Date: Saturday 11th
January 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Today’s game sees us enter the FA Cup at the 3rd
round as we play host to Morecambe.
We’ll be glad for a break from the Premier League where we’ve found points harder to hang onto than sand, with just 2 from the last 12 available but that’s not to say we don’t need to at least turn up today.
We’ve had to watch some pretty below par performances again
lately and I suspect there will be little patience for goals from the home support
this afternoon. Which might be awkward with the back of the net now resembling Narnia
– and we’re sadly missing the magic to find it.
We come into today’s game off the back of more dropped
points, following a draw against Crystal Palace, whilst the visitors, who we
beat in the competition in 2021, have had wins over Carlisle United and
Tranmere Rovers since Christmas but remain in the League Two relegation places.
Chelsea have won 35 of their last 36 games in the
competition against a lower-division team, but Maresca has shown he isn’t bothered
about any records we might have held before his arrival. It’s also anyone’s
guess how seriously he will take today’s game. A second-string Chelsea went out
of the League Cup without putting up a fight and he hasn’t shown much of that
himself in our last few games either.
I’d like to think we’re still serious enough to win this one
comfortably in spite of the recent downturn in form but it’s the FA Cup…….anything
can happen.
.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
tonight’s game, Enzo Maresca, says “The FA Cup is very important. It’s
another competition and as I’ve said since the start, we want to do well in
every competition – whether that’s the Premier League, the Conference League,
the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup. Against Morecambe is no different, we go to win
like we do every match. It’s an important competition because it has so much
history and culture attached to it. We are prepared for the game and I know a
lot about Morecambe now because we’ve watched many of their videos to be ready.”
Morecambe
manager, Derek Adams, meanwhile, says “I don’t think they will field their
strongest starting XI, I might be surprised. The last time, Chelsea put out the
strongest team they could on the day; it depends on what the manager thinks.
Ironically,
it’s my second time managing at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup third round and
it’s his first time! They have quality players throughout their team. Whoever
they play on the day, they have undoubted quality. I might rotate, just as Enzo
might do with his squad. We haven’t decided yet, it’s a big decision for us.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Benoit Badiashile and Wesley
Fofana remain out, along with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (unspecified) and the
suspended Mykhaylo Mudryk. Romeo Lavia (thigh) should be available.
For Morercambe, Rhys Williams has
extended his loan from Liverpool.
TEAMS
CHELSEA
(Possible line-up): Jorgensen;
James, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Veiga; Lavia, Chukwuemeka; Madueke, Nkunku,
Felix; Guiu
MORECAMBE
(Possible line-up): Burgoyne; Hendrie, Williams, Stott,
Lewis; Jones, White; Tollitt, Songo’o, Edwards; Slew
LAST MEETING
Chelsea 4-0 Morecambe
(10th January 2021)
CURRENT FORM (ALL)
Chelsea: WWDLLD
Morecambe: LLLWLW
OTHER STUFF
- This is the second competitive meeting between Chelsea and
Morecambe
- Chelsea beat Morecambe in an FA Cup third round tie in January 2021.
- Morecambe have lost all three of their FA
Cup matches against Premier League opposition
- Chelsea have progressed from 35 of their
last 36 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division
- This is Morecambe’s seventh appearance in
the FA Cup third round
- Morecambe have lost all six of their matches at this stage of the
competition
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 5-0 Morecambe
