Chelsea looked sharp and determined right from the off at Villa Park and were the better side throughout, full of energy from front to back, as we ensured it would be the Blues who progress in this season's FA Cup.

By the time we took an early lead with the first of three fine goals, we had already gone close on a couple of occasions. The opener was emphatic, though, as Conor Gallagher slotted Noni Madueke's lay-off into the top corner.

Before half-time we had made it 2-0, Nicolas Jackson marking his first start since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty by heading in Malo Gusto's excellent cross, and it got even better after the break when Enzo Fernandez sent a perfect free-kick into the top corner.

Moussa Diaby did get one back for Aston Villa in added time, firing in off the post from the edge of the box, but by then it was all over and Chelsea can now look forward to a home FA Cup tie against old rivals Leeds United.

Starting on the front foot

Both teams began the match at a decent tempo, indicating an entertaing cup tie could be on the cards. There was a bit of a let off when Alex Moreno inexplicably chose to head square rather than go for goal himself when found free at the back post, but before long it was Chelsea who were creating the chances.

There was a decent opportunity for Cole Palmer when Malo Gusto released Noni Madueke down the right and he squared to the penalty spot, but Palmer was caught in two minds and his shot lacked the power to trouble Emiliano Martinez.

An even better chance arrived when Aston Villa failed to clear Ben Chilwell’s corner and Nicolas Jackson nicked in to head back into danger, but Palmer and Enzo got in each other’s way and the latter headed straight at Martinez.

That meant it had been coming when we took an early lead. Chilwell and Enzo did well to win the ball out on the left and Conor Gallagher then played Jackson into the left channel. When he crossed low into the box, Madueke showed great awareness with his back to goal to lay it off for Gallagher, who had continued his run and sent a powerful first-time finish into the top corner.

Villa tried to respond quickly and Djordje Petrovic had to make two saves in quick succession, the second most notable to tip Ollie Watkins' fierce effort over the bar. But we soon took control of the game, especially on the flanks where our wingers and overlapping full-backs were finding plenty of space to threaten.

Two to the good

And that was exactly how our second goal arrived. This time Madueke released a pass into the path of Gusto down the right. His cross was perfect, being met by the run of Jackson, who headed past Martinez with power from eight yards to make it 2-0 to Chelsea.

With a two-goal lead in our pocket confidence was growing and we continued to play the game in the Villa half. The Blues looked hungry for more, Chilwell next to have a go as he cut in from the right and shot low but just wide of the near post. Another strong run by Madueke took him past two men down the right, having already done well to win the ball in our own box, but Martinez was able to palm Palmer's shot away to stop us extending our lead further.

Enzo wraps it up

Villa ended the first half well, with Petrovic tipping a John McGinn effort over in stoppage time, but the Blues were good value for our half-time lead. A reaction from the home side was to be expected after the break, but we weathered it relatively comfortably and before long started to pull away.

We did so in spectacular style, too. The Villa fans were unhappy when the referee awarded a free-kick to Chelsea as Enzo was toppled over by Youri Tielemans while preparing to have a go from outside the box, but there was no doubting the brilliance of what came next.

Enzo picked himself up, sized up the range and promptly curled a perfect free-kick into the top-left corner, giving his international team-mate in the Villa goal no chance. He received a booking after removing his shirt as he ran towards the travelling supporters, but he couldn't have cared less as the players celebrated joyously with the Blues fans at Villa Park.

Importantly, that third goal had taken the sting out of any attempted Villa fightback and only further cemented our superiority and control of what had seemed before kick-off to be a very challenging FA Cup tie.

That allowed us to play the rest of the game at our tempo. There was a belated response from Aston Villa with 20 minutes remaining, when they started to threaten the Chelsea box, but when they did manage to carve out a chance, there was Axel Disasi with a brilliant block to thwart McGinn at close range.

Moreno then headed onto the roof of the net as Villa continued to apply some late pressure, but with the safety of a 3-0 lead the Blues never looked concerned for our place in the next round, even when Moussa Diaby pulled one back with a consolation goal in added time.

What it means

Chelsea will now host Leeds United at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fifth round, with the match to be played on the evening of Wednesday 28 February.

What is next

We are back in Premier League action next in the weekend's last match, when we travel across London to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday 12 February, with kick-off at 8pm.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile (Gilchrist 87), Chilwell (c); Gallagher, Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke (Sterling 75), Palmer (Thiago Silva 81), Jackson (Nkunku 72)
Unused subs: Bergstrom, Bettinelli, Samuels-Smith, Chukwuemeka, Mudryk
Scorer: Gallagher 11, Jackson 21, Enzo 54
Booked: Enzo 55, Petrovic 76

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Carlos, Lenglet, Moreno; Luiz, Kamara (Iroegbunam 88); Bailey (Zaniolo 88), Tielemans (Ramsey 72), McGinn (c) (Diaby 72); Watkins
Unused subs: Olsen, Wright, Torres, Chambers, Kellyman
Scorer: Diaby 90+1
Booked: Carlos 38

Referee: Thomas Bramall