Morecambe's FA Cup run came to end at Stamford Bridge but the Shrimps did themselves proud against Premiership giants Chelsea.

After reaching the FA Cup third round for the first time in 18 years the Shrimps always knew they would be in for a tough afternoon against last year’s beaten finalists and when boss Frank Lampard named a side full of internationals, hopes of an upset looked even more remote.

The Shrimps went into the game on the back of a period of 10 days of self isolation which hadn’t helped their preparation and they were also forced to start the game without skipper Sam Lavelle who was going through an extended isolation period.

Chelsea started the game brightly with Timo Werner heading an early chance wide but after an early flourish Morecambe looked to cause problems of their own on the break.

The Shrimps almost produced a major shock in the 12th minute when Adam Phillips’s cross come shot from the right hand side almost caught out Chelsea keeper Kepa at his near post with the Spanish international having to make a twisting save to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Chelsea hit back with Emerson flashing a shot off target before the home side took the lead on 19 minutes. Mason Mount was left in space 25 yards out and let fly with a shot 25 yards out that flashed past Mark Halstead and flew into the bottom right hand corner of the Shrimps’ goal.

From there the home side dominated possession and created a number of changes with Antonio Rudiger volleying a Hakim Ziylech corner over at the near post and Werner volleying over from a set piece.

The Shrimps’ best chance of getting back in the game was through counter attack and from one slick move forward Phillips again found space on the right and tested Kepa with a shot from the right hand side.

Morecambe looked set to be going into the break just one goal behind but they unfortunately conceded a second a minute before the break when a cross to the far post was headed back across goal by Kai Havertz and Werner was in the perfect place to bundle the ball over the line.

The goal gave Chelsea a lift and they soon added a third in the second half. Ziyech provided the assist with a ball down the middle that found Callum Hudson-Odoi and the England midfielder produced a cool finish to beat Halstead on 49 minutes.

Chelsea continued to press and were denied a fourth by a superb double save from Halstead who spread himself smartly to block a close range shot from Oliver Giroud before then saving the follow up from Mount.

Halstead was beaten again six minutes from time as Chelsea rounded up the game with a fourth. A neat exchange of passes down the right hand side ended with skipper Cesar Azpilicueta in space and he produced a superb cross into the box that was met perfectly by Havertz to head past Halstead from close range.

Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma (rep Tomori 80), Emerson, Mount (rep Abraham 69), Gilmour, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi (rep Anjorin 80), Ziyech (rep Pulisic 67), Werner (rep Giroud 68). Subs not used: Caballero, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell.

Morecambe: Halstead, Cooney (rep Mellor 62), Knight-Percival, Davis, Hendrie (rep Gibson 62), Songo’o, Wildig, Mendes-Gomes (rep Lyons 69), Phillips, Slew (rep O’Sullivan 62), Stockton (rep McAlinden 84). Subs not used: Turner, Diagouraga, Kenyon, Leitch-Smith.

Ref: D England.