Liam Rosenior era as Chelsea head coach go officially begin on Saturday night as the Blues travel go The Valley to face Championship side Charlton Athletic for FA Cup third round.
This na the first time both teams dey meet since February 2007, when Frank Lampard score the only goal as Chelsea manage beat Charlton 1-0 away for Premier League.
Match Preview
No be long time ago, people dey hail Chelsea as possible Premier League title contenders, and Enzo Maresca dey enjoy him Manager of the Month award for November. Fast-forward just four weeks and the Italian don waka from Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea slide down the table after just one win from their last nine league games.
Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane manage hold Man City to 1-1 draw last weekend, but midweek matter spoil as Chelsea lose 2-1 to Fulham despite playing with 10 men. That defeat push the Blues go eighth position, four points behind top four and a massive 18 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
New boss Rosenior, wey sit for directors’ box at Craven Cottage with co-owner Behdad Eghbali, now carry the responsibility to turn Chelsea season around. The 41-year-old describe him appointment on six-year deal as “one of the proudest moments” of him life.
Rosenior leave Chelsea sister club Strasbourg with 49.2% win rate from 63 matches, and he dey eager to start sharp with a Chelsea side wey want lift FA Cup for the ninth time in their history, and first time since 2018.
Chelsea record for FA Cup against lower-league teams strong well-well. Dem don qualify from 61 of their last 63 FA Cup ties against teams from lower divisions, including their last 22 in a row. Dem also don beat Charlton twice for this competition before – 3-0 for fourth round in 1962-63 and another 3-0 win for third round in 1994-95.
Chelsea go cross London to face a Charlton side wey dey struggle badly. The Addicks dey 19th for Championship table after winning just two of their last 14 league matches since end of October (five draws, seven losses).
Only Sheffield Wednesday don collect fewer points than Nathan Jones side within that period. Charlton dey around playoff zone some months ago, but now dem dey just five points above relegation.
Without win in four matches, Charlton lose narrowly to Norwich (1-0) and Portsmouth (2-1), before drawing 1-1 with league leaders Coventry City, coached by Chelsea legend Frank Lampard. Dem then play 2-2 draw with Blackburn last weekend.
Charlton – FA Cup winners for 1947 and runners-up in 1946 – don suffer elimination for their last five FA Cup third-round appearances. Last time dem reach fourth round na 2013-14 season, when dem knock out Oxford United after replay.
The Addicks also don lose eight of their last 11 matches against Chelsea across all competitions. Their last home win against the Blues na dramatic 4-2 Premier League victory under Alan Curbishley in December 2003.
Charlton Athletic form (all competitions): D W L L D D
Chelsea form (all competitions): W D L D D L
Team News
Charlton go miss Kayne Ramsay and Onel Hernandez as both dey out with hamstring injuries. Josh Edwards (ankle) and Matty Godden (knee) also remain sidelined.
Nathan Jones likely go stick with back-three system and wing-backs, with James Bree and Tyreece Campbell expected to operate wide. Lloyd Jones, Amari’i Bell and either Macaulay Gillesphey or Reece Burke go form the centre-back trio.
Sonny Carey don score five goals this season – the highest for Charlton – and he dey push to start for midfield alongside Greg Docherty and Conor Coventry. Miles Leaburn and Charlie Kelman expected to continue as the strike partnership.
For Chelsea side, Marc Cucurella go miss this match due to one-game suspension after him red card against Fulham. Levi Colwill (ACL), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Dario Essugo (thigh) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended) also dey unavailable.
Rosenior expected to make plenty changes from the team wey start midweek. Filip Jorgensen likely go replace Robert Sanchez for goal, while Jorrel Hato fit deputise at left-back in Cucurella absence.
The new manager go decide whether to start captain Reece James or Moises Caicedo deep for midfield alongside Andrey Santos. Joao Pedro get good FA Cup record, contributing to seven goals in him last four starts (six goals, one assist), and he fit start ahead of Liam Delap to lead the attack.
Charlton Athletic Possible Starting Lineup
Kaminski; Gillesphey, Jones, Bell; Bree, Docherty, Coventry, Carey, Campbell; Leaburn, Kelman
Chelsea Possible Starting Lineup
Jorgensen; Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Gittens, Estevao, Garnacho; Pedro
Prediction
We say: Charlton Athletic 0-2 Chelsea
Both teams dey come into this match without strong form, and Charlton fit cause small wahala in front of their home fans. Question be say, fit FA Cup shock happen?
But make we no lie ourselves – Chelsea still be clear favourites. Rosenior go likely field team wey get enough Premier League quality to see off their Championship opponents and book place for fourth round.
