English FA CUP
2019-01-27 - Chelsea vs Sheffield Wednesday
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English FA Cup Fourth Round
Sunday 27th January 2019 - Kick Off 6pm
This game is live on TV
Chelsea
There might be some discord between the Chelsea squad and manager Maurizio Sarri after recent comments made by the Italian to the media, but the players responded in exactly the manner he would have hoped. Overturning a First Leg deficit and beating Tottenham Hotspur on penalties means Chelsea will be playing in the first Cup Final of the season next month and they now look to progress in the other domestic Cup competition.
A comfortable win over Nottingham Forest from the Championship helped Chelsea through to the Fourth Round of the competition where they will face another team from that Division. Last season Chelsea won the FA Cup under Antonio Conte and they have reached the Final of the Cup in each of the last two seasons which means there will be some pressure on this team to deliver the same to the fans.
Chelsea have won 3 of their last 5 games in all competitions, but the losses at Tottenham Hotspur and especially Arsenal in that time did hurt. The Blues have won their last 3 games at Stamford Bridge in all competitions since failing to score in back to back games against Leicester City and Southampton.
Andreas Christensen and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are doubts for this game, but Gonzalo Higuain could get some minutes into his legs having only just signed on loan from Juventus. Other changes are expected to be made after Chelsea battled past Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup on Thursday evening.
Sheffield Wednesday
After coming so close to a return to the Premier League, the last couple of years have been much more difficult for Sheffield Wednesday and they have appointed their third manager in the space of fourteen months. Steve Bruce is the next man to try and restore this club to former glories, but he had commitments which meant he would not officially take over as manager until February.
The new manager will take over in time for Sheffield Wednesday's visit to Ipswich Town next weekend it has been up to his Assistants to guide the club in Bruce's stead. They haven't done too badly having helped The Owls overcome Luton Town in the FA Cup Third Round, while last season was the first time in four years that Sheffield Wednesday reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.
Sheffield Wednesday have lost 1 of their last 8 games in all competitions which has helped them move clear of the bottom three, while they head into this Fourth Round tie off back to back wins. That includes the win at Kenilworth Road in the FA Cup Third Round Replay, but Sheffield Wednesday had only won 1 of their previous 8 away games in all competitions and had lost 3-0 at Hull City in their last away League game.
There is almost a full week to go before Sheffield Wednesday are back in action so they can select as strong a team as they like for this Cup tie. Most expect Chelsea to rotate their squad so there could be a real chance for Sheffield Wednesday to cause an upset here.
Head to Head
Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday last met in the 1999/2000 season which was the last time the latter were playing in the top flight.
Chelsea are unbeaten in 8 home games against Sheffield Wednesday, but 6 of thos ended in draws. However, Chelsea did win their last match against each other at Stamford Bridge 3-0 in December 1999.
Prediction
The 6pm kick off time is a very strange one for a Sunday in England and it really doesn't account for the Sheffield Wednesday fans travelling to West London in huge numbers.
While I try and get over my utter 'surprise' that match going fans are ignored, the fixture on the pitch looks like one that Chelsea should be able to win without too many issues.
Clouding things is the fact that a strong starting eleven was needed to see off Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup Semi Final Second Leg on Thursday and the rotations that are going to be made should mean Chelsea are more vulnerable than they would usually be.
However Sheffield Wednesday are a team who have been struggling for consistency all season and are still waiting for Steve Bruce to come in and officially take over as manager. They have been in decent form of late, but this is a big step up for the players and Sheffield Wednesday have been a little weaker when playing away from home.
Last time out in the Championship they were swatted aside by in-form Hull City, but the changes made to the Chelsea team should make this a closer tie.
It is certainly something the layers are not quite factoring in and I think Sheffield Wednesday can be backed with a full two goal start on the Asian Handicap.
The Pick :
Chelsea 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
