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Birmingham v CHELSEA: FA Cup Preview

Venue: St. Andrews

Date: 6 March 2012

Kick-off: 19:45

 

Another day, another manager – or caretaker at least – but I’ve said my piece on that, so we can leave everyone else to keep picking over the bones of it and get back on with the job in hand. Tonight, the job facing Roberto di Matteo and Eddie Newton is our fifth round replay against Birmingham.

Last time out wasn’t pretty but it could have been worse, at least marginally. As it is, we’ve got a second bite of the cherry and after a difficult couple of days at Chelsea, a win might just give us some momentum to push on to the next round and a home tie against Leicester.

 

 

MANAGERS’ VIEWS

Obviously Birmingham manager Chris Hughton had plenty to say about our former manager, but skipping over that bit, he aslo said “Irrespective of recent events, we are playing against a very good Chelsea team.  We know and understand that to not lose to them once is tough, to not lose to them twice is even tougher.”

Meanwhile, Roberto di Matteo ahead of his first game in charge says “Our duty now is to look forward and to try to get the results that we need in the league, the Champions League and in the FA Cup to have a good season.”

 

 

SQUAD NEWS

Birmingham have somewhat of a depleted squad tonight, with Stephen Carr (knee), Steve Caldwell (ribs), David Murphy (hip) and Keith Fahey (groin) are all injured.  Curtis Davies (illness) is a doubt, Peter Ramage, Andros Townsend and Erik Huseklepp are cup-tied, whilst Caleb Folan is ineligible.

For Chelsea, John Terry (knee), Ross Turnbull (ankle) and Jose Bosingwa (good fortune) are all injured and Ashley Cole (ankle) is a doubt after a knock against West Brom.

 

 

TEAMS

BIRMINGHAM (from): Doyle, Myhill, Spector, Davies, Ibanez, Burke, Mutch, N’Daw, King, Zigic, Redmond, Gomis, Elliott, Rooney, Deaman, Packwood, Riley, Jervis.

CHELSEA (from): Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Bertrand, Romeu, Mikel, Essien, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Malouda, Meireles, Drogba, Torres, Sturridge, Kalou, Hilario.

 

 

LAST MEETING

Chelsea 1-1 Birmingham (18th February 2012)

 

 

PREDICTION

We’ve lost just one of our last 20 league and cup games against Birmingham (winning 13) but before anyone gets too excited at that statistic, I should probably point out that when it comes to the FA Cup, they’ve had the better of it with five wins from eight.  Add to that our one solitary win from our last seven games in all competitions compared to Birmingham’s one defeat in 17 and we’ll have to hope it’s an inspired and rejuvinated Chelsea that turns out for the new boss as opposed to the disinterested side that turned out for the old one. If it’s the latter, we’re screwed.

 

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