Frank Lampard’s faith in youth was justified last season and, in his time of need, Chelsea’s homegrown contingent offered their beleaguered manager a little respite.
An FA Cup run is unlikely to define their season or his reign, but Chelsea booked a fifth-round date against Barnsley and spared Lampard another inquest.
It came courtesy of his flagship policy. Tammy Abraham opened his account for 2021 to become the first Englishman to get an FA Cup hat-trick for Chelsea since Lampard himself and, for the second successive season, he is now their top scorer.
Reece James, who has displaced the captain Cesar Azpilicueta under Lampard’s tutelage, illustrated that he is one of the best crossers in the country with a lovely ball for Abraham’s second and the most enticing of centres when Christian Pulisic ought to have scored, but Simon Sluga saved. Lampard’s protégé Mason Mount, who has been on Chelsea’s books since he was six, captained them for the first time.
Callum Hudson-Odoi appeared the one youngster who did not benefit from Lampard’s appointment last season but, after a slick one-two with 19-year-old Billy Gilmour, he laid Abraham’s third goal on a plate.
“When you look at the story since I came back to the club, a lot of the quality has come from the young players,” said Lampard. And yet his job felt simpler before expensive arrivals raised expectations, and this was a better day for the local boys than the big buys.
Of the arrivals, Hakim Ziyech lent creativity and Timo Werner’s movement was excellent. He supplied Abraham’s first and, with an inventive dummy, almost set up a goal for Pulisic, whose shot was saved.
Werner marred his afternoon’s work, winning a penalty, when his pace drew a foul from Jordan Clark, but seeing it saved by Simon Sluga. “He will feel despondent about that but he shouldn’t,” Lampard said. “He gave a lot with his performance.” He only has one goal in 16 games, and that came against Morecambe. Like Havertz, he can be used in the case against Lampard.
Yet his selection as a No 10 was notable. Werner occupied his fellow German Kai Havertz’s preferred position. Chelsea’s biggest summer signing was confined to a cameo and denied the chance of a restorative outing after his wretched display at Leicester.
And while the problem Lampard inherited, Kepa Arrizabalaga, made a fine save to deny Harry Cornick an equaliser, that will not be abiding image of his afternoon.
He got a hand to Luton’s goal, a half-volley from Clark, but really should have stopped it. Being Arrizabalaga, he did not, and if Lampard’s decision to pick him was designed to restore his confidence or put him in the shop window, it failed. “I'll give Kepa that one,” said a forgiving Lampard. “I'm as annoyed as we let someone stand in our box and get a shot away.”
Luton, however, were annoyed at the opener. From a quick throw, Ziyech found Werner, whose cutback was converted by Abraham. There were two balls on the pitch at the time; two Luton players pointed at the other one, though Town had plenty of players in defensive positions.
His second was less contentious, Abraham heading James’ cross over Sluga, who left his line and got trapped in no-man’s land, and his third was a classy team move. “It’s lovely to see goals like that,” Lampard added.
Luton could rue their beginning. Perhaps Luton’s slow start was no surprise. The Championship side were late to emerge for both halves, with the consequence that half-time spanned 20 minutes. It was an oddity, but Chelsea could enjoy the belated action.
