Chelsea 4-1 Peterborough: FA Cup third round - as it happened

Full time: Chelsea 4-1 Peterborough

Chelsea ease the demons from their defeat to Tottenham with a fine display to see off Peterborough. Pedro did the damage with two goals, with Willian and Michy Batshuayi netting too. Peterborough were spirited but couldn't live with the Blues in the final third. Antonio Conte's side go into the hat for the fourth round as the team to beat.

That is all we have time for on this live blog. To follow the second half of Tottenham vs Aston Villa, head this way – but until next time goodbye.

Goodness me Chelsea waste another chance, this time in stoppage time. Pedro tees up Batshuayi, who is denied by McGee before Loftus-Cheek hammers over. So many chances but only four goals to show for it.

Batshuayi proving himself to be wasteful again, running at a thread-bare Peterborough back-four but shoots horribly wide. Fabregas once again instigates the attack. He's been imperious today.

Another chance for Peterborough as Angol takes a swing at the back after getting the better of Pedro, but he lashes over.

John Terry protests his innocence after being shown his marching order.

Michael Bostwick takes aim with a dipping volley but he can't keep it down and Peterborough's chance to get a second comes and goes. Still time for more goals with 10 minutes remaining.

GOAL! Chelsea 4-1 Peterborough (Pedro)

No doubt about the result now as Chelsea get their fourth, and Pedro doubles up. Batshuayi lays the ball off and the Spaniard strokes the ball into the corner beyond McGee.

Willian fires Chelsea into a comfortable three-goal advantage.

GOAL: Chelsea 3-1 Peterborough (Tom Nichols)

A consolation, or something more for Peterborough? Chelsea down to 10-men and now their lead is cut as Tom Nichols converts from six yards out. Is the comeback on?

Red card: John Terry (Chelsea)

Bizarre scenes at Stamford Bridge. with the game heading towards comfortable Chelsea win they go down to 10 men as John Terry fouls Lee Angol. Branislav Ivanovic looked to be covering but Kevin Friend took his time before brandishing the red.

Antonio Conte can start to rest some of his second string now as Ola Aina comes on for Gary Cahill, who granted is the only survivor from the mid-week loss at Spurs. Jon Taylor and Martin Samuelson meanwhile come on for Posh.

Luke McGee somehow prevents Chelsea going four up as he keeps out Loftus-Cheek. Peterborough go up the other end and almost score themselves, but as Zouma clears the ball just evades Tom Nichols on the edge of the box.

GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Peterborough (Willian)

Too easy for Chelsea and a third goal sees them book their place in round four. Willian cuts inside off the left, is given far too much room by Michael Smith and drills his shot into the far corner. Watch out, there could more more.

Michy Batshuayi puts Chelsea two-up.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek should really have put the game beyond Peterborough. Da Silva loses the ball in his own half and Batshuayi releases Loftus-Cheek, but he steers the ball wide.

Back underway at Stamford Bridge. An uphill task facing Peterborough United.

Half time: Chelsea 2-0 Peterborough

Chelsea have shown no signs of any hangover from losing to Tottenham in mid-week and have been close to perfect against Peterborough. Goals from Pedro and Michy Batshuayi have done the damage and it could have been more had it not been for Luke McGee and the woodwork. The Posh have impressed in patches, but they can't rival the cutting edge in the final third displayed by the Premier League leaders.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Peterborough (Michy Batshuayi)

The goal that probably kills the tie. Peterborough pour players forwards and they get caught as Willian crosses, Chalobah pulls the ball back and Batshuayi takes one touch to control and a second to hammer past McGee. Terrible time to concede a goal, just as they looked to regaining a foothold in the tie.

A rare foray from Peterborough as Gwion Edwards drives to the byline, past Cahill, but his cross is turned away from virtually under his own bar by Zouma. Still in this game are Posh, while it remains 1-0.

Michy Batshauyi not endearing himself to Antonio Conte as he shoots instead of playing in Willian, who was in yards of room in the penalty area. Now McGee keeps out Willian from the angle. Peterborough just trying to survive now.

Kurt Zouma flattened on his return to the Chelsea team by a clumsy challenge by Tom Nichols. No booking by the France international needs medical attention, before resuming.

A candidate for one of the misses of the season from Pedro. Chelsea are queuing up to score after Loftus-Cheek is denied by McGee and he tees up Pedro, who beats the 'keeper but inexplicably hits the bar from six yards.

Pedro celebrates giving Chelsea the lead with their 50th goal of the season.

Lots of pressure from Chelsea but no second goal yet. Peterborough holding their own to be fair, and even pressing high up the pitch when the Blues try and build from the back; just as Grant McCann promised pre-match.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Peterborough (Pedro)

The opening goal has been coming since the first minute, and it comes for the Premier League leaders. Chalobah and Fabregas are both denied by despairing blocks and when the ball falls to Pedro, after McGee parries, he lashes the ball into the top corner from the angle. Brilliant finish.

Willian storms into the penalty area, his first shot is blocked but when the second comes back to him he slashes it over.

Chelsea living so dangerously at the back and Gary Cahill has to smuggle the ball behind when Tom Nichols gets free. From the subsequent set-piece, Tafazolli heads wide from eight yards. Another chance goes begging.

Chances at both ends now as another short Chelsea corner sees Terry catch one perfectly but McGee makes the save and holds on too. Good game this in front of, as I say, a good crowd.

Andrew Hughes beats Ivanovic on the far touchline and when the ball is left by Nichols, Marcus Maddison has a snap shot which balloons wide. Impressive start from the visitors.

What a chance for Peterborough! Maddison's cross evades Cahill and Angol comes in on the cross but his effort is straight at Begovic. Big opportunity.

McGee to the rescue for the first time this afternoon, and I doubt the last. Willian's corner finds Gary Cahill, whose near-post flick is turned behind by the Spurs 'keeper. Would have evoked memories of Gianfranco Zola's goal against Norwich all those years ago, if not anywhere near as stylish.

Lee Angiol tries to tee up Nichols in the Chelsea box but the cross is overhit and Begovic claims easily. Peterborough not going to sit back here.

John Terry warming up ahead of kick-off as he prepares to make his 50th FA Cup start.

'Blue is the Colour' rings out around Stamford Bridge. And we're underway in west London.

Players on the way at Stamford Bridge. Not a bad noise in west London where we have an attendance at least approaching a sell-out; a far cry from the remainder of the weekend.

Hugo Lloris kept Chelsea at bay in mid-week, and another Tottenham goalkeeper will attempt to prevent them reaching the fourth round today. Luke McGee will be between the sticks this afternoon, on loan from Spurs, so could lightning strike twice?

One player not involved today is Nathan Ake, but he will be available for Chelsea from today after the club opted to recall him from his season-long loan spell at Bournemouth. The Dutchman has scored three goals in 11 appearances from left-back and how now won the opportunity to play for the Premier League champions elect.

John Terry back in the Chelsea team today. How many more times will we see him at Stamford Bridge?

If you're looking to make up for giving your better-half a frankly horrid Christmas present, then perhaps you might be interested in going to see Elton John at Peterbrough's very own London Road on 11 June? Tickets are still available.

Meanwhile, The Posh will be today be hoping the sun doesn't go down on their FA Cup campaign. I'm here all week.

The half-and-half scarves doing a roaring trade before kick-off.

Liverpool 0-0 Plymouth at half time at Anfield. The League Two side have sat in for much of the opening 45 minutes and so far are frustrating the Premier League side. Can the Reds break through in the second period? Head to our minute-by-minute live blog to find out.

These two sides have twice before in the FA Cup, with Chelsea netting five on each occasion. The Blues won 5-1 in the quarter-final in 1965 - the furthest Peterborough have ever got in the FA Cup - before thrashing them 5-0 in 2001. McCann will have grander designs this afternoon.

Grant McCann makes three changes from the draw with Scunthorpe last time out. Lee Angiol, Leo da Silva Lopes and Tom Nichols start, ahead of Martin Samuelson, Junior Morais and Jon Taylor.

So Chelsea make 10 changes from the loss to Tottenham. John Terry returns to make his 50th FA Cup start. Michy Batshuayi starts in attack, while the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah start in midfield.

Teams are in from Stamford Bridge.

The FA Cup action is already underway on the third day of four. Fulham have knocked out Cardiff in the brunch-time kick-off [see what I did there?], while Liverpool and Plymouth are already underway at Anfield. You can follow that game live here.

Kurt Zouma back for Chelsea today, after 11 months out with a knee injury.

A big day for the Posh at Stamford Bridge.

Teams should be with us within the next half an hour, but how are we expecting both sides to line up at Stamford Bridge?

Chelsea area expected to start with Michy Batshuayi and Kurt Zouma for the visit of the League One side, with the likes of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard likely to be rested.

Peterborough meanwhile will name a full strength side, but Jermaine Anderson and defender Jack Baldwin are missing with knee injuries.

Millwall and Lincoln City did the lower leagues proud on Saturday, and now it is the turn of Peterborough United to try and cause an FA Cup shock to end all shocks as they take on Premier League leaders Chelsea. Grant McCann's side are just outside the play-off places in League One and having lost just once in the league since October are more than capable of causing an upset.

All is not perfectly rosy at Stamford Bridge after defeat to Tottenham in mid-week and with Antonio Conte set to rest a number of players today could the Blues suffer a second disappointment in less than a week? Team news and build-up ahead of the 3pm kick-off on the way.