Goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe caught the eye with three impressive performances, while a trio of Blues made their debuts after leaving on loan in January.
Sharman-Lowe has been an ever-present for Doncaster Rovers in League Two, and starred as they caused an FA Cup third-round upset.
There were also debuts for Alex Matos, Max Merrick and Jimmy-Jay Morgan following their recent moves, as we check up on how the Blues away from Chelsea have been doing on loan over the last few weeks...
Teddy Sharman-Lowe – Doncaster Rovers
Sharman-Lowe continues to be an ever-present, featuring in every minute since joining Doncaster on loan, and provided some heroics in one of the FA Cup third round’s big upsets, against Championship side Hull City.
The Academy graduate produced a brilliant save to deny Alfie Jones a winning goal with three minutes of extra time remaining.
Sharman-Lowe wasn’t finished there, either, keeping out another Jones effort in the decisive shootout to give Doncaster the lead and the chance to slot the winning spot-kick.
That was followed by a series of more impressive saves by the on-loan Chelsea 'keeper as he kept back-to-back clean sheets in a pair of 1-0 wins, over Gillingham and Harrogate Town in League Two, which move Doncaster into the automatic promotion spots at the top of the table.
Jimmy-Jay Morgan – Gillingham
Striker Morgan made his Gillingham debut from the start, one day after joining the League Two club on loan. His bow came up front in a 1-1 draw away at Tranmere Rovers and the 19-year-old was on the receiving end of some heavy-handed treatment from the defenders, needing treatment for a cut on his foot caused by one challenge, but impressed Gills manager John Coleman with his promising start to life in Kent.
‘I thought young Jimmy had a good debut. He’s got heart, he wants to work, he wants to run,’ said Coleman. ‘I think the fans will love him and I can’t wait for the home fans to see him play.’
Alex Matos – Oxford United
The midfielder has featured in all five of Oxford’s matches since joining them on loan earlier this month. Matos came on for his debut shortly after Exeter City had taken a 3-1 lead in the FA Cup third round, and it was too late to change the scoreline.
However, he hasn’t tasted defeat since, as home wins over Blackburn Rovers and Luton Town, bookended by draws at Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City, took newly-promoted Oxford nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Alfie Gilchrist – Sheffield United
Gilchrist remains a regular at right-back for promotion-chasing Sheffield United in the Championship. He helped them to twice retake the lead at the top of the table in a tight title race, with victories over Swansea City and Norwich City, but a 3-0 loss to Hull City last time out dropped the Blades two points behind new leaders Leeds United, having played a game more.
Bashir Humphreys – Burnley
Humphreys came on for Burnley shortly before their FA Cup third-round tie at Reading went to extra time, but he and the other Clarets substitutes made the difference to seal a 3-1 victory by the end of 120 minutes.
Bashir then played the full 90 minutes in the Championship, as Burnley’s excellent defensive record continued in a 0-0 draw with fellow promotion hopefuls Sunderland, albeit thanks to a pair of penalty saves by goalkeeper James Trafford.
The defender then started a second goalless draw in a top-of-the-table clash against Leeds United, which made it 10 hours of football since Burnley last conceded a goal - they have let in just nine in 29 league matches all season. The latest point leaves the Clarets still three points behind Championship leaders Leeds, in third place.
Max Merrick – Hampton & Richmond
Another January loan departure, Merrick made the perfect start to life in the National League South with Hampton & Richmond. The goalkeeper kept a clean sheet and received man-of-the-match on his debut in a 2-0 home victory over Tonbridge. Although he then suffered defeat at Boreham Wood, Max had another clean sheet and win to be proud of as Hampton & Richmond triumphed 1-0 at Torquay on Saturday.
Djordje Petrovic, Andrey Santos, Caleb Wiley – Strasbourg
Andrey Santos and Djordje Petrovic helped Strasbourg continue their good start to the year, although Caleb Wiley remains unavailable after dislocating his shoulder in November.
Petrovic continued to mind the Strasbourg net as they won 2-1 at Toulouse, and Santos made his mark at the other end of the pitch by setting up the opening goal of a 1-1 draw away at second-placed Marseille.
The Brazilian played his part again as they beat another of Ligue 1’s Champions League hopefuls, Lille. This time he netted an equaliser himself - his eighth goal of the season - sparking a fightback as Strasbourg went from a goal behind to winning 2-1 in the last 20 minutes. That leaves them ninth in the French top flight, three points off a European qualification spot.
Kepa Arrizabalaga – Bournemouth
After being ineligible to feature against Chelsea, Kepa returned to the Bournemouth side to help the Cherries extend their club-record unbeaten streak in the Premier League with a pair of impressive victories.
Having already booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a comfortable 5-1 win over West Bromwich Albion, Bournemouth proceeded to beat in-from Newcastle United 4-1 before Kepa kept a clean sheet in a flawless 5-0 win over high-flying Nottingham Forest. That made it 11 league games without defeat for Bournemouth, leaving them just one point off the top four.
Lesley Ugochukwu – Southampton
Ugochukwu has featured in Southampton’s last four games, starting three of them. That began with a comfortable 3-0 win over Swansea City in the FA Cup, when Lesley set up Kamaldeen Sulemana for the opening goal.
Things didn’t go so smoothly in the Premier League, though, as losses to Manchester United, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest made it six games without a point for the Saints, despite another assist by Ugochukwu at Forest.
Raheem Sterling – Arsenal
Sterling made four appearances during a busy and dramatic period for Arsenal. It started with the forward coming off the bench in the first half of the Gunners’ penalty shootout exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Manchester United, before Raheem made back-to-back Premier League starts, helping Arsenal to a 2-1 derby win over Tottenham, but then giving up a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa.
He was a substitute as they got back to winning ways against Dinamo Zagreb, leaving Arsenal well placed to qualify for the Champions League last 16.
Armando Broja – Everton
The striker came off the bench to help Everton defeat Peterborough United 2-0 in the FA Cup third round, but it came at a cost as he has been ruled out since due to an ankle injury suffered late on in that win.
Leo Castledine – Shrewsbury Town
After a postponed meeting with Huddersfield Town, Castledine was back in action as Shrewsbury picked up their fifth league win of the season, beating title-challengers Wrexham 2-1. However, a 1-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic – due to a 96th-minute winner – dropped Shrewsbury back to the bottom of the League One table, seven points from safety.
Dylan Williams – Burton Albion
Full-back Williams came off the bench for Burton for the last 10 of a goalless 90 minutes against Tamworth in the FA Cup third round. It finished 1-1 at the end of extra time, but the Brewers were defeated in the resulting penalty shootout.