FA Cup: Chelsea – Cardiff City

Posted Saturday, February 13, 2010 by Goal.com

Championship side travel to London hoping to shock holders.

Kick-Off: Saturday 13 February 12.00 GMT, Stamford Bridge, London

Premier League leaders Chelsea continue their defence of the FA Cup on Saturday lunchtime with the visit of Championship side Cardiff City to Stamford Bridge.

Having already seen off Watford and Preston North End in convincing fashion, the Blues will be firm favorites to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the competition, although they will have to do it with a few of their most familiar faces missing.

The west London club have already confirmed that captain John Terry has been given a few days leave and will miss the tie whilst Ashley Cole is set for three months on the sidelines after fracturing an ankle during Wednesday night’s defeat by Everton.

With Champions League ties against Inter looming, manager Carlo Ancelotti may also decide to rotate his squad and hand starts to the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Henrique Hilario and Joe Cole.

Certainly Chelsea will want to bounce back from their defeat at Everton, where despite taking the lead through Florent Malouda they allowed the Toffees to bounce back, with a Louis Saha brace sealing victory for David Moyes’ men.

Results elsewhere, notably Manchester United’s draw at Aston Villa, meant the Blues remain top of the pile in the top flight, though only by a solitary point, and they may welcome the distraction the FA Cup brings.

Cardiff City, meanwhile, will surely be glad simply to return to football matters after hearing this week that their second winding-up order has been adjourned for 28 days.

A good FA Cup run will undoubtedly help boost their finances, and they have already reportedly earned £1 million from this season’s efforts in the competition, which have seen them defeat Leicester City and Bristol City on their way to booking a date with Chelsea.

The Bluebirds are currently fourth in the Championship, pushing for a play-off spot, but they too will have to cope without some key players for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

Striker Jay Bothroyd, who has bagged nine goals and ten assists this season, damaged ankle ligaments in the 2-0 win over Peterborough United, a game that saw Stephen McPhail end up in hospital; the duo are unlikely to feature against the Blues.

Cardiff are already without players such as Joe Ledley, Gavin Rae and captain Mark Hudson, all of which means manager Dave Jones faces something of a selection headache ahead of the game.

FORM GUIDE

Chelsea

Feb 10: Everton 2-1 Chelsea
Feb 7: Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
Feb 2: Hull City 1-1 Chelsea
Jan 30: Burnley 1-2 Chelsea
Jan 27: Chelsea 3-0 Birmingham City

Cardiff City

Feb 9: Cardiff 2-0 Peterborough
Feb 5: Newcastle United 5-1 Cardiff
Jan 30: Cardiff 2-1 Doncaster Rovers
Jan 26: Bristol City 0-6 Cardiff City
Jan 23: Cardiff City 4-2 Leicester City

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

The home side have defensive problems with John Terry and Ashley Cole both out.

Possible Starting XI: Hilario, Ferreira, Alex, Carvalho, Belletti, Lampard, Ballack, Cole, Zhirkov, Anelka, Sturridge.

Cardiff City

Key men Stephen McPhail and Jay Bothroyd are major injury doubts and are expected to join Joe Ledley, Mark Hudson and Gavin Rae on the sidelines.

Michael Chopra, Gabor Gyepes and Darcy Blake are also struggling but should feature.

Possible Starting XI: Marshall, McNaughton, Gyepes, Gerrard, Kennedy, Whittingham, Taiwo, Burke, Blake, Chopra, Feeney.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea – Daniel Sturridge

The youngster has had few opportunities to impress this season but may be handed another chance on Saturday lunchtime.

The former Manchester City man scored twice in the third round to oust Watford, before grabbing the opener in the last round against Preston, and will be hoping to maintain his good FA Cup run.

Cardiff City – Peter Whittingham

With Jay Bothroyd expected to miss out, Cardiff will look to Michael Chopra to shoulder the goalscoring responsibility at Stamford Bridge.

The former Newcastle United man has 16 goals to his name already this season and his top-flight experience may prove key to the Bluebirds unlocking the Chelsea defense.

PREDICTION

The Blues have looked uncharacteristically vulnerable in recent weeks but at home they remain a formidable force, and despite the absence of their skipper they will expect to return to winning ways.

Chelsea 3–1 Cardiff