Chelsea suffered an FA Cup fourth-round scare on Saturday when they had to come from behind and needed extra time and a penalty save to beat League One Plymouth with goals from Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso.

Plymouth shocked the Premier League side when defender Macaulay Gillesphey nodded the ball home from a free-kick in the eighth minute, sparking wild celebration and a shower of green balloons from the travelling fans.

Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel had tested positive for Covid-19 and missed the game while his expensively assembled squad looked rusty and heavy-footed after a fortnight’s break.

Chelsea hit the woodwork three times in the first-half, twice through Mateo Kovacic and again through Callum Hudson-Odoi but Plymouth’s well drilled defence kept the European champions at bay until the 41st minute when quality told. Azpilicueta scored with a neat backheel from a low Mason Mount cross.

Plymouth absorbed waves of Chelsea attacks in the second-half and extra-time, and last-ditch defending as well as inspired goalkeeping from Mike Cooper kept the hosts out until the 16th minute of extra-time.

Alonso broke the deadlock when he got on the end of a pass from Kai Havertz and swept the ball in and with five minutes to go. Yet more drama was on its way as Kepa Arrizabalaga saved a penalty from Ryan Hardie.

Match highlights

• Thomas Tuchel misses match with Covid-19
• GOAL! Gillesphey heads Argyle into shock lead
• GOAL! Azpilicueta brings the scores level
• GOAL! Alonso scores in extra-time
• PENALTY SAVE! Kepa denies Hardie late on

Chelsea FC 2 – 1 Plymouth Argyle FC

Match report

15:33 , Marc Mayo

Kepa Arrizabalaga bailed out Chelsea with a late penalty save in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Plymouth.

The League One side took a shock lead at Stamford Bridge through Macaulay Gillesphey after only eight minutes.

But the Blues kicked into gear and hit the woodwork three times before Cesar Azpilicueta’s leveller.

Still, Plymouth defended heroically and forced extra-time before Marcos Alonso put Chelsea ahead. Kepa then saved Ryan Hardie’s 117th-minute spot-kick to secure his side’s spot in the fifth round.

The fifth-round draw takes place tomorrow lunchtime!

Check out James Robson’s player ratings from Stamford Bridge…

Recap Marcos Alonso’s winne

 

Elsewhere in the FA Cup…

The Premier League has prevailed in the dying moments again as West Ham snatch a 2-1 win at Kidderminster after extra-time…

Full-time! Chelsea 2-1 Plymouth

15:02 , Marc Mayo

That’s that. What a cup tie.

15:00 , Marc Mayo

120 mins: Two minutes added on…

14:59 , Marc Mayo

119 mins: We’re not quite done yet – Plymouth have a good free-kick to load the box and Kepa punches well clear.

14:58 , Marc Mayo

118 mins: Well that has to have been the chance. A not great penalty from Hardie, low and soft, Kepa guessed right and saved it with ease.

14:57 , Marc Mayo

117 mins: SAVED BY KEPA!!!

14:56 , Marc Mayo

117 mins: VAR has a look and confirms the spot-kick!

Hardie will take it…

14:56 , Marc Mayo

116 mins: Sarr gave it away and he bundled over Hardie as the striker hesitated slightly while bearing down on goal. My, oh my.

14:55 , Marc Mayo

116 mins: PENALTY PLYMOUTH!

14:55 , Marc Mayo

115 mins: Werner finds the space to belt a low shot into a defender before Ziyech looks for a speculative curler into the far corner, just as he did against Tottenham.

This one drifts well wide.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

14:53 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea are holding on a bit here, which is remarkable after the majority of the game has been played in Plymouth’s half. Makes you wonder what the League One side might have managed if they had done this earlier.

Still, you cannot criticise the way they have gone about it today.

14:51 , Marc Mayo

111 mins: A bit of cramp perhaps for Azpilicueta and he comes off for Chalobah, back from injury.

110 mins: Shots coming in left, right and centre from Plymouth!

Broom has a pair of strikes blocked, the first by Kepa, before Hardie’s effort ricochets into the goalkeeper’s grateful arms.

The away fans want handball, but the replays back up the referee.

108 mins: Kepa is there with a strong punch, not his first of the game, but Argyle are enjoying a bit of spell here.

107 mins: Lukaku heads a Plymouth corner into touch and the visitors will come again…

Second-half in extra-time begins!

And, after, a short break, we resume at the Bridge.

Half-time in extra-time! Chelsea 2-1 Plymouth

A really neat move from Chelsea opened up the defence for a simple finish for Alonso, directed nicely into the bottom corner.

Plymouth really have to dig deep to send this tie into penalties now.

Goal given!

Hang about, VAR wants a look!

GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Plymouth | Alonso, 105′

 

105+1 mins: Alonso puts the Blues ahead!

14:40 , Marc Mayo

105 mins: Two minutes added on for the first-half of extra-time.

14:38 , Marc Mayo

103 mins: Chelsea want a penalty…

There was a hand on Havertz’s shoulder from Wilson as he chased down a ball that he probably wouldn’t have left…

VAR says it wasn’t enough of a tug to send the German down, and that’s the right call.

14:37 , Marc Mayo

102 mins: Cooper booked for taking too long over a goal kick. He’s probably not too upset.

14:36 , Marc Mayo

101 mins: A Werner shot is blocked under the flag due to Havertz being offside from the initial pass.

That’s the seventh offside for Chelsea today, against a team defending fairly deep too.

14:34 , Marc Mayo

99 mins: Another bit of Chelsea play down the flanks, another ball in, another Cooper intervention – and he wins a foul for Saul getting in his way.

14:32 , Marc Mayo

98 mins: Mount is off for Saul, a bit of extra zip for the Blues and a chance for the Spaniard to spark his Chelsea career into life.

Perhaps an injury for the England midfielder.

Further to that earlier point, all three of the FA Cup fourth-round ties so far have now ended 1-1…

14:31 , Marc Mayo

96 mins: Excellent Argyle hounding shuts down Chelsea’s chances of a shot or a ball in. No let-up from the League One team.

14:29 , Marc Mayo

94 mins: Worth remembering this is Chelsea’s fourth extra-time period of the season, having beaten Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup plus Aston Villa and Southampton in the Carabao Cup – all on penalties.

Two changes for Plymouth, Camara and Grant off for Broom and Law.

14:28 , Marc Mayo

92 mins: Gillesphey rises highest to meet a cross as Chelsea resume their pressure early in extra-time, albeit while looking a bit more leggy.

Kick-off!

14:26 , Marc Mayo

Extra-time begins…

14:25 , Marc Mayo

Over at Aggborough, West Ham have forced extra-time of their own.

14:24 , Marc Mayo

Rapturous reception from the 6,000 away fans as goalkeeper Cooper takes position in front of them before kick-off.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

14:22 , Marc Mayo

Full credit to Plymouth. They have been forced to defend deep – but how often have they really looked in serious danger since Chelsea’s equaliser.

Nowhere near good enough from the home side.

14:22 , Marc Mayo

No complaints for Chelsea to be level after 90 minutes, here’s that Werner chance late in the game as he absolutely shirked the challenge.

Full time! Extra time required

14:21 , Marc Mayo

90+2 mins: Another 30 minutes required at the Bridge.

Don’t. Go. Anywhere.

14:19 , Marc Mayo

90 mins: Two minutes added on.

14:18 , Marc Mayo

89 mins: Chelsea break, Werner is played in… and pulls out of it!

Wilson launches in with a fine sliding tackle but the German didn’t want to have anything to do with it!

14:18 , Marc Mayo

88 mins: It’s all a bit quiet at the Bridge, for the supposedly frantic final few minutes of an FA Cup epic.

Cooper comes off his line to easily claim Alonso’s ball to Havertz. Argyle then move forward with a touch of possession.

14:15 , Marc Mayo

86 mins: Some utterly heroic defending from Plymouth today, surely they deserve the chance to take this one all the way?

We will, of course, need penalties if these two cannot be separated after 90 or 120 minutes.

14:14 , Marc Mayo

85 mins: Chelsea aren’t giving up on their intricate build-up play and a left-to-right reaches Ziyech, and a cut inside leads to his shot being deflected over the bar.

14:13 , Marc Mayo

83 mins: Fantastic defending from Scarr to hold off Lukaku after a neat Ziyech cross, coming out on top of a proper tussle with the striker.

The away end is once again finding its voice, they may need to keep it up for a while yet!

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

14:09 , Marc Mayo

Werner is on for Kovacic. Chelsea have not troubled Mike Cooper anywhere near enough. Will this make the difference?

14:09 , Marc Mayo

80 mins: Another one for the Cooper highlight reel as Havertz, who’s offside, is denied at the near-post.

14:08 , Marc Mayo

79 mins: The Blues’ pressure is back on the boil. Successive corners come in – will one fall to a striker?

14:06 , Marc Mayo

77 mins: Plymouth fight for every square inch as they look to forge another attack, and the ball eventually reaches captain Edwards who spoons an effort off-target.

Mayor comes off for Randell for the away side.

14:05 , Marc Mayo

75 mins: Less than 15 minutes before another 30 will be required to try and separate these two teams…

14:03 , Marc Mayo

74 mins: Great stuff from Cooper in the Plymouth goal.

First he pulls of a brilliant reflex stop to deny Mount, after a nice tee-up by Lukaku, and he then claims the corner with confident control.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

14:02 , Marc Mayo

You can only imagine what Tuchel is making of this back home. He lives and breathes every moment at the best of times – but he will feel utterly powerless watching from his living room.

He is not the type to enjoy armchair management.

14:01 , Marc Mayo

72 mins: Chance!

Hardie almost puts the League One side ahead with a lovely break, a ball over the top which the striker poked into Kepa’s outstretched leg.

14:00 , Marc Mayo

70 mins: Azpilicueta again makes the move that tests Cooper, this time clipping in a low shot towards the near-post that is parried wide.

The corner is reworked and falls to Sarr… who sends it high, high and not at all handomsley wide.

13:57 , Marc Mayo

68 mins: Camara finds himself in position to send a header towards goal, and his effort drifts a yard wide of the far-post.

Meanwhile, Hardie is on for Garrick for the visitors.

13:55 , Marc Mayo

65 mins: Chance!

Authoritative punch clear from Kepa before Scarr has a header easily saved – and away come Chelsea with Havertz bearing down on goal but Edwards produces a mega block after racing back 60 yards to deny the German!

13:54 , Marc Mayo

64 mins: HUGE cheer from the away end… for a corner.

Grant does well to bomb forward and the cross deflects out, and rolls the byline side of the corner flag.

13:53 , Marc Mayo

63 mins: Ennis and Garrick are doing a good job of putting in the hard yards off the ball, until a loose Jorginho pass allows them to rush forward.

Rudiger deals with it and gets into a bit of rough-and-tumble with a Plymouth sub, who refuses to hand the ball back.

Here comes that Chelsea change, Havertz on for Hudson-Odoi.

13:49 , Marc Mayo

61 mins: Havertz and Werner are warming up as Chelsea’s rampage hits a bit of a lull.

Meanwhile, West Ham are still a goal down at Kidderminster…

13:47 , Marc Mayo

58 mins: Jephcott replaced by Ennis in attack for Plymouth.

13:46 , Marc Mayo

57 mins: Azpilicueta gets on the end of the corner to divert it home with ANOTHER backheel – but the flag is up.

Replays confirm the right decision.

13:45 , Marc Mayo

56 mins: Again it’s Lukaku looking dangerous before blocks prevent Kovacic and Mount’s efforts from reaching the goal.

The following corner leads to another goalmouth scramble – which Argyle survive!

Is it only a matter of time?

13:44 , Marc Mayo

54 mins: Chelsea are working to Lukaku a bit better in this half, with that chance and then a nice ball into his feet that allows him to roll his defender and try to get a shot off.

The flag goes up, however, after the defenders do enough to strangle the opportunity.

13:42 , Marc Mayo

52 mins: Chance!

Lukaku stretches to reach a Ziyech cross with the goal gaping, after a nice link-up with Mount, but the Belgian is agonisingly inches behind the ball…

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

13:39 , Marc Mayo

The second-half has started in the same fashion as the first ended. It is all Chelsea and they are getting into areas to hurt Plymouth, without making the most of it.

Alonso, on for Christensen, should offer more of a threat going forward than Sarr, who is now in the centre.

13:37 , Marc Mayo

48 mins: Kovacic has been one of the biggest threats for Chelsea today, and hit the woodwork twice in the first-half, and he cannot quite chase down a bouncing ball after taking up Ziyech’s attack in the D.

13:35 , Marc Mayo

46 mins: Alonso replaces Christensen at the break, moving Sarr into central defence and providing a more attacking outlet from the left-back position.

The Blues are straight on the attack and have two corner-kicks repelled.

Second-half!

13:34 , Marc Mayo

We’re underway again at the Bridge.

13:32 , Marc Mayo

Right then, here come the players… Are we ready for (at least) 45 more minutes of this FA Cup clash?

Stat check

13:29 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea will certainly feel good value for the leveller, at least, having out-shot Plymouth 12 to two in that half.

Only four of those Blues efforts went on target, with three hitting the woodwork, whereas Gillsphey’s effort is the only Argyle shot to hit the target.

Inevitably, Chelsea have bossed 75 per cent of possession with six corners to one.

Elsewhere in the FA Cup…

13:27 , Marc Mayo

It’s still Kidderminster 1-0 West Ham.

Standard Sport’s Jack Rosser writes from Aggborough: “You would expect a few things might be thrown around the away changing room during the break. So poor from West Ham in that first half. Playing as if they’re scared of the hosts and lacking any sort of cohesion so far.”

How Plymouth took the lead

13:21 , Marc Mayo

Scenes in the away end!

Plymouth Argyle lead at Chelsea!

Watch LIVE on @BBCiPlayer and Red Button.
? https://t.co/QoDPgJi59s #FACup #PAFCpic.twitter.com/2Ec0VzMqU7

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) February 5, 2022

Half-time! Chelsea 1-1 Plymouth

13:19 , Marc Mayo

45+2 mins: Chelsea maintain their pressure late in the half and a corner leads to a huge goalmouth scramble, but Argyle survive and their 6,000 fans give a big cheer to the half-time whistle.

13:16 , Marc Mayo

45 mins: Christensen comes forward but his pass is weak and he then commits a foul. Two minutes added on.

13:16 , Marc Mayo

43 mins: It’s virtually silent around the ground now with Plymouth fans a touch disheartened and Chelsea’s supporters not yet convinced enough to rally themselves.

Can they snatch another before the break?

13:14 , Marc Mayo

41 mins: The pressure has told! Azpilicueta breaks the line to get on the end of a low cross into the box, and a huge sense of calm is almost visible at it settles over Stamford Bridge.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Plymouth | Azpilicueta, 40′

13:12 , Marc Mayo

40 mins: A lovely backheel brings the Blues level!

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

13:10 , Marc Mayo

Plymouth manager Steven Schumacher has told Garrick to come over the right hand side to give them another option when trying to relieve the pressure. He was getting outnumbered in the centre – now he can try to get into one-on-ones with Sarr.

13:09 , Marc Mayo

37 mins: Post!

Again! Chelsea hit the woodwork and Kovacic is now on two near-misses after firing across goal from the 18-yard line, his effort cracks the inside of the post and flies back out.

13:07 , Marc Mayo

36 mins: Ziyech comes forward on a rare counter chance for the hosts and has his pass cut out, before being swarmed by white shirts.

13:05 , Marc Mayo

34 mins: Save!

Azpilicueta is allowed to roll forward and drill an effort at goal from 20 yards, which is a bit troubling for Cooper and he parries wide at the near-post.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

13:04 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea well on top and Plymouth are feeling the pressure. Hudson-Odoi and Ziyech are having plenty of joy on either wing and getting the ball into the box.

There is an element of desperation about Plymouth’s defending, but they are holding on. It will be very uncomfortable if they continue to be pushed so deep.

13:03 , Marc Mayo

32 mins: Not much in the way of counter-attacking chances for Plymouth as a loft upfield is easily dealt with by Christensen.

Chelsea are working it neat and happy to focus on the flanks, with just their execution lacking slightly.

13:01 , Marc Mayo

29 mins: Crossbar!

Hudson-Odoi heads onto the post from a lovely cross to the far-post, should he have scored?!

13:00 , Marc Mayo

28 mins: Cooper, who has looked a touch ropey early on, has no problems with a Ziyech drive that deflects up and into his palms.

12:59 , Marc Mayo

27 mins: Successive Chelsea corners as Houghton stretches to clear a Ziyech cross first time around, Mount’s ball is met by a defender at the near-post and Plymouth continue to hold firm.

12:57 , Marc Mayo

Meanwhile, West Ham are losing at Kidderminster.

It goes to show, Chelsea fans, it could always be worse!

We have an upset on our hands!

It’s first blood @khfcofficial in the FA Cup fourth round.

Watch live ? https://t.co/slyqTOJ2AA #bbcfacup#bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/aW9QUSyaER

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) February 5, 2022

12:56 , Marc Mayo

24 mins: Ziyech is looking the best Chelsea threat so far and he wins a corner with a slick run and cross, which he takes himself.

Rudiger rises highest to meet a fine ball in – and doesn’t get a solid connection on it! Goal kick.

We’re past halfway in the first-half and Plymouth will be very happy with their day to this point…

12:53 , Marc Mayo

22 mins: Here comes Hudson-Odoi with a dart into plenty of space down the left, yet Wilson comes across and forces the winger into touch.

12:52 , Marc Mayo

21 mins: That is great play from Plymouth striker Garrick, stealing the ball off Christensen then putting himself in between his man and the ball, eventually winning a free-kick for his troubles.

Plenty to ponder for Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, from his sofa, right now…

12:51 , Marc Mayo

20 mins: First booking of the game goes to Chelsea, after Jorginho drags down Jephcott in the centre circle. No complaints.

12:50 , Marc Mayo

18 mins: Kepa has to come well off his line to prevent Garrick from racing in on goal after he spun his marker.

Only a brief interlude in the growing Chelsea pressure with Lukaku looking to hold up the ball in the box, only for Gillesphey to pop up and clear.

12:47 , Marc Mayo

15 mins: That goal has only boosted Plymouth’s confidence, with Camara having a crack and Sarr producing a stout block to deny him.

Azpilicueta delivers a cross that is met with an Argyle head. Every Plymouth clearance is being cheered by the away fans like it were a tenth-wicket forward defence in the final overs of an Ashes Test.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

12:42 , Marc Mayo

It’s already been a day of surprises and here’s another one. Plymouth taking the lead was not in the script – but Gillesphey has put the travelling fans in dreamland with his headed opener.

Chelsea will not be happy about their defending – but what about former Chelsea academy starlet Jordan Houghton, who delivered the free kick? What a moment for him.

12:42 , Marc Mayo

11 mins: Another set-piece for Plymouth, Chelsea survive…

Breathless stuff.

12:42 , Marc Mayo

10 mins: Who saw that coming?!

A free-kick from the left into the crowd is met by Gillesphey and his header sends the away end wild.

VAR confirms he’s onside and Chelsea rush straight back up the other end and Kovacic cracks the crossbar!

GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Plymouth | Gillesphey, 8′

12:39 , Marc Mayo

The League One side lead!!!!

12:38 , Marc Mayo

6 mins: A very nice interception from Camara pokes the ball off Kovacic’s toe in the box, following a smart Mount turn and cross.

The Guinea-Bissau international looks hurt after putting his body is on the line, but carries on with the Argyle away end chanting his name.