Double-chasing Chelsea downs Brentford in easy FA Cup win

London - Premier League leader Chelsea remained on course for a domestic double as it eased into the last 16 of the FA Cup with a comfortable 4-0 win at home to second-tier Brentford on Saturday.

The Blues, eight points clear at the summit of English football, were rarely tested by their fellow west London side, advancing with goals from Willian, Pedro, Branislav Ivanovic, and Michy Batshuayi.

If this was a final Chelsea appearance for Ivanovic, who has been linked with a transfer window move, the Serbia defender gave the Stamford Bridge faithful something to remember him by after coming on as a substitute for the final half hour of this match.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, ahead of Tuesday's league match away to Liverpool, made changes to his side.

Yet even with Eden Hazard and Diego Costa among those rested, Chelsea still boasted a strong-enough team to see off a mid-table Championship side with ease.

The clubs last met in 2013, with Chelsea needing a replay at the same stage of the competition to see off Brentford.

A repeat never looked likely on Saturday.

Chelsea had scored in its past 40 FA Cup ties, stretching back to 2000, and continued that trend through Willian's 14th-minute free-kick.

Lasse Vibe was adjudged to have upended Pedro, and Wilian stepped up to curl home past Brentford goalkeeper Dan Bentley.

Brentford last defeated Chelsea in 1939, and things soon got worse for the visitor.

Batshuayi, making a rare start, was given too much space to find Pedro, who took one touch before firing underneath Bentley in the 21st minute.