Liam Rosenior gets first big Chelsea decision right after five-star Charlton win

CHARLTON 1-5 CHELSEA: Liam Rosenior's Blues cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup following a ruthless second-half showing at The Valley

Liam Rosenior has only been in the Stamford Bridge hot seat a matter of days - but he has already got his first big Chelsea decision right.

If this maiden five-star victory at Charlton Athletic was anything to go by, disillusioned Blues supporters are going to be in for quite the right under his stewardship.

But crucially, Rosenior's reluctance to dive in prematurely to steer the ship at Fulham on Wednesday - despite officially being unveiled in the role - was a call that reflects his intelligence.

Some might say he should have immediately got his hands dirty but logically, this FA Cup third-round tie was far more winnable than a fiery west London derby against Marco Silva's in-form Cottagers.

Now, following goals from Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez, Rosenior heads into Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal with the wind in his sails.

For the opening 30 minutes, Chelsea were lethargic but they soon exploded into life after the travelling faithful chanted "attack, attack, attack" amid a lack of cohesion and energy.

That lack of rhythm was perhaps explained by Rosenior making eight changes following his difficult watching brief at Craven Cottage.

His insightful pre-match Cobham press conference on Friday suggests there is no part of him underestimating the size of the task at hand but this all-London clash quickly looked capable of becoming a brutal baptism of fire.

With just four minutes on the clock, Benoit Badiashile was booked for clumsily bundling Addicks striker Miles Leaburn to ground, igniting the raucous home crowd.

Given this was the highest-attended FA Cup fixture at The Valley for some 50 years, the noise was somewhat deafening.

Unsurprisingly, Chelsea dominated possession but much like recent life under Enzo Maresca, the passive Blues lacked punch.

Calamitous centre-back Badiashile set pulses raising when Sonny Carey was tripped but fortunately for Chelsea, he dodged a second yellow card.

After riding their luck, the visitors then broke the deadlock deep into first-half stoppage time when left-back Hato rifled a loose ball into the top left-hand corner.

The Blues quickly doubled their advantage shortly after the restart when Tosin glanced home Facundo Buononette's in-swinging free-kick.

Fired-up Charlton would not lie down though and they got their just rewards when centre-forward Leaburn buried a rebound after Filip Jorgensen had kept out Lloyd Jones' header.

Chelsea then made the hosts pay on the break when a slick counter-attack was finished off by Guiu.

Brazilian gem Estevao tormented Charlton's tired legs from the bench and he went close on several occasions before fellow sub Neto smashed home a fourth.

Enzo Fernandez then netted a stoppage-time penalty after Addicks keeper Will Mannion brought Estevao to ground.