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FA Cup Preview: Chelsea - Southend United
What: English FA Cup Third Round
Who: Chelsea (2nd Premier League) - Southend (13th League One)
When: Saturday, 3 January 2009, 1500 GMT
Where: Stamford Bridge, London
02-Jan-2009 7:51:32 PM
Atonement
There will be no counting of unhatched chickens at Stamford Bridge prior to this seeming home-banker against Southend, as the Pensioners have already been eliminated by lower-league opposition from cup competition this term.
Chelsea's interest in the Carling Cup was ended by Burnley in a game that will be remembered for Didier Drogba's impromptu philanthropy when handing out his wages to the Burnley fans.
However, the FA Cup is a knock-out competition in which Chelsea boast a strong record, reaching and winning three of the last eight finals.
Drogba plundered the winning goal in the most recent of those triumphs, against Manchester United in 2007, and is a player that could do with rehabilitation in the eyes of many.
After accusing the club of a lack of sympathy and being fined for his outbursts this week, Drogba has some sucking-up to do and has the unenviable task of dislodging the league's top scorer from the starting line-up to boot.
Nicolas Anelka is likely to figure in any case, given the Blues' lack of options up top, but it is Drogba on whom eyes will be cast.
Two wins out of the last five Premier League meetings again have Luiz Felipe Scolari under scrutiny, but a professional trouncing of lowly opposition may be enough to convince the sceptics of Chelsea's ability and intentions for 2009.
No Expectations
Southend have broken through the third round barrier only once in 15 seasons and have failed to score in the last four away encounters. Worse still, Steve Tilson's side are without a win on the road in the last eight attempts.
Therefore, they are not exactly coming to Stamford Bridge with a bright away record to defend. Suffice to say, heart will have been taken by Burnley's showing in the Carling Cup but giantkilling expectations are at a premium at Southend.
Manager Steve Tilson explained to BBC Essex: "We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain, and it brings a bit of money into the football club.
"I think for a club of our size is important to have a decent cup run, whether it's the FA Cup, Johnstone's Paint Trophy or League Cup.
"From that point of view we've had a good run in it and I couldn't have asked for a better tie."
Placed a modest 13th in the third tier of the league pyramid, the Shrimpers have won only one of their last five league ties and have failed to score in the other four. Ominously, Tilson's men needed a replay to execute victory over non-league Telford two rounds ago.
Form Guide:
Chelsea:
28 Dec v Fulham (A) Premier League DREW 2-2
26 Dec v West Bromwich Albion (H) Premier League WON 2-0
22 Dec v Everton (A) Premier League DREW 0-0
14 Dec v West Ham United (H) Premier League DREW 1-1
9 Dec v CFR Cluj (H) Champions League WON 2-1
Southend United:
28 Dec v Milton Keynes Dons (A) League One LOST 2-0
26 Dec v Northampton Town (H) League One WON 1-0
19 Dec v Hartlepool United (A) League One LOST 3-0
13 Dec v Huddersfield Town (H) League One LOST 1-0
6 Dec v Leicester City (A) League One LOST 3-0
Team News:
Chelsea
Luiz Felipe Scolari will be shuffling his deck whether he likes it or not; John Terry and Michael Ballack are serving bans while Alex and Florent Malouda picked up knocks against Fulham. Ricardo Carvalho will continue his convalescence from long-term injury. Michael Essien is edging towards fitness but is not there yet. Wayne Bridge has been sold to Manchester City.
Possible Line Up (4-4-2): Cech - Bosingwa, A Cole, Ivanovic, Carvalho - Mikel, Lampard, Deco, J Cole - Anelka, Drogba
Southend United
Francis Laurent has been ill but is expected to take a striking berth while Jean Francois Christophe has been added permanently from Portsmouth after a loan stint.
Last Line Up (v Milton Keynes Dons): Mildenhall - Harding, Francis, Clarke, Barrett -Sanofa, McCormack, Grant, Stanislas - Freedman, Revell
Players To Watch
Chelsea
Didier Drogba will have the chance to become the first Chelsea player to score in four competitions this season, having already netted strikes in the Premier League, League Cup and Champions League. The Ivorian boasts an FA Cup winning goal to go alongside the medal he earned in 2007 and will be seeking to kick-start a disappointing season by rattling the onion bag. Recent mutterings from the Bridge suggest that the 30-year-old is not going to claim the club's Most Popular Person award but goals will help restore a justified reputation.
Southend United
Dougie Freedman left Crystal Palace over the summer after more than a decade of loyal service, and is still finding the net in the colours of the Shrimpers. The Scottish veteran has netted four times in league competition for Southend and is a likely candidate to cause an infamous 'cupset'.
Prediction
Separated by 55 league places and a wealth of talent, Chelsea and Southend are under no illusions as to which way their respective supports expect this one to go. Barnsley eliminated both from the competition last season but don't use that as a pointer. Chelsea should win and will want to do so convincingly to ease some of the tension in west London.
Chelsea 4-0 Southend United
Peter Staunton, Goal.com
There will be no counting of unhatched chickens at Stamford Bridge prior to this seeming home-banker against Southend, as the Pensioners have already been eliminated by lower-league opposition from cup competition this term.
Chelsea's interest in the Carling Cup was ended by Burnley in a game that will be remembered for Didier Drogba's impromptu philanthropy when handing out his wages to the Burnley fans.
However, the FA Cup is a knock-out competition in which Chelsea boast a strong record, reaching and winning three of the last eight finals.
Drogba plundered the winning goal in the most recent of those triumphs, against Manchester United in 2007, and is a player that could do with rehabilitation in the eyes of many.
After accusing the club of a lack of sympathy and being fined for his outbursts this week, Drogba has some sucking-up to do and has the unenviable task of dislodging the league's top scorer from the starting line-up to boot.
Nicolas Anelka is likely to figure in any case, given the Blues' lack of options up top, but it is Drogba on whom eyes will be cast.
Two wins out of the last five Premier League meetings again have Luiz Felipe Scolari under scrutiny, but a professional trouncing of lowly opposition may be enough to convince the sceptics of Chelsea's ability and intentions for 2009.
No Expectations
Southend have broken through the third round barrier only once in 15 seasons and have failed to score in the last four away encounters. Worse still, Steve Tilson's side are without a win on the road in the last eight attempts.
Therefore, they are not exactly coming to Stamford Bridge with a bright away record to defend. Suffice to say, heart will have been taken by Burnley's showing in the Carling Cup but giantkilling expectations are at a premium at Southend.
Manager Steve Tilson explained to BBC Essex: "We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain, and it brings a bit of money into the football club.
"I think for a club of our size is important to have a decent cup run, whether it's the FA Cup, Johnstone's Paint Trophy or League Cup.
"From that point of view we've had a good run in it and I couldn't have asked for a better tie."
Placed a modest 13th in the third tier of the league pyramid, the Shrimpers have won only one of their last five league ties and have failed to score in the other four. Ominously, Tilson's men needed a replay to execute victory over non-league Telford two rounds ago.
Form Guide:
Chelsea:
28 Dec v Fulham (A) Premier League DREW 2-2
26 Dec v West Bromwich Albion (H) Premier League WON 2-0
22 Dec v Everton (A) Premier League DREW 0-0
14 Dec v West Ham United (H) Premier League DREW 1-1
9 Dec v CFR Cluj (H) Champions League WON 2-1
Southend United:
28 Dec v Milton Keynes Dons (A) League One LOST 2-0
26 Dec v Northampton Town (H) League One WON 1-0
19 Dec v Hartlepool United (A) League One LOST 3-0
13 Dec v Huddersfield Town (H) League One LOST 1-0
6 Dec v Leicester City (A) League One LOST 3-0
Team News:
Chelsea
Luiz Felipe Scolari will be shuffling his deck whether he likes it or not; John Terry and Michael Ballack are serving bans while Alex and Florent Malouda picked up knocks against Fulham. Ricardo Carvalho will continue his convalescence from long-term injury. Michael Essien is edging towards fitness but is not there yet. Wayne Bridge has been sold to Manchester City.
Possible Line Up (4-4-2): Cech - Bosingwa, A Cole, Ivanovic, Carvalho - Mikel, Lampard, Deco, J Cole - Anelka, Drogba
Southend United
Francis Laurent has been ill but is expected to take a striking berth while Jean Francois Christophe has been added permanently from Portsmouth after a loan stint.
Last Line Up (v Milton Keynes Dons): Mildenhall - Harding, Francis, Clarke, Barrett -Sanofa, McCormack, Grant, Stanislas - Freedman, Revell
Players To Watch
Chelsea
Didier Drogba will have the chance to become the first Chelsea player to score in four competitions this season, having already netted strikes in the Premier League, League Cup and Champions League. The Ivorian boasts an FA Cup winning goal to go alongside the medal he earned in 2007 and will be seeking to kick-start a disappointing season by rattling the onion bag. Recent mutterings from the Bridge suggest that the 30-year-old is not going to claim the club's Most Popular Person award but goals will help restore a justified reputation.
Southend United
Dougie Freedman left Crystal Palace over the summer after more than a decade of loyal service, and is still finding the net in the colours of the Shrimpers. The Scottish veteran has netted four times in league competition for Southend and is a likely candidate to cause an infamous 'cupset'.
Prediction
Separated by 55 league places and a wealth of talent, Chelsea and Southend are under no illusions as to which way their respective supports expect this one to go. Barnsley eliminated both from the competition last season but don't use that as a pointer. Chelsea should win and will want to do so convincingly to ease some of the tension in west London.
Chelsea 4-0 Southend United
Peter Staunton, Goal.com
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