Chelsea 2-1 AFC Wimbledon LIVE RESULT: Enzo Fernandez fires Blues to epic Carabao Cup clash win after scoring first goal

Blue dawn

Chelsea have exceeded £300million in spending for the third transfer window in a row.

And, including add-ons, the Palmer deal means they have now surpassed the £1billion mark since Todd Boehly took over last year.

I'LL GET THE BILL

Boehly smashes £1BILLION mark as Chelsea agree £45m Cole Palmer transfer

Keeping his Cole

Cole Palmer will undergo medical tests as new Chelsea player on Thursday, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea agreed a deal worth £45m for the Manchester City and England U21 star.

Keep him waiting

Djordje Petrovic will have to wait for his Chelsea debut as Robert Sanchez is named in goal tonight.

But Petrovic is eager to get going as he said after signing: "It's a big step for me and it's always been a dream of mine to sign for one of the biggest clubs in the world and today I have achieved that goal. I'm so happy!

"Playing in the Premier League is something I'm really looking forward to doing and I hope to learn many things here at Chelsea. I can't wait to meet everyone and play at Stamford Bridge."

Number's up

Djordje Petrovic will wear the number 28 made iconic by club legend Cesar Azpilicueta after his first choice was denied.

He has signed a seven-year deal and takes the No28 left behind by former captain Azpilicueta.

But that was only after the Premier League denied him the chance of wearing the No99 he had at New England Revolution in the MLS.

Family guy

Enzo Fernandez pictured before tonight's match with his partner and young daughter.

The Argentine World Cup winner has been named on the bench.

Squad goals

The Blues boss has taken tonight as an opportunity to rest some players and give others the chance to impress.

He said before the match: "The circumstances at the moment, we cannot field our best starting 11, for different reasons, but we have the players that we need to beat Wimbledon tonight.

"With the players who are going to be involved in the squad, there is no excuse not to be better than Wimbledon and win the game and be in the next round of the Carabao Cup."

Cup for it

Manager Pochettino opened up on competitive nature of cup competition in England.

He said: "I think it’s about mentality, it’s about when you play these types of competitions, and even more here in England, the level because of the motivation, the desire and everything is so high in a team that is lower than you.

"That is why in games like this it’s about matching the energy, matching the desire, matching the motivation.

"If not you can struggle because it will be difficult."

Team news

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino names an experimental and young side tonight at Stamford Bridge.

Bashir Humphreys, Diego Moreira and Mason Burstow are among those to be getting a chance tonight.

Conor Gallagher captains the Blues in midfield and winger Noni Madueke gets his time to impress. No Mykhailo Mudryk in the squad again.

Cole runnings

As Chelsea's players prepare for cup action, behind the scenes their owners are working hard to strengthen the squad.

They have agreed a deal worth £45m for Manchester City and England U21 star Cole Palmer.

He scored in City's Community Shield and Uefa Super Cup matches.

Pochettino keen to win everything

Speaking before this evening's game, Mauricio Pochettino has said he will take tonight's game seriously.

When asked about his rumoured plans of fielding a weakened team tonight, Pochettino said: "I want to win the Carabao Cup, I want to win the FA Cup, I want to win the Premier League, then we see what happens after,"

The Argentine had a reputation for not taking the cups as seriously during his time in charge at Spurs, with him being accused of only treating the league and Champions League as a priority.

He says this characterisation is unfair, and said in his pre-match presser: "In Tottenham I never said I prefer to win the Champions League. I always try to explain I never put out this view. I want to win tomorrow, I want to win the cup, I want to win the league.

"Even if after, in the next few years we are in the Champions League or a different competition, I think every single competition is going to be a challenge for us and opportunity to win."

Making his Marc

Interestingly, Marc Cucurella has been named on the bench and is warming up.

It comes after Manchester United made an inquiry to sign the defender as they look for emergency left-back coverage.

Cucurella only joined Chelsea from Brighton for £63m last summer.

Good evening from Stamford Bridge

Welcome to SunSport’s live coverage of Chelsea vs Wimbledon.

Tonight’s game will kick off at 7:45pm with Chelsea hosting Wimbledon in tonight’s Carabao Cup second round.

Mauricio Pochettino has promised to ring the changes for tonight’s game with the manager saying he expects “four or five young guys from the academy” to make an appearance tonight.

The two clubs last met in a Premier League clash all the way back in February 2000, with Chelsea running out 3-1 victors thanks to goals from Gus Poyet, George Weah and Jody Morris.

Blues fans could get their first glimpse of new goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic who is expected to play in place of no.1 Robert Sanchez.

He will likely play alongside the Blues’ fringe players such as Noni Madueke, Ian Maatsen, Lesley Ugochukwu and Mason Burstow. 

Marc Cucurella is also expected to feature despite being linked with a move to Manchester United.

Wimbledon are unbeaten in the fourth tier, sitting fifth in the table after winning two and drawing three of their opening five games. 

34′ Chelsea 0-1 AFC Wimbledon

Burstow, leading the Chelsea line, has struggled to get into the game and has been short of any link up play with the wingers.

Madueke hits into a see of Wimbledon colours and protests for a spot kick but the ref waves it off.