Chelsea vs Blackburn Prediction: Big chance for Chelsea to get back on track

Fourth round Carabao Cup action – with Chelsea entertaining Blackburn at Stamford Bridge.

Wednesday, Nov 1st – kick-off 19.45.

Chelsea are very warm favourites and can mask slightly some current Premier League frustrations by making progress in this – in theory. Cup competitions occasionally have different agendas!

Team news

Bright young Blackburn hopefuls Andrew Moran and Jake Garrett could feature.

Harry Leonard has recently returned but Ryan Hedges, Aynsley Pears, Sam Gallagher and Lewis Travis are thought to be still some way off.

Chelsea have several players unavailable – Chalobah, Chilwell; Fofana long-term; no Lavia or Nkunku either.  Noni Madueke could feature. Rotation might play its part, but one assumes Pochettino will want to win this very much and make some progress. If he does go down that route perhaps Silva could get a little respite.

Enzo Fernández and Mykhailo Mudryk – do they come under consideration, or wait for the stern Tottenham test to follow, if fit?

Match odds

90 minute betting of course, being a Cup competition; and ahead of kick-off we go 1/5 Chelsea, 11/2 the Draw, and 12/1 Blackburn.

Cole Palmer to score the first goal @ 7/2

Chelsea’s season has been, by any reasonable measure, a bit hit and miss. They’re positioned in mid-table, and given the personnel assembled and ambition of the ownership that wouldn’t be seen as sufficient. No way. After a turbulent start they’ve found patches of form, some highly promising, but a disappointing home reverse to Brentford the other day was a blow.

One undoubted bright element has been the form of Cole Palmer, an acquisition, perhaps a surprising one, from Manchester City. He’s an entertainer, ideal for this stage, and enjoyed some of his best days in a sky blue shirt in this very competition.

He could if selected help propel his new club to the next round, and I’m thinking his silky skill could unlock the mid-table Championship visitors. First goal, then? Why not. He’s seemingly the penalty man, too, which could be a factor. In any event, as long as he gets the nod I can see him having a big night and being very influential.

Chelsea to win to nil @ 9/10

Prior to the Brentford hiccup it seemed that Poch was getting across his message, and it’s worth mentioning that Raheem Sterling, in my view, was arguably looking sharper than he had done for 2 seasons. They remain then, despite weekend’s setback, a potent threat.

Let’s get into focus just who they face – a decent mid-div side from a tier below, who must travel to an intimidating environment, midweek. Chelsea should and in my view do hold most of the pre-match aces, and it’s up to them to deliver.

Here’s a great chance to play themselves back into a bit of decent form. Make the next round. Give the supporters something to get excited about. A win to nil isn’t just plausible – it’s desirable. These are important times at the club, and in the reign of Mr Pochettino. The club’s hierarchy will expect plenty – time for some expensively-assembled professional footballers to stand up and be counted.

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