toptop



January 27, 2017


Chelsea v. Brentford Preview  (Sky Sports)

Diego Costa celebrationsChelsea will look to keep their challenge for a domestic double on course when they host Brentford in Saturday's FA Cup fourth round.

Antonio Conte's men are eight points clear of Arsenal in the Premier League and brushed aside Peterborough comfortably in the previous round of this competition.

Fellow west Londoners Brentford, who are 15th in the Sky Bet Championship, will need to raise their game to topple their rivals, who have won their last nine matches at Stamford Bridge.

Team news

Conte is likely to rotate his squad ahead of two important Premier League games against Liverpool and Arsenal.

Cesc Fabregas, Kurt Zouma, Willian, Michy Batshuayi and Nathaniel Chalobah are all expected to feature.

Defender Gary Cahill could miss his first game of the season as Conte considers resting the centre-back.

Brentford boss Dean Smith has said 14-goal striker Scott Hogan is available for selection despite strong transfer interest from West Ham but has missed the last two games.

Opta stats

Chelsea have been eliminated just twice in their last 20 appearances in the FA Cup fourth round (Everton in 2011 and Bradford City in 2015).

Pedro scored twice and assisted another goal in Chelsea's 4-1 win over Peterborough in the third round.

Tom Field netted twice in Brentford's third round 5-1 victory over non-league Eastleigh. All five goals were scored in the first half by the Bees.

Brentford's last win over Chelsea came in February 1939 (D1 L4 since).

Chelsea have won 13 of their last four 14 matches in all competitions, losing only to Spurs earlier this month.

Prediction

Chelsea have got a couple of big games coming up - Liverpool away before Arsenal at home in the Premier League - but they will be too good for Brentford.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (6/1 with Sky Bet)



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