FA Cup - MK Dons 1-5 Chelsea: Oscar hat-trick sends the Blues into FA Cup fifth round - 5 things we learned

Brazilian playmaker Oscar netted a first half hat-trick as the Premier League champions dominated the FA Cup clash 

  

 

Chelsea cruised into the FA Cup fifth round with an easy win at MK Dons.
Oscar scored a hat-trick and Eden Hazard and Bertrand Traore were also on target as the Blues stormed through against their Championship hosts.

Chelsea missed a host of chances before Oscar finally converted Diego Costa's pass to make it 1-0 in the 15th minute.

Darren Potter responded with a deflected strike to bring MK Dons level but Oscar scored twice more before the break to complete his treble.

Hazard finally scored his first goal of the season from the spot in the 55th minute before the Belgian teed up Traore to open his account for Chelsea.

  One: Oscar celebrates scoring the opening goal 

1. Chelsea not taking any chances

Chelsea's senior stars hoping for the odd rest here and there between now and the end of the season might have to wait. Their poor league form has placed even more importance on the remaining competitions and they can't afford to take any risks.

That much was clear again in the strong line-up Guus Hiddink picked to face the Championship strugglers.

Chelsea have a host of hugely promising youngsters hoping for appearances in games like this but it simply doesn't look like that is going to happen this season with Hiddink's tasked with saving their season.

Mike Hewitt Two: Darren Potter equalises for the hosts

2. What's happened to Nemanja Matic?

What has happened to Nemanja Matic? He was once a powerhouse midfielder who could destroy everything in his path, was the Premier League's best holding midfielder and announced himself by outshining

Yaya Toure on his Chelsea league debut in a titanic battle at the Etihad.

At MK Dons, he made a half-hearted attempt to block Darren Potter's speculative effort and only ended up deflecting the ball into his own net. It was another sign of his fall.

Clive Mason Three: Oscar celebrates scoring his team's second goal 

 

3. David Martin impressed, despite conceding five

MK Dons keeper David Martin was a big reason Chelsea were limited to three first-half goals. The FA Cup can be an opportunity for players from sides lower down the leagues and football pyramid to put themselves in the shop window. Martin grabbed that opportunity with a number of top saves before even he could no longer keep them at bay.
One to deny Diego Costa inside the first five minutes from point blank range was exceptional.

Three: Oscar completes his hat-trick 

4. Eden Hazard's drought is finally over

At last, the drought is over. And how badly Eden Hazard needed that goal. It may have just been a penalty and the fourth goal in an easy cup win against Championship opposition but you could see how much Hazard's first goal of the season meant to him and his teammates.
Having missed a couple of spot-kicks this season, and a first-half one-on-one, he seemed to need convincing to take this one. Once he did and dispatched it – to finally claim his 50th Chelsea goal – all 10 outfield players rushed to congratulate him while Hazard turned to blow kisses towards and salute the Blues fans. It seemed like a release of emotion and huge weight off his shoulders.

Five: Eden Hazard scores from the penalty spot 

5. Bertrand Traore lives up to hype

There has been a lot of fuss over Bertrand Traore, with the Burkino Faso youngster at the centre of a FIFA probe that could land Chelsea with a transfer ban. His name has also been on Guus Hiddink's lips.

The Chelsea interim boss reckons the versatile forward is a genuine option up front for Chelsea if they find themselves short up top.

He showed the sort of finishing ability that has caught Hiddink's eye with a clinical strike when he scored his first Chelsea goal from Eden Hazard's cutback to make it 5-1.

Six: Bertrand Traore celebrates scoring Chelsea's fifth 

 MK Dons

MARTIN 8

With defence AWOL Martin produced heroics to keep score down.



SPENCE 5

Had a torrid time chasing Hazard. Never got near him.



MCFADZEAN 4

Error led to opener and continued to look nervous.



WALSH 5

Another who had a tough day as Chelsea swarmed over the hosts.



LEWINGTON 7

Dons' best defender and his experience showed at times.



POTTER 6

Gave hosts hope with deflected goal but also conceded penalty.



FORSTER-CASKEY 5

Had couple of goal attempts but repeatedly failed to track back.



MURPHY 5

Got no change out of an improved Branislav Ivanovic.



CARRUTHERS 5

Some promising moments but too often made wrong final choice.



HALL 7

MK Dons' brightest spark. Caused Chelsea problems with his pace.



BOWDITCH 4

Hardly got a kick up front against Terry or Cahill.



SUBS:


Williams (for Murphy 67) 5

Maynard (for Bowditch 76) 5

Powell (for Carruthers 82) 6

Chelsea

COURTOIS 7

Unlucky for goal but number of decent saves too.



IVANOVIC 7

Solid, reliable and no nonsense. Like the old Ivanovic.



CAHILL 7

Returned to side with trademark display of key tackles and blocks.



TERRY 7

Troubled by pace a couple of times but otherwise a cruise.



BABA 6

Got forward but didn't make most of his crossing chances.



MATIC 6

Didn't cover himself in glory with his attempt to block equaliser.



FABREGAS 7

Sat deep and dictated play. A stroll for the Spaniard.



OSCAR MOTM 9

Two bad misses but responded with a brilliant hat-trick.



LOFTUS-CHEEK 7

Confident, energetic display. Set up second with run and pass from midfield.



HAZARD 7

Full of running on first start for a month and finally scored.



COSTA 6

Missed two sitters but still made an impact, setting up opener.



SUBS:


Traore (for Costa 57) 7

Willian (for Oscar 64) 5

Pedro (for Hazard 64) 5