Prediction: Chelsea vs Blackburn

Verdict: Chelsea win & Under 4.5 goals

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Luckster

Turning their attention back to EFL Cup duties in midweek, Chelsea will welcome Blackburn to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Chelsea

Starting with the hosts, while it might have appeared that Chelsea had turned a real corner on either side of October’s international break, the Blues certainly came crashing back down to earth in a worrying fashion over the weekend. Putting in a toothless display at Stamford Bridge as they eventually slumped to a 2-0 loss at the hands of west London rivals Brentford, Mauricio Pochettino is desperate for his side to find some much-needed stability. Knowing that they face a major uphill challenge in their bid to book a Champions League return this season, the former Tottenham boss has seen his inconsistent squad muster just a trio of wins from any of their previous eight appearances across all competitions. Still battling it out in the bottom-half of the Premier League table, Chelsea will know that they can’t afford another public slip-up here. Handed what many have billed as golden EFL Cup opportunity on Wednesday night, Pochettino will simply be calling on a routine performance in SW6.

Team News

While summer recruit Christopher Nkunku might be inching towards a return from his long-term knee injury, the former RB Leipzig star will not feature on Wednesday night. Likewise, dealing with a stacked injury list in west London, Chelsea will also be without the likes of Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and ex-Aston Villa starlet Carney Chukwuemeka.

However, making yet another cameo appearance against Brentford over the weekend, skipper Reece James could be set to make a first competitive start since the opening weekend here.

Blackburn

As for the visitors, watching their eye-catching flurry come to an abrupt end over the weekend thanks to a shock 1-0 loss at home against Swansea, Blackburn will be seeking an immediate response here. However, while the Rovers might have found themselves enjoying a three-match winning run on either side of October’s international break, Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side do almost find themselves sat in Championship limbo. Still tipped as a real outside contender to claim a play-off spot this season, Wednesday’s guests will be more than aware that they face a heavyweight challenge in west London. Although Blackburn might have secured back-to-back victories away from Ewood Park over the past few weeks, they will be worried by a nightmare record against the former Premier League champions. Suffering a 2-1 defeat when they last travelled to Stamford Bride back on May 2012, Tomasson’s inconsistent squad have lost each of their previous four meetings against Chelsea by an aggregate score of 7-2.

Team News

Dealing with a calf issue and not making a single appearance since the middle of September, Blackburn will once again be without the services of former Southampton striker Sam Gallagher on Wednesday night. Likewise, 25-year-old Aynsley Pears is still suffering from a foot injury and will not travel to Stamford Bridge in midweek.

While 28-year-old Sammie Szmodics might have failed to find the net in any of his previous three Championship outings, the ex-Peterborough man should spearhead Tomasson’s charge in SW6.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last met back in May 2012, Chelsea picked up a 2-1 Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge.
• Likewise, the Blues have won each of their previous four showdowns against Blackburn by an aggregate score of 7-2.
• However, Chelsea have managed to muster just a single victory from any of their previous five appearances at Stamford Bridge.
• Blackburn have scored six goals in just their last two Championship appearances away from Ewood Park.
• Chelsea have managed to muster just a single clean sheet from any of their last six showdowns at Stamford Bridge.

Conclusion

Crashing back down to earth over the weekend as they were hit with a 2-0 defeat at home against west London rivals Brentford, Chelsea will be desperate to claim an immediate response here. While Pochettino’s squad might have shown some rather glaring recent issues at Stamford Bridge, the Premier League heavyweights are rightfully tipped as a standout contender on Wednesday night. Knowing that they have been handed a golden chance to punch their EFL Cup quarter-final ticket here, we are backing a home victory in SW6.

Verdict: Chelsea win & Under 4.5 goals

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Luckster