Mid-table teams Chelsea and Scunthorpe meet in FA Cup third round
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | January 9, 2016
Chelsea v Scunthorpe United
- FA Cup third round
- Sunday, January 10th
- Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
- Stamford Bridge, west London
- Live on BT Sport 2
Chelsea to get back to winning ways
Chelsea and Scunthorpe United’s last meeting was in the FA Cup, also in the third round at Stamford Bridge, over a decade ago, and the Blues ran out 3-1 winners that day so back them at 9/1 with Coral to triumph by that scoreline again.
However, in five total head-to-heads, the two clubs have two victories a piece, so the Lincolnshire outfit are an enticing 6/1 price to draw or 12/1 to see the west Londoners off.
Guus Hiddink’s Blues (1/5 match favourites) are also in woeful form this season, being in 14th place in the Premier League which resulted in Jose Mourinho’s dismissal.
Scunthorpe, though, are not having the best of seasons themselves, as they are down in 15th in League One, winning just on of their last six.
But while the club have not enjoyed results of late, star striker Paddy Madden has still been smashing in the goals, getting 14 so far – 10 more than any other in his team. The Republic of Ireland cap is 4/1 to net anytime here.
Others to look out for include former Watford forward Darius Henderson and Gibraltar international Scott Wiseman, who has become used to playing against stars of Chelsea’s standard in Euro 2016 qualifying.
Hiddink to give youth a chance
For Chelsea, meanwhile, it is a chance for them to further boost their confidence after now going on a run of four matches without loss – though two of those were draws.
Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are short-priced at 1/2 and even-money respectively in the anytime market, but Hiddink may offer younger fringe players a chance such as Bertrand Traore (5/4), Kenedy (7/2) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (11/2).
Related
Check out more from our FA Cup archive.
Coral’s top tip: Chelsea won the last meeting between these two teams at this ground in this round of the FA Cup 3-1, and they are very tempting 9/1 shouts for victory by that scoreline again.
