Chelsea have eased into the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-0 victory over Newcastle United in Sunday's encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Michy Batshuayi - heavily linked with a January exit - netted twice during the first half, before Marcos Alonso completed the scoring with an excellent free kick after the break.

The opening quarter of the match in West London passed by without incident, with neither side registering a single shot on goal, but Newcastle were the better team and eventually created the first opportunity.

A cross from the left found the run of Jonjo Shelvey, whose left-footed volley was creeping inside the near post before Willy Caballero tipped the ball behind for a corner.

However, just after the half-hour mark, Chelsea went in front. Pedro's exquisite long pass found the run of Eden Hazard and after the winger teed up Alonso, the ball was poked into the direction of Batshuayi to tap home from six yards out.

Back up the other end, Dwight Gayle saw a weak effort saved by Caballero as Newcastle finished the half strongly, but Chelsea doubled their lead a minute before the break when Batshuayi's low shot deflected off Isaac Hayden and looped into the net, with goalkeeper Karl Darlow having no chance.

In added-on time, Shelvey and Chancel Mbemba both had efforts tipped behind by Caballero, but Chelsea were able to hang onto their clean sheet ahead of the second half.

Newcastle needed to continue on the offensive when the teams returned for the restart, but the visitors were second best as Chelsea showed a greater urgency, especially in attack.

Pedro almost found the top corner with a well-struck effort from 20 yards, before Alonso saw a volley well saved by Darlow to his left.

Danny Drinkwater was also given a chance to get a shot away from inside the penalty area, but the Englishman dragged his strike wide of the far post.

Chelsea finally netted their third of the game in some style, with Alonso scoring his seventh goal of the season with a delightful 25-yard free kick which found the top corner.

With the game all but over, both teams took the opportunity to make a number of substitutions, with Ross Barkley being given his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt at Stamford Bridge and Callum Hudson-Odoi making his senior debut for the Blues.

During the closing stages, Batshuayi saw two efforts blocked by Darlow - both after waltzing around Newcastle defenders - and the Belgian had to be content with just the two goals on what could potentially be his final outing for Chelsea this season.

CHELSEA (3-4-3): Caballero; Rudiger, Christensen, Cahill; Zappacosta, Drinkwater, Kante (Ampadu 78'), Alonso; Pedro (Hudson-Odoi 81'), Batshuayi, Hazard (Barkley 73')

NEWCASTLE UNITED (3-5-1-1): Darlow; Mbemba, Lascelles, Clark; Manquillo (Murphy 77'), Shelvey, Saivet, Hayden (Atsu 83'), Haidara; Ritchie; Gayle (Joselu 64')