Played
March 18, 2012 2:05 PM GMT
Stamford Bridge — London
Referee:‬ L. Probert‎
Attendance:‬ 38276‎
 

Chelsea - Leicester City Preview: Blues are unbeaten in their last 22 home FA Cup ties

The Stamford Bridge side will be looking to build upon their dramatic Champions League progression to secure a place in the domestic tournament's semi-final at Wembley

By Alex Young

FA Cup - Chelsea v Birmingham City, Daniel Sturridge and Gary Cahill
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA


Cech
Bosingwa, Cahill, Terry, Cole
Meireles, Mikel
Ramires, Lampard, Kalou
Drogba

LEICESTER CITY


Schmeichel
St Ledger, Bamba, Morgan, Konchesky
Dyer, Wellens, Danns, Gallagher
Nugent, Beckford


Interim Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo could be set to make a few changes to the side that emerged victorious during their dramatic extra-time victory over Napoli in the Champions League during mid-week.

John Terry and David Luiz are both facing a race against time to be fit for the fixture. The former England captain has not long returned to the side after undergoing knee surgery but picked up a knock in midweek as did Luiz who is struggling with an ankle problem also sustained during the game against the Italians.

Gary Cahill, could, therefore come back into the starting lineup and Raul Meireles is also available for selection once again after returning from suspension.

Leicester left-back and former Liverpool man Paul Konchesky returns from a three-match suspension after earning a red card in the game against Coventry earlier in the month. He faces a battle, however, with Tom Kennedy who has deputised in his absence and has gone onto make a decent impression.

Matt Mills, Lee Peltier, Steve Howard and Jeff Schlupp are all pushing for returns to the starting eleven while Danny Drinkwater, Conrad Logan and Liam Moore are all cup-tied for Nigel Pearson’s side.


DID YOU KNOW?
  • Roberto Di Matteo has now overseen three straight wins since taking over the Chelsea reins from sacked former manager Andre Villas-Boas, who won just one of his last seven matches at the club.
  • Chelsea have won all of the last five meetings with the Foxes, with the latest a 4-3 success in the League Cup back in October 2007.
  • The Blues are unbeaten in 22 home FA Cup games, excluding penalty shoot out defeats.
  • Chelsea have scored a 90th minute goal in three of their last four clashes with tomorrow’s opposition, with two of those goals turning draws into wins
  • Both teams go into the game with different managers to the ones that they started the season with. Sven Goran Eriksson and Andre Villas-Boas were both sacked for a perceived under-performance in the league.
  • Leicester have been woefully inconsistent this campaign and have won four and lost three of their last seven league games.
  • The Foxes have kept five clean sheets in six previous away FA Cup sixth round games, excluding replays, conceding just one in the other.
  • Jermaine Beckford (pictured right) is the competition's top goalscorer after netting five goals in the FA Cup so far this season.
  • The FA Cup has proven a fruitful competition for Beckford in the past too, and the former Everton striker has scored 14 goals in his last 15 FA Cup appearances.
  • If Leicester emerge from the tie as victors, it will mark the first time that they have been FA Cup semi-finalists in 30 years.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ 18 Mar 2012 Chelsea FC 5 - Leicester City 2
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Capital One Cup ‎(CCUP)‎ 31 Oct 2007 Chelsea FC 4 - Leicester City 3
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Last Five Matches
Odds
Returns: Chelsea £13.33 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £360.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Leicester City £710.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1Petr CechGoalkeeper
2Branislav IvanovicDefender
24Gary CahillDefender
19José BosingwaDefender
34Ryan BertrandDefender
12John Obi MikelMidfielder
14Raúl MeirelesMidfielder
15Daniel SturridgeStriker
9Fernando TorresStriker
10Juan MataStriker
21Salomon KalouStriker
40Henrique HilárioGoalkeeper
4David LuizDefender
19Paulo FerreiraDefender
8Frank LampardMidfielder
15Florent MaloudaMidfielder
5Michael EssienMidfielder
12Didier DrogbaStriker
1Kasper SchmeichelGoalkeeper
3Paul KoncheskyDefender
26Sol BambaDefender
-Sean St LedgerDefender
-Westley MorganDefender
11DyerDefender
17Neil DannsMidfielder
19Richard WellensMidfielder
35David NugentStriker
9Jermaine BeckfordStriker
7Paul GallagherStriker
-Adam SmithGoalkeeper
-Lee PeltierDefender
-Tom KennedyDefender
35Ben MarshallStriker
27Jeffery ShcluppMidfielder
9Steve HowardStriker
-Tom HopperStriker
Players to Watch
Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
5 1 0 0

What more can you say about Torres’ form? He desperately needs a goal and notched the unenviable landmark of 24 hours without netting against Napoli.

We have been saying it for weeks but his luck could turn this weekend. It has to, surely? Facing a Championship side might just help.

Jermaine Beckford
Jermaine Beckford
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
0 1 0 0

The former Everton striker, who made a surprise move back to the Championship in the summer, has pace to burn, while possessing a willingness to run in the channels and chase down loose balls.

He has previous when it comes to goals against heavily-fancied FA Cup opposition, netting for Leeds back in 2009 against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 1-0 win.

Prediction

Chelsea’s mid-week exertions could have a part to play as the game wears on and Di Matteo will have to be mindful that neither fatigue nor complacency set in, but they should have enough in the tank to see off an inconsistent Leicester outfit.

Editor's Prediction
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Danny  Hylton Danny Hylton
Striker
Aldershot
8 0
Carlos Tévez Carlos Tévez
Striker
Manchester City
5 0
Scott  Rendell Scott Rendell
Striker
Luton Town
4 1
Marvin  Sordell Marvin Sordell
Striker
Bolton
4 1
Demba Ba Demba Ba
Striker
Chelsea
4 0