Chelsea team-mates Cole Palmer (L) amd Raheem Sterling. Photo: photosport
Newcastle United made light work of north-east rivals Sunderland as Alexander Isak's double secured a 3-0 win and a place in the FA Cup fourth round at the Stadium of Light.
Second-tier Sunderland might have fancied their chances with Newcastle on a run of five defeats in their last six Premier League games, but they were no match for Eddie Howe's side.
Aston Villa went through to the fourth round for the first time in eight years with a 1-0 victory away at Middlesbrough thanks to a last-gasp goal by Matty Cash, while Armando Broja set Chelsea on their way to a 4-0 home win over Championship side Preston North End.
Premier League Bournemouth found themselves 2-0 down at second-tier Queens Park Rangers but hit back to win 3-2 at Loftus Road while there were also wins for top-flight sides Brighton and Hove Albion and Sheffield United.
Arsenal host Liverpool on Monday, while Manchester United visit Wigan on Tuesday.
At the other end of the football hierarchy, sixth-tier Maidstone United stunned third-tier Stevenage 1-0 to keep their unlikely dream of FA Cup glory alive.
Villa and Middlesbrough appeared destined for a replay until Cash broke the deadlock in the 87th minute with a powerful shot from just outside the 18-yard box that deflected in off Emmanuel Latte Lath.
"A goal is a goal, so I am buzzing with it," the defender told the BBC. "I have worked on it in training outside the box to finish, we have worked on having three around the edge and my instinct was to shoot."
Villa, who are second in the crowded Premier League title race, have won the FA Cup seven times but not since 1957, and had not reached the fourth round since 2016.
At Stamford Bridge, Broja grazed the top of the bar before Thiago Silva, just off the bench, powered in a header from a Cole Palmer corner in the 66th minute as the Blues turned on the gas after a dull first half.
"The potential is amazing -- we are talking about one of the young strikers here in England or in Europe with the most potential," Mauricio Pochettino said of Broja.
The Chelsea manager reminded reporters that Broja had been out for nearly a year with injury.
"Our expectation is massive and we really, really need him," Pochettino said.
Raheem Sterling curled in a free kick and five minutes from time Enzo Fernandez turned the ball into an empty net to complete the rout.
STONES KEEP ROLLING
Sixth-tier Maidstone, nicknamed the Stones, were already the lowest-ranked club left in the competition, and they have now reached the fourth round for the first time, beating Stevenage with a Sam Corne goal from the penalty spot.
Two goals in quick succession by Sinclair Armstrong and Lyndon Dykes had Championship strugglers QPR in charge against in-form Bournemouth but the visitors found another gear in the second half with substitute Justin Kluivert firing the winner after Marcus Tavernier and Kieffer Moore had levelled it up.
Premier League bottom club Sheffield United were too good for fourth-tier Gillgham with William Osula and James McAtee both scoring twice in a 4-0 victory.
Joao Pedro scored twice for Brighton as they won 4-2 at Stoke City.
Championship leaders Leicester City, FA Cup winners in 2021, won 3-2 at Millwall while Ipswich Town, who are also targeting a Premier League return, won 3-1 at fourth-tier Wimbledon.
Coventry City thrashed Oxford United 6-2 to reach the fourth round for the first time in five years.
-Reuters
