Fernández rescues Chelsea to end Wimbledon's resistance

If in doubt turn to the £106.8m world champion sitting on the bench. It was the equivalent of money shouting through a megaphone when Enzo Fernández entered the fray after 65 minutes of watching Chelsea toil against the side sitting fifth in League Two.

- Jacob Steinberg

Mauricio Pochettino was in no mood to be caught out and, hard though AFC Wimbledon fought, a feisty Carabao Cup tie was only going one way once Fernández was on.

It was the Argentinian whose goal carried Chelsea into the third round, though not before Wimbledon had given them a fright by taking an early lead. The visitors were awkward, Harry Pell delivering a comically spiky performance in the middle, and Chelsea were nervy until Noni Madueke drew them level from the spot. Pochettino was a relieved man at the end, especially as. Wimbledon had chances to force penalties.

There was an experimental lineup from Pochettino, who handed full debuts to Lesley Ugochukwu, Mason Burstow and Diego Moreira, but Chelsea still had plenty of additional firepower on a bench containing the two most expensive players in the history of English football. Wimbledon, after all, have been known to pull off an upset or two in their time.