FA Cup preview: Chelsea - Stoke City

Place in the semi-final awaits either Ancelotti's Blues or Pulis' Potters.

6 Mar 2010 15:25:00

By Alan Dawson

More On :  Chelsea FC, Stoke City
FA Cup: Ricardo Fuller - Wayne Bridge, Stoke City v Manchester City (Getty Images)
Kick-off: Sunday March 7, 2010. 16:00 GMT
Stamford Bridge, London

A solid performance and deserved win over Manchester City ensured Stoke City were pitted against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.
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The Potters' record against the Premier League's established heavyweight clubs is nothing to be sneered at, as City failed to gain a win over Stoke in neither of their three encounters earlier in the year.

Oft considered to be Arsenal's bogey side, Stoke were foiled by Arsene Wenger's men last weekend when the Gunners rallied around Aaron Ramsey, after the midfielder suffered a double fracture due to a robust Ryan Shawcross challenge. The defender begins his suspension on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti has his own defensive worries.

Following the publication of the John Terry sex scandal, the player initially appeared unflusterred on the pitch, however, the Blues skipper is now showing real signs of error-prone form, which is having an adverse effect on Chelsea's ability to gain, or see-out results.

On home turf, though, Chelsea should be comfortable. Stoke's form on the road is not as great as their home form, and the Stamford Bridge side have lost just once in familiar surroundings.

Assistant Ray Wilkins revealed to the BBC the club's desperation to retain the trophy this season: "The FA Cup is massive. Thinking back to last May and the joy we experienced in the dressing room at Wembley. These guys play this game to win trophies and we want to win the trophy badly.

FORM GUIDE

Chelsea

Feb 27: Chelsea 2-4 Manchester City (Premier League)
Feb 24: Inter 2-1 Chelsea (Champions League)
Feb 20: Wolverhampton 0-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
Feb 13: Chelsea 4-1 Cardiff City (FA Cup)
Feb 10: Everton 2-1 Chelsea (Premier League)

Stoke City


Feb 27: Stoke City 1-3 Arsenal (Premier League)
Feb 24: Stoke City 3-1 Manchester City (FA Cup)
Feb 20: Portsmouth 1-2 Stoke City (Premier League)
Feb 16: Stoke City 1-1 Manchester City City (Premier League)
Feb 13: Manchester City 1-1 Stoke (Premier League)

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

Ancelotti is without Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti, while Ricardo Carvalho faces a late fitness test to assess his availibility.

Jose Bosingwa will be out of action for the rest of the season.

Last Premier League Line-up : Hilario, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Malouda, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Joe Cole, Anelka, Drogba.

Stoke City

Pulis has the luxury of a full squad aside from the absences of Matt Etherington (knee) and Danny Higginbotham (back).

Previous Premier League Line-up (vs Arsenal): Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Faye, Huth, Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Pugh, Fuller, Sidibe.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea

Vying for the Player of the Year crown along with Arsenal playmaker Francesc Fabregas and tireless Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba will be eager to add some FA Cup strikes to his 19-goal haul in the Premier League this season.

Stoke City

Returning to his old ground, Robert Huth will be keen to prove his former employers wrong in selling him in 2006. The tough-tackling defender will not shy from the physical battles.

PREDICTION

Chelsea 3 - 1 Stoke City
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Manchester United v Liverpool, Everton v Chelsea - Premier League build-up LIVE!
With George Ankers

Follow all the build-up to another weekend of Premier League action, and keep up to speed with the continued fall out to Fabio Capello's resignation as England manager.

Tweet us @GoalUK

13:17 GMT
You'll have seen earlier that Kenny Dalglish hinted about Sir Alex Ferguson taking on the vacant England role - is that as crazy an idea as it sounds?

Ed Barker: "There's obvious no chance that it will happen - Sir Alex has turned down England twice before and wants to manage United for the next three years. Dalglish has his tongue firmly in cheek there. Mind you, I love Ferguson's quote today that he'd take charge and "get England relegated" - not sure Fergie quite gets this international football malarkey!"

Matt Ladson: "A good tactic to take some of the attention away from Suarez in the lead up to the game, that's all.
13:10 GMT
We've already had one of the key questions come through. Jason Angelo asks if Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra will shake hands at the start of tomorrow's match - and, indeed, should they?

Matt Ladson: "It might not be needed, if Suarez doesn't start. If he does, I think they will. Whether they should or not is a whole other debate."

Ed Barker: "Only if Suarez starts - I suspect he will. And if that happens I believe that the players will shake hands. From a United perspective I'd like to see that happen, and for Patrice Evra to continue riding that moral high horse. He's got nothing to lose by shaking Suarez's hand."

13:05 GMT
Afternoon everyone and my, have we got a treat for you. Ahead of tomorrow's megaclash between Manchester United and Liverpool, we've got two experts in as well as the Goal.com team to field your questions.

Matt Ladson is the editor of the excellent This Is Anfield while Ed Barker is editor of the top-class United Rant and they're ready to tackel the big issues of the day. Tweet us your questions to @GoalUK and let's get the debate going!
13:01 GMT
So it's been a morning of yet more whispers about the England job, will anyone shout to the top? The afternoon is upon us so in the word's of Ray Arnold, played by Samuel L. Jackson in Jurassic Park: Hold on to your butts.

Anyway here is just the man to take you through the day, George Ankers.
12:51 GMT
I mean honestly, Sir Alex Ferguson managing England... that could only ever be a... great thing?
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