BLUES LABOUR BUT HALL OK IN THE END

IT WAS Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall who netted his third Europa Conference League goal of the season to see favourites Chelsea through to the last eight.

- NEIL MCLEMAN

But Enzo Maresco still had to call Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella off the bench at half-time after his sluggish side failed to register a first-half shot against FC Copenhagen in both legs.

Left-back Cucurella won back possession after 55 minutes to allow the £30million midfielder Dewsbury-Hall (above) to slalom through the Danish defence before scoring with his left foot and end the chance of a shock defeat.

After winning the first leg 2-1, this was Chelsea's eighth consecutive win in the third-tier competition, thanks to an improved second-half performance.

But illness in the Blues camp this week looked to have taken its toll on a Chelsea side seeing six changes from last weekend's Premier League win.