For a long time the game looked like it would be destined for a stalemate, with little in the way of openings for either team, but it was Chelsea who found the breakthrough after half-time.

First Zain Silcott-Duberry punished Luton Town's failure to clear with a bouncing shot which seemed to wrong-foot experienced goalkeeper Tim Krul. There was no chance for the keeper with the second, though, as Tyrique George produced an absolute blockbuster which thundered into the top corner from long range.

Luton pulled one back in a goalmouth scramble late on through Millar Matthews-Lewis, but the Blues held firm for the win and a place in the next round of the Premier League Cup.

Half of few chances

Playing at their men’s stadium, needing a win to keep their chances of progression alive and bolstered by the inclusion of senior players in their starting line-up – including Dutch international Krul – Luton were clearly determined to avoid a repeat of the 4-1 defeat Chelsea inflicted on them at Kingsmeadow earlier in the competition.

It was obvious this would be tough evening for the Blues as soon as the game begun in the pouring rain at Kenilworth Road, with Eddie Beach called into action early on. He showed strong hands to save Jake Burger’s low drive from the edge of the box and push it out of harm’s way, with striker Oli Lynch poised for the rebound.

There were very few chances in a tight first-half that hung finely poised. There was a brief period of Chelsea control, as Alex Matos and Samuel Rak-Sakyi stamped their authority in midfield. It peaked when George broke down the left and picked out Deivid Washington with a composed pass, but the Brazilian’s first-time shot rippled the net on the wrong side of the near post.

Instead, it was the home side who ended the opening 45 minutes the stronger, Beach showing good hands again to deny Jayden Luker a fine solo goal, before Alfie Gilchrist timed his sliding challenge in the box perfectly to take the ball away from Axel Piesold just as he was about to shoot from 10 yards.

Chelsea take charge

The start of the second half continued the theme of the first, with the play mostly restricted to the fiercely contested centre of the pitch and neither team able to make much of an impression in the final third.

However, out of nothing, Chelsea took the lead, albeit with a slice of good fortune. It came from a fairly hopeful ball into the Luton box, which the home side twice failed to clear. When it bounced loose towards Silcott-Duberry, he didn’t need a second invitation.

It wasn’t the cleanest of strikes by the Chelsea forward, but the spin of the ball off the wet turf seemed to confuse Krul, as the experienced goalkeeper let it slip away from his grasp and in off the post.

Now the game began to open up as Luton pushed for an equaliser, providing Chelsea space to counter, with George, Washington and Silcott-Duberry all trying their luck with curling efforts at the end of such moves.

However, it was George who extended Chelsea’s lead. Like the first, it came from nothing, but this time there was no hint of luck about it. No one bothered to close the Blues winger down when he picked up possession centrally 35-yards out, so the winger punished the opposition by unleashing an unstoppable drive which rocketed into the top corner. It was a brilliant strike that stunned the home fans into silence.

Tense finish

It looked like that might be the end of it, but Luton regrouped for a late push. Substitute Matthews-Lewis scrambled in for the Hatters following a set-piece to set up a nervy finish to the game, but Chelsea defended well during seven added minutes to deny further chances and ensure our place in the next round.

What it means

Our fourth win in as many Premier League Cup games sends Chelsea three points clear at the top of our group and, with a nine-point gap to third-placed Colchester United and only two fixtures remaining, we are now assured of our progress to the last 16.

What comes next

It is back to Premier League 2 action next for our Under-21s, with another away trip, this time to take on Liverpool at 1pm on Sunday 17 December. It is our last league fixture before the Christmas break.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Eddie Beach; Brodi Hughes, Alfie Gilchrist (c), Billy Gee (Kaiden Wilson 83), Ishe Samuels-Smith; Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Alex Matos (Ollie Harrison 73); Zain Silcott-Duberry (Richard Olise 90), Leo Castledine (Jimmy-Jay Morgan h-t), Tyrique George; Deivid Washington
Unused sub: Luke Campbell
Scorers: Silcott-Duberry 57, George 75
Booked: Matos 58, Samuels-Smith 79, Morgan 90+8

Luton (3-4-2-1): Tim Krul; Ben Tompkins, Mads Andersen (Jack Bateson 61), Aidan Francis-Clarke; Jacob Pinnington, Jake Burger (c) (Archie Heron 90+4), Axel Piesold (Josh Phillips 80), Joe Johnson; Jayden Luker, Zack Nelson; Oli Lynch (Millar Matthews-Lewis 80)
Unused sub: Jameson Horlick
Scorer: Matthews-Lewis 82
Booked: Francis-Clarke 8

Referee: Andrew Miller