We take a statistical look at yesterday’s hard-fought FA Cup win at Leicester, with starters and subs alike playing a crucial role…
There was a clear improvement from Chelsea in the second half, and the stats show we attempted more shots, had more shots on target, completed more dribbles, won more aerial duels, and made more successful clearances than we managed before the break.
We lost possession 16 times in the first half, including on eight occasions in the opening nine minutes.
In the second half, we lost possession just six times in total.
Ross Barkley, one of Frank Lampard’s three half-time subs, had a game-high four shots of which three were on the target and one decided the quarter-final tie.
Read more: Lampard inspired Barkley winner
Overall half of our eight attempts were on target; three of Leicester’s 10 were.
The possession stats were fairly even, with Chelsea having a 52.3 per cent share of the ball.
No player spent more time in possession than N’Golo Kante (7.3 per cent), no player had more touches than his 87, and nobody completed more passes than him either (61).
Our pass success rate of 80 per cent was well down on our season average in the Premier League (84.8 per cent).
Of those players who featured for longer than 45 minutes, Kurt Zouma was our most accurate passer (86 per cent), closely followed by Kante (85 per cent) and Tammy Abraham (84 per cent).
Willian’s two key passes was a Chelsea-high figure, and included the assist for the winner. The Brazilian has now registered the most key passes in each of our three games since the restart.
He was also responsible for six successful tackles yesterday, testament to his discipline and energy off the ball. No other player made more than three.
When it came to Chelsea's interceptions, Willian’s three was matched only by Emerson.
Of our 10 successful dribbles, Christian Pulisic, Mateo Kovacic and Emerson recorded two each. The Croatian was the only one of those with a 100 per cent completion rate.
Zouma and Toni Rudiger each won three of the four aerial duels they contested.
Zouma’s five clearances was a game-high figure. Cesar Azpilicueta, Rudiger and Emerson made a further 10 between them.
Not one of Leicester’s six corners found a team-mate. Three of our five did.