FA Cup preview: Chelsea vs Brentford
Date/Time: Sunday, February 17, 12:00 GMT; 7:00 A.M. EST; 5:30 P.M. IST
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London, England
TV Information: ITV 1 (UK); Fox Soccer (USA); ESPN/ESPN HD (India)
Referee: Martin Atkinson
The mighty European champions take on lowly Brentford in a fourth round replay at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The Blues will be hoping that this would be a much more comfortable tie for them in comparison to their game at Griffin Park, where they had scrape home to a 2-2 draw from 2 goals down.
However, Chelsea shouldn’t have to be warned twice about the imminent dangers that Brentford pose after having seen them at their near best in their previous meeting. They would be hoping that Arsenal remain the biggest upset of the FA Cup this weekend. Their fellow West Londoners will surely have different plans and with the biggest away crowd that Brentford has seen gather, the atmosphere is guaranteed to be electric at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea: DDDLWW
| Jan 23 | Swansea City | 0-0 | Chelsea | Capital One Cup (Semi-finals) |
| Jan 27 | Brentford | 2-2 | Chelsea | FA Cup (Round 4) |
| Jan 30 | Reading | 2-2 | Chelsea | Premier League |
| Feb 2 | Newcastle United | 3-2 | Chelsea | Premier League |
| Feb 9 | Chelsea | 4-1 | Wigan Athletic | Premier League |
| Feb 14 | Sparta Prague | 0-1 | Chelsea | Europa League (Second Round) |
The Londoners’ loss of form in recent games have seen them drift away from any title challenging credentials. While the Blues look menacing while on the ball, their off the ball work has left much to be desired. With a squad still in transition and a manager who is at the helm only on an interim basis, it may be too much ask for some sort of continuity from the the Blues. The “Rafalution” certainly hasn’t gone according to the plans of the erratic Chelsea board and with Rafa’s ever tinkering nature, the team has failed to settle into a groove.
Brentford : LDDLDW
| Jan 19 | Brentford | 1-2 | Tranmere Rovers | League One |
| Jan 22 | Brentford | 2-2 | Leyton Orient | League One |
| Jan 27 | Brentford | 2-2 | Chelsea | FA Cup (Round 4) |
| Feb 2 | Yeovil Town | 3-0 | Brentford | League One |
| Feb 9 | Brentford | 2-2 | Bury | League One |
| Feb 12 | Brentford | 2-0 | Stevenage | League One |
Uwe Rosler’s men themselves haven’t been in the best of form as one win in their last five in league competition has seen The Bees getting shoved out of play-off spots. They currently lie in seventh spot, one point off the play-off spots. Their recent win over Stevenage and draw with the the Blues themselves will make them believe that greater things are to come heading in to the clash at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea
Rafa Benitez is expected to yet again reshuffle his pack from the team that went up against Sparta Prague in the Europa League. John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses will be available again for the Blues after their victorious African Cup of Nations campaign with Nigeria. David Luiz and Demba Ba are also expected to feature for the game.
Captain John Terry is also in line for a return to first team action after having suffered a setback in his comeback from a knee injury.
Brentford
Uwe Rosler will be hoping to feature Marcello Trotta (pic above) in the line-up after having rested the frontman in their recent win over Stevanage. Trotta, who is on loan from Fulham, has already scored three goals in 4 appearances for The Bees. Toumani Diagouraga will also hopefully feature.
Striker Farid El-Alagui and midfielder Kevin O’Connor remain long term absentees.
-> This is only the second time the two teams have drawn against each other in FA Cup history; Chelsea won the first encounter 1-0 away in the third round in 1950.
-> The two teams have squared off in 12 competitive meetings, with the Blues victorious in six while The Bees have won on four occasions. 10 of those matches were top-flight league games between 1935 and 1947.
-> Chelsea, the reigning FA cup champions are unbeaten in 25 FA Cup matches (W20, D5), having lost only one of their last 36 in the regulation 90 minutes.
-> The Bees are trying to qualify for the last 16 for the first time in seven seasons.
-> Brentford have knocked out just one of the last 10 top-flight clubs they have faced – Sunderland in the fourth round in January 2006.
-> Brentford’s only win at Stamford Bridge came 74 years ago, in February 1939 in the old First Division.