Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to see Chelsea win away. Hey!

The Christmas anthems rang out around Brentford’s community stadium as the Blues won through in the Carabao Cup in the duel of the Thomases, landing a mouth-watering double-header against Spurs in January in the draw for the semis.

But first up is the Boxing Day clash up at Villa Park – a game that was still ‘on’ as of Christmas Eve.

It comes ahead of home ties at the Bridge against Brighton and Liverpool – the games coming thick and fast despite the Covid limitations on Thomas Tuchel’s team.

The manager pronounced himself well satisfied after last Wednesday’s encounter by Kew Bridge; an infinitely better performance than the recent league game against the Bees, which Chelsea – frankly – fluked.

Tuchel blooded teenagers Harvey Vale, Jude Soonsup-Bell and Xavier Simons – a rare case of three debutants starting together – to preserve his depleted forces. All passed muster, though without any truly remarkable contribution to the 2-0 win; the goals coming in the final 10 minutes via an own goal and a Jorginho penalty. But a key performance was by Kepa, between the sticks.

He was rightly praised by Tuchel at the end, as Bees boss Thomas Frank mourned the fact that his side hadn’t turned on the style as they did in the Premier League against their west London rivals.

As well as Jingle Bells, there were several choruses of Osgood, Osgood, Born is the King of Stamford Bridge – another traditional Chelsea carol – and Feed the Scousers, Let them know it’s Christmas Time… a favourite for many seasons.