In the end, Chelsea easily defeated League Two Morecambe 5-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The Premier League heavyweights easily defeated their inferior opponents, distorting the scoreline with a three-goal burst in seven minutes in the second half. The triumph didn't earn three shouts, but maybe two.
Few members of Chelsea's B squad made a compelling argument to be promoted to the Premier League XI in a performance that guaranteed the club's spot in the FA Cup fourth round.
The events of the game
With the confidence of a team 87 league spots ahead of their rivals, Chelsea began Saturday's match. Before finally giving in to the increasing strain, the fourth-tier strugglers spent the first fifteen minutes mostly confined to their own half.
The unconventional tactic used by Morecambe captain Yann Songo'o to block Joao Felix's cross was to automatically raise both arms and lock them in an upright stance, as if he were about to jump into an unseen swimming pool. However, Christopher Nkunku did not penalize the skipper for his mistake.
As the Shrimps goalkeeper maintained parity, the French attacker blasted a low effort into Harry Burgoyne's wingspan.
The first half concluded with a cricked neck for those inside Stamford Bridge, who were always watching Morecambe's half of the field. However, as Chelsea sent off a barrage of strikes, Derek Adams' team fought hard, dragging a red shirt in front of the ball. Unfortunately for the determined visitors, Callum Jones unintentionally deflected Tosin Adarabioyo's pot shot past his goalkeeper in the 40th minute because he didn't aim to block the speculative effort.
Within five minutes of the restart, Nkunku made up for his misplaced spot kick. With a touch inside his box that was so heavy it could as well have been a pass for Renato Veiga, Jones highlighted the caliber of Chelsea's opponents. Nkunku tapped away the rebound after Burgoyne thwarted the Portuguese midfielder's solid effort.
In the last twenty minutes, Morecambe finally slumped to the mat after being held against the ropes for over an hour. Tosin added his second goal of the game, Chelsea's third, with a sweeter long-range effort that didn't need a deflection to fool Burgoyne.
The score was 5-0 as Joao Felix quickly rediscovered his range and curled in two finishes that were separated by less than two minutes.
Morecambe had the opportunity to provide their raucous traveling fan base with something to talk about besides their despised owners. The visitors' final opportunity was created by the appropriately called Hallam Hope on a rare forward in the 88th minute, but he tamely pushed the ball into Filip Jorgensen's welcome gloves.
Marc Guiu poor performance
Marc Guiu utterly failed to leave his mark on a day when Tyrique George displayed some potential footwork, especially after an under-lapping full-back was introduced to deflect some of the defensive concentration, and Joao Felix scored a brace.
Having scored six goals in his last five games with his explosive style, the former Barcelona striker finished the game with 11 touches. Even that meager total—the fewest of any outfield player to play the entire ninety minutes—seemed too high given the contribution he made.
Encased in a sea of Morecambe red jerseys, tucked down in a block so low it occasionally strayed into the Shed End, Guiu was utterly cut off from the rest of his teammates for extended periods of Saturday's match.
Although Nicolas Jackson's recent slump in play might present a path to the first team, Guiu didn't do much to indicate he should be starting in the top division of England.
Christopher Nkunku delves farther into his melancholy depression
Despite his desire to deny it, Christopher Nkunku is currently at this level. The £52 million acquisition and former Bundesliga top scorer has been Chelsea's B-team's reluctant talisman. Only three of his 13 starts this season have come in the Premier League.
With his composed performance on Saturday, Nkunku scored his 11th goal in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and Europa Conference League. He has taken full advantage of these cup appearances. But the Frenchman could not even bring himself to smile.
He might have been trying to make a point, or perhaps his missed penalty in the first half was still bothering him. Nkunku is reportedly keen to leave Stamford Bridge in order to play against teams a little higher up the professional pyramid than 91st, according to rumors that have gotten stronger this month. Maresca maintains that he wants his disgruntled striker to stay, despite Barcelona being mentioned as a possible destination.
It's unclear if Nkunku can tolerate spending a another six months with the understudies.
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