Eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea will be hoping to avoid a second successive third-round elimination when they welcome Preston North End to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
The two teams lock horns for the first time since January 2010 when the Blues claimed a 2-0 win over the Lilywhites at Deepdale in the FA Cup fourth round.
Cole Palmer starred for the Blues and contributed to all three goals at Kenilworth Road, scoring twice and setting up Noni Madueke for his second goal in as many games, but the West Londoners almost threw away their comfortable lead as Luton valiantly fought back to score twice in the final 10 minutes, ultimately to no avail.
Mauricio Pochettino's side, who remain 10th in the Premier League table, eventually held on for what proved to be a valuable victory as each of the next four teams above them all dropped points, and Chelsea now sit just three points behind Brighton & Hove Albion in seventh.
Back-to-back cup fixtures against Championship opposition are up next for Chelsea, with next Tuesday's EFL Cup semi-final first leg away at Middlesbrough to follow Saturday's FA Cup third-round clash with Preston, whom they have beaten in nine of their last 15 meetings in all competitions.
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