Carling Cup third round
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Wednesday, 22 September
Kick-off: 1945 BST
Well, we’ve had a good start in the Premier League, a decent start in the Champions League and tonight we’ll be hoping for a good start in the Carling Cup as well. It’s a Newcastle side currently sitting sixth in the Premier League we’ll be welcoming to Stamford Bridge and we’ll be doing so with a much-changed side by the sounds of it.
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
Carlo Ancelotti confirms his plans to use the Carling Cup games as an opportunity for some of our younger players to come through, stating “We will need to use all of our players. The squad is so strong that we can change players to offer something different to the team or change the shape if we want to. We want to show, during this season, that we can adapt to any game – this can be our strength. We will change a lot of players for the Carling Cup because we want to use this competition for our younger players.”
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton, on the other hand, is keen to put out a side capable of beating us, suggesting “Although it’s a Carling Cup game, which is away from the pressure of the league, these are the games you want to be involved in, these are the games you want the players to be involved in. With all due respect to the other teams, going to your Old Traffords and your Stamford Bridges and your Emirates, they are the really tough competitive games that you want the players to be involved in. It’s one more to look forward to than to fear – and, of course, there isn’t that pressure on us.
“I don’t think people expect us to win, so we go there without that pressure. I don’t think it would be unfair to say it is not the biggest of our priorities, but we very much have respect for this competition and even more so, a respect for Chelsea Football Club, who have started the season so well. We will make sure we put out a side that’s capable of coping very well with them. You are always concerned up against a top-quality Chelsea side who are scoring goals for fun, and certainly with the home record they have got. But you have also got to have faith in the squad you have and the abilities we have. We will make sure we go there with a side which is capable of getting something.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, John Terry (rib), Frank Lampard (groin), Jose Bosingwa (knee) and Hilario (rib) all miss out through injury. Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick van Aanholt, Gael Kakuta and Daniel Sturridge are all set to start, with Carlo Ancelotti ready to blood our youngsters in this competition.
For Newcastle, Steven Taylor (shoulder) and Dan Gosling (knee) miss out. Danny Guthrie (knee) and Danny Simpson (ankle) are back in training, Leon Best (ankle) returns to the squad and Sol Campbell is expected to make his debut.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (from): Cech, Turnbull, Ferreira, Cole, Alex, Ivanovic, Bruma, Borini, Kakuta, Essien, Ramires, Obi, Van Aanholt, Sturridge, Drogba, Anelka, Kalou, Benayoun, Zhirkov, Malouda.
NEWCASTLE (from): Krul, Soderberg, R Taylor, Ferguson, Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Campbell, Kadar, Smith, Tiote, Barton, Routledge, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Vuckic, Tavernier, Donaldson, Nolan, Carroll, Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Ranger, Best.
PREDICTION
Chelsea have won all four of their previous League Cup ties against Newcastle, the most recent being in 2006. Newcastle’s best League Cup performance was in 1976, with a 2-1 defeat in the final to Man City. On current form, we’ve won our last six league and cup games, banging in goals left-right-and-centre whilst Newcastle have won three of their last six. Add to that the fact that the Magpies haven’t had a win at Stamford Bridge since 1986 and on paper, it looks odds on for a home win. I guess the only question is, can our youngsters play on paper?
Blue is the colour
