Date: Sunday 10th
January 2021
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 13:30 GMT
After taking a
battering from City last week, today’s lunchtime game sees us up against
Morecambe in the FA Cup third round.
A chance for us to
get a win and some goals again you might think? Well that’s a dangerous mindset
if our players go out thinking like that, ask Bradford. The fact is, with just
one win from their last seven games, Chelsea can’t take anything for granted
right now.
The visitors, coincidentally
the second side we’ve faced in succession who’ve had a recent covid outbreak, are
in decent form in the league and have already equalled their best ever run in the
competition by getting to the third round. They’ll no doubt feel they’ve got a
chance given our current form and they’ll also have absolutely nothing to lose,
so the pressure is all on us – but what’s new.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Chelsea Manager, Frank Lampard says “I don’t think
there was a season I played at this club, for all the success we had over the
years, where we didn’t have difficult moments. I’m the first one that has to be
positive and get excited about the fact that losing games is the biggest chance
to improve in football. When you’re a squad that’s growing and young and new –
with players coming in – those are the moments that test them and make them
better.”
Morecambe manager Derek Adams meanwhile, says “You’ve
got to understand the opposition. They are talented, they have spent a great
deal of money in taking in the players they have. But our players have to
appreciate the skill that they do have. They’ll
all be really excited to go to Stamford Bridge and play. So, on the day, they
have to stick to the gameplan, and then they will obviously get opportunities
in the game. When those opportunities come along, it’s how clinical can they be
in front of goal.”
SQUAD NEWS
For
Chelsea, N’Golo Kante, Andreas Christensen (knee) and Reece James (hamstring) are
all out.
For Morecambe, after their Covid
outbreak, they now have a fully fit squad.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Kepa; Azpilicueta,
Rudiger, Zouma, Emerson; Kovacic, Jorginho, Gilmour; Havertz, Giroud,
Hudson-Odoi
MORECAMBE (Possible
line-up): Halstead; Mellor, Davis,
Lavelle, Hendrie; Songo’o; Slew, Phillips, Wildig, Gomes; Stockton
CURRENT FORM (ALL)
CHELSEA: LLWLDL
MORECAMBE: WLWWWW
OTHER STUFF
- This is the first
game between Chelsea and Morecambe.
- Morecambe have
reached the third round for the fourth time, losing on each of the previous
three occasions without scoring a goal.
- Chelsea have
progressed from their third-round tie in each season since 1997-98.
- This is Morecambe’s
second FA Cup tie against top-flight opposition.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 5-0 Morecambe
