No FA Cup upset for the Hatters as Abraham's hat-trick sinks Luton at Stamford Bridge

Luton put up a brave display as they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Premier League champions and eight-time winners Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.

The visitors looked like they could be on the end of a bit of a mauling at one stage, falling 2-0 behind inside the opening 20 minutes to Tammy Abraham's quickfire double.

However they rallied, thank to Jordan Clark's opportunistic strike on the half hour and were well in the game until 16 minutes from time when Abraham completed his hat-trick to finally kill off the visitors' hopes of causing an upset.

Simon Sluga then saved a late penalty to ensure the scoreline didn't have a harsher feel to it, as the Hatters could leave Stamford Bridge with their heads held high.

Boss Nathan Jones made four changes to his side, dropping leading scorer James Collins to the bench, with Kal Naismith in for his first start, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Glen Rea and Jordan Clark all included as well, Dan Potts, Luke Berry and George Moncur among the substitutes.

The hosts went strong for the clash, Frank Lampard going for a team that cost over £230m in transfer fees including Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, plus England internationals Mason Mount and Reece James, while they had an even more expensive bench, with some £260m plus of talent among the replacements.

As expected, Chelsea had the majority of the early possession, Abraham breaking the offside trap, with Sluga out quickly at his feet.

Mount saw his shot deflected over, with Kurt Zouma heading the resulting corner off target, but the Blues went in front on 11 minutes when Sluga's poor goal kick went straight out for a throw.

As Town switched off, play was quickly transferred down Chelsea's left, with Werner finding an unmarked Abraham to easily slot into the bottom corner, although Luton had cause for complaints with a second ball being on the pitch when the move had begun, which under the rules should have led to play being stopped.

Abraham then made it 2-0 just six minutes later, when James delivered an exquisite cross from the right and he rose above Town's defence, with Sluga unsure whether to come or stay at home, glancing a header into the net.

Luton responded well to the goal though, as a short corner routine saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall swing a ball over for Harry Cornick to head into the empty stands.

Chelsea always looked dangerous in attack though, one marvellous dummy by Werner releasing Christian Pulisic, his low shot deflected away by the feet of Sluga.

Out of nowhere, Luton were back in the game on the half hour as a good ball by Mpanzu released James Bree on the right and he picked out Clark whose close range attempt beat the weak efforts of Kepa, gifting the visitors an unlikely lifeline.

Pulisic curled over the top after another incisive Blues move, who were not completely rattled, but certainly irked by the goal, with Werner unable to prod his volley on target.

The final action of the first period saw Cornick meet Dewsbury-Hall's free kick, but this time Kepa clung on.

Jones swapped Rea for Dan Potts at the break, as Luton were almost caught out on their left, James sending over a low cross that Pulisic reached, only to see Sluga react well with his legs once more.

Abraham was a whisker away from connecting with another cross in as he hunted his treble, while Mount cracked over after being teed up outside the box.

Town then fashioned their best chance of the game on the hour when Potts got the better of James' poor touch and raced away on the left.

He found support in Mpanzu, who in turn fed Cornick, the Chelsea fan seeing Kepa finally show his credentials with a strong left hand to parry away.

That was the last action for Cornick though, part of a triple sub as James Collins came on for his 500th career appearance, Kazenga LuaLua and Luke Berry also introduced, Bree and Tunnicliffe making way.

Abraham's chip dropped wide of the target as the striker should have wrapped up his treble with 20 to go, placing a downward header wide.

He finally did reach the personal milestone he had been threatening all game, side-footing home from close range after Luton were sliced apart on their right by sub Callum Hudson-Odoi and Billy Gilmour's clever one-two.

Town sub George Moncur almost pulled one back immediately, his curler flying wide of the target from outside the box.

Blues boss Lampard increased his attacking options, bringing on £71m signing Kai Havertz and French international Olivier Giroud, the latter's chip collected by Sluga.

The Crotian was to keep the scores down again with five minutes remaining when the hosts won a penalty after Werner was fouled by Clark.

The German stepped up himself, but was denied by an excellent stop from Town's keeper who sprung to his left to parry.

Luton couldn't quite find another goal to make it a nervy finale for their illustrious opponents, as it was Chelsea who went on to face Barnsley in the next round.

Blues: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Andreas Christensen, Tammy Abraham (Olivier Giroud 76), Christian Pulisic (Callum Hudson-Odoi 70), Timo Werner, Kurt Zouma, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech (Kai Havertz 76), Billy Gilmour, Reece James, Emerson.

Subs not used: Willy Caballero, Antonio Rudiger, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Ben Chilwell, Cesar Azpilicueta.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree (Luke Berry 62), Kal Naismith, Tom Lockyer, Glen Rea (Dan Potts 46), Sonny Bradley ©, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Ryan Tunnicliffe (Kazenga LuaLua 62), Jordan Clark, Harry Cornick (James Collins 62).

Subs not used: James Shea, Sam Nombe, Danny Hylton, George Moncur, Elliot Lee.

Bookings: Clark 85.

Referee: David Coote.