Chelsea 2 Luton 0: Danny Welbeck opens Stamford Bridge account on debut as Blues cruise through in Carabao Cup

ALL’S Wel that ends well, and a debut goal for Chelsea’s new veteran striker set them on the road to victory. Luton boss Jack Wilshere was hoping not to face any of the Blues front three who had torn Fulham apart on Monday night. Danny Welbeck heads Chelsea into a second half lead Credit: Getty Welbeck, 35, celebrates scoring his first Blues goal Credit: Getty But although Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers both started, it was 35-year-old Danny Welbeck who set Xabi Alonso’s team on their way. Welbeck, in for Joao Pedro, scored an old-fashioned centre forward’s goal just after half time, heading in a Malo Gusto cross. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! And another of Alonso’s attacking options, Brazilian teenager Estevao, killed the game by forcing a Hakeem Odoffin goal with 12 minutes to go. Wilshere’s side defended deep and doggedly. But they had neither enough possession, nor enough cutting edge when they did have the ball, to make their moneybags hosts sweat. It was a comfortable night on the pitch for Chelsea, on a day with plenty of action off it, too. Things are rarely as they seem at Stamford Bridge. Alonso had said wantaway Enzo Fernandez would be involved. He wasn’t. The Blues had insisted all summer they were happy with their goalkeepers. They were not. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Estevao celebrates playing a part in Chelsea’s second goal Credit: Getty Before poor Mike Penders could even make his competitive debut, news broke the Blues had sealed a deal to bring in Emi Martinez to replace Robert Sanchez after the Spaniard’s horror show in the Monday night win at Fulham. With one Argentinian absent and another not yet arrived, there was still someone for the Luton fans to boo. Valentin Barco, who earned a clip round the ear from Jude Bellingham after the World Cup semi-final, made his first appearance and his every touch was jeered.. Barco will have to get used to it. Just as Chelsea fans were becoming accustomed to their team playing in new manager Alonso’s favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, he took the opportunity to experiment. Palmer and Rogers formed an attacking trident with Estevao behind Welbeck, and at times they were a blur of movement and neat touches. Palmer forced a double save from Josh Keeley, then backheeled a free kick to Reece James, whose shot was pushed away acrobatically by the Luton ‘keeper. It was attack against defence for long periods, with the visitors seeing little of the ball or the Chelsea half. After Luton posed a brief threat which ended with a Benny Benagr shot being blocked, Barco played in Estevao, who sent a good chance well wide. Shortly before the break, the Brazilian crossed for Rogers but his volley came back off the underside of the crossbar. But the deadlock was broken within five minutes of the restart. Gusto had too much time to cross and Welbeck was given room to head home from relatively close range. Luton had to react and they did, even enjoying some possession at last in enemy territory. Nevertheless the home side were by far the more threatening, and Welbeck fired wide from a Palmer through ball. The Chelsea No10, oozing confidence in front of watching England boss Thomas Tuchel, then clipped the bar with a 20-yard effort. Luton’s Palmer, Kasey, was not too far off target from range, but Penders was having very little to do. After Alonso sent on Pedro for old man Welbeck, Palmer played in teenager Estevao. The shot seemed to be off target but Odoffin could not stop himself helping it into the net. Keeley saved a stoppage-time effort from Pedro and Jamie Gittens hit the post. Welbeck will surely be back on the bench for the visit of former club Brighton to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. But he showed he has more than just experience to add to Alonso’s still-young squad. Comment now