Goal.com

23/01/2013 12:44:00 PM

Chelsea have to come from two goals down to progress to the League Cup final, but they are good value to do so when they travel to meet Swansea on Wednesday

By PAUL GOUGH Betting Editor

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Chelsea's remarkable away record in recent times makes the Blues an attractive bet to both win Wednesday's second leg League Cup semi-final against Swansea City as well as qualify for yet another Wembley final.

After winning the first leg 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, Swansea are the favourites to qualify for the final, even though reigning European and FA Cup champions Chelsea are the clear favourites to win the second leg on Wednesday.

But with a superb recent away record - combined with Swansea's undoubted nerves given they are so close to the first major cup final appearance in their history - the Blues are more than capable of not just winning at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday but also overturning the 2-0 deficit from the first leg.

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Firstly to the match odds, and Chelsea are the $1.81 favourites at Eskander's Betstar, $1.90 at the TAB and $1.95 with Betfair to simply win the second leg, with the Swans at $3.60 with the TAB, $4 at Betstar and $4.20 at Betfair.

But it is in the 'to qualify' market where Chelsea are real value at odds of $3 with the TAB and $3.55 at Betfair; a market where Swansea are the clear favourites at $1.35 and $1.38 respectively.

Chelsea need to beat Swansea by at least two goals away from home to qualify for the final, as they bid to add to their previous wins in this competition in 1965, 1998, 2005 and 2007.

In their past five away games, Chelsea have beaten Stoke 4-0, Everton 2-1 and Norwich 1-0 in the league as well as thrashing Southampton 5-1 in the FA Cup and Leeds United 5-1 in the previous round of the League Cup.

And with the opportunity of playing in yet another cup final in front of them, that kind of away form makes the Blues a good bet at odds to pull off the kind of big win they will need to overturn their 2-0 first-leg deficit.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are warm favourites paying $1.47 at Betfair to win at home against West Ham at $8.20 in an league fixture delayed from Boxing Day.

And despite their loss to Chelsea last Sunday, the Gunners look a safe bet against a West Ham team that have not won in their past four games and are winless in their past 10 games against their London rivals, dating back to 2007.

* Note prices subject to change