harrison and improbably, Rovers were back in the tie. Soon after Harrison hit the bar with a volley. Easter struck another shot just over the bar. Chelsea were rattled and it showed in Conte’s pensiveness on the touchline. Batshuayi had a late third goal disallowed and Conte’s team prevailed in the end.

Match details

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Aina; Fabregas, Matic; Moses, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro; Batshuayi.
Subs: Courtois (g), Oscar, Hazard, Costa, Terry, Chalobah, Solanke.

Bristol Rovers (4-1-4-1): Mildenhall; Leadbitter, Lockyer, Hartley, Brown; Lines; Bodin, Sinclair, Clarke, James; Harrison.

Subs: Puddy (g), Taylor, Clarke, Easter, Montano, Broom, Gaffney.
Referee: Keith Stroud.

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Mail:

Chelsea 3-2 Bristol Rovers: Michy Batshuayi marks full debut with a brace as League One visitors refuse to back down at Stamford Bridge

By MATT BARLOW

Having seen his Chelsea survive an EFL Cup scare and suffer another defensive injury, Antonio Conte cleared the way for John Terry to discuss an international recall with the England manager.
Conte revealed he would not stand between his captain and Sam Allardyce if that is really what Terry wants.
There is nothing to suggest he does want to add to his haul of 78 caps when he will be 36 in December and fighting for his club future.

Nevertheless, Conte said: 'I am a former coach of a national team and because of that I know this situation. I prefer it to be solved between Sam Allardyce and John Terry. I think it's the right way.
'I can tell you John has a great attitude and is working very hard and I am happy with his commitment.'

Terry came off the bench near the end of this 3-2 win against Bristol Rovers, to replace young full-back Ola Aina, injured on his debut to add to the defensive woes.
'I hope Aina's injury is not a serious injury,' said Conte, who is trying to find ways of strengthening his squad.

'We remain with only four defenders for the back line. We are a bit worried.
'About this, the market I prefer to speak with the club and I repeat and we stay in contact every day. We are trying to find the right solution to improve this team.'
Perhaps owner Roman Abramovich, looking down from his corporate box, will have seen enough of a wobble to release an extra few million from the vaults for a central defender before next week's deadline.

A centre half and a left-back are fast becoming matters of some urgency.
Twice Rovers slipped two goals behind but refused to wilt and responded, first with a header by Peter Hartley from a set-piece, and then a penalty conceded by Pedro and converted by Ellis Harrison.
They even threatened an equaliser before Eden Hazard, Oscar and Terry came off the bench and soothed the nerves.

Beyond these defensive issues there were two more goals for Michy Batshuayi and a first Chelsea goal in more than three years for Victor Moses.
Conte's team were largely dominant. Despite making six changes they were strong and came out bristling with purpose and something to prove.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, influential in the No 10 role, saw an early effort deflected wide.
Batshuayi, having scored his first Chelsea goal at Watford, forced the first save of many from Steve Mildenhall.
This was an inventive chip from Batshuayi who should have found the net with far simpler chance soon after.

He rolled clear of his marker, clear on goal only to drag a shot wide.
Loftus-Cheek thumped a shot against the foot of a post with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Rovers took heart from their resistance but as soon as they inched out of defence they went behind to two goals in as many minutes.

First, Loftus-Cheek held up the ball, Matic drove to the line and cut a cross to Batshuayi who hooked the opener high into the net from eight yards.

Seconds later it was 2-0. Pedro's deep cross was turned back into the centre by Cesar Azpilicueta, raiding forward from right-back, and Moses tapped in a simple finish from close range.
The League One team took it as a cue to respond. From a free-kick, expertly delivered by Chris Lines, centre-half Hartley climbed above Loftus-Cheek and headed past Asmir Begovic.

Three goals in six minutes and Rovers' lone striker Harrison almost equalised, heading wide.
Five minutes before half-time and Chelsea restored the two-goal margin.
Again Loftus-Cheek was influential, taking a pass from Cesc Fabregas and evading Hartley before presenting Batshuayi with a chance he could not miss.

Bristol Rovers made two attacking changes at half-time, sending on Jermaine Easter and Matty Taylor, and were soon back in the game.
Taylor won the ball from Aina and released Stuart Sinclair, who was bundled over by Pedro, scrambling back to cover.

Referee Keith Stroud awarded a penalty and Harrison smashed it past Begovic.
Ten minutes into the second half and Harrison clipped the bar with a fierce half-volley from the edge of the box.
Chelsea were wobbling and required a fingertip save at full-stretch from Begovic to deny Easter. Sinclair pulled a low shot wide from 20 yards.

At the other end, Batshuayi twice went close to a hat-trick goal and thought he had the match-ball when forcing a cross from Hazard into the goal at the second attempt.
Off he dashed to celebrate but the offside flag killed his delight.



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