FA Cup fifth round
Venue: Vicarage Road

Date: Saturday, 14 February

Kick-off: 1730 GMT

So it’s been a busy week for us, and now, we’ve got a new manager although it’s actually Ray Wilkins who’s responsible for whatever happens with us today.

It might be 25 years since Watford went the distance in the FA Cup but then again, we haven’t always covered ourselves in glory this season. In fact, it’s been a bit of a struggle even staying in competitions this season. So, lets hope the end of Scolari’s reign at Chelsea also marks an end to whatever it is that’s been going on.

In the build up to the game, Watford manager and former Chelsea reserve team coach, Brendan Rodgers says “I feel for the (Chelsea) players, because it’s not easy when you have a change of manager. We know that they need to have a bad day and we need to be at the top of our game, but I’ve got confidence in our players. It’s one where we just need to go and give our best, sometimes you don’t always play at your best, but if you give your best then you don’t know what can happen.”

Chelsea’s assistant coach Ray Wilkins, who’s had the job of preparing our players this week, suggests “From the outside it looks as though there’s a lot of upheaval – but it’s the FA Cup.  Our players will be striving very hard to make sure we get through. We go into every game to win. A draw would disappoint me. The mood is very good, very buoyant. It’s football and footballers get over situations very quickly.”

On the squad front, Mart Poom and Gareth Williams remain out long-term and Aleksandrs Cauna also misses out. On-loan midfielder Jack Cork is ineligible, although Don Cowie may start.

For Chelsea, Joe Cole remains out long term and Michael Essien, although back in training, is nowhere near ready for a return to the squad. Defensively, Ricardo Carvalho (missing) continues to miss out and John Terry also misses out through suspension, although Petr Cech should return.

CLUB FORM

WATFORD

Watford have won three of their last six games. Whilst in the FA Cup, the most recent top-flight club they’ve put out was West Ham in 2007 when they got to the last four.

CHELSEA

Chelsea have won four of their last six games, although have neither won nor scored in the two. In the FA Cup, we’ve managed to get to at least the quarters for the past 3 seasons, although last season saw us go out at that stage to Barnsley.

HEAD TO HEAD

Watford haven’t beaten us in our past five league and cup meetings, drawing one and losing four, and we’ve won the last three with an aggregate of 9-0. This is the fourth time we’ve met in the FA Cup.

PREDICTION

I think anyone who reads TheChelseaBlog will know I’m pretty rubbish at predicting and our erratic form this season really hasn’t helped me much either. We’ve had a turbulent week, we’re pretty light in defence and I guess everyone will be waiting for another Chelsea cock-up to have a laugh about. So let’s hope we dig deep and don’t give it to them.

TEAMS

CHELSEA (from): Cech, Hilario, Taylor, Ferreira, A Cole, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Alex, Mancienne, Lampard, Mikel, Ballack, Deco, Kalou, Malouda, Quaresma, Anelka, Drogba, Stoch, Belletti.

REFEREE

Mike Dean (Wirral)

Filed under: Domestic Cups, Match Day, Preview