Sunderland - Match Preview

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The Match

Chelsea prepare to lock horns once again with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light - after the Blues recently came up on top in a pulsating 4-3 win in the Premier League - in the Capital One Cup quarter final tomorrow at 7.45pm UK time.

This will be the first time the two sides meet in domestic cup competitions in 21 years and the first in the League Cup since 1985 where Sunderland beat the Blues 5-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals. Chelsea have never won against Sunderland in domestic cup games – P4 D1 L3 – but enjoyed domination over the Black Cats having won 17 of their last 18 Premier League meetings.

Sunderland have enjoyed home comforts and this game will represent their fourth successive home game in this season’s competition after overcoming MK Dons, Peterborough United and Southampton in the last three rounds. In contrast, Jose Mourinho’s men qualified for this round after comfortably disposing both Swindon Town and Arsenal 2-0 at the County Ground and Emirates Stadium respectively in the previous rounds.

Chelsea head into this game on the back of 5 wins in their last 7 matches in all competitions – despite producing unconvincing performances – and lost just twice in that run. Their host, on the other hand, have been inconsistent and struggling for form at the bottom of the Premier League since Gus Poyet took charge of the club in mid-October. Poyet’s team have been unable to string together two positive results – apart from one occasion - on the spin with his side alternating between a win, draw and loss – LWLWWLDLLD.

This game will offer some respite for both teams as zero points are at stake and greater freedom in expressing themselves against one another with a place in the semi-finals up for grabs. A win for Sunderland here would serve as a major confidence boost in their Premier League survival bid but it remains to be seen if Gus Poyet wants the distraction of two extra games in January should he beat his former side. For Jose Mourinho, winning tomorrow would mean his side is one step closer to claiming the first trophy available this season and increase the confidence level ahead of next Monday’s top of the table clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Past 5 Meetings – all in Premier League (P5 W5 F12 A6 CS1)

4th December 2013 – Sunderland 3-4 Chelsea

7th April 2013 – Chelsea 2-1 Sunderland

8th December 2012 – Sunderland 1-3 Chelsea

14th January 2012 – Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland

10th September 2011 – Sunderland 1-2 Chelsea

Team News

Sunderland

Gus Poyet has no fresh injuries to deal with following Sunderland’s goalless draw against West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday. Jack Colback is rated doubtful after missing the aforementioned game with illness and will go through a late fitness test to determine his availability. Carlos Cuellar and goalkeeper Keiren Westwood are set to miss this game with a hip and shoulder injury respectively.

Poyet’s starting XI selection will determine the level of ambition he has on this game given the more pressing concern of staying in the Premier League. However if his team selection in the 2-1 win over Southampton in the last round is anything to go by, then another strong line-up will be fielded to face his former charges tomorrow.

Provisional Squad: Mannone, Pickford, Bardsley, Brown, Celustka, O’Shea, Dossena, Roberge, Cabral, Ki Sung-Yueng, Larsson, Giaccherini, Gardner, Johnson, Borini, Cattermole, Altidore and Fletcher

Chelsea

Jose Mourinho is likely to continue his rotation policy – as he did against Swindon and Arsenal – and rest certain players while giving others more game time. Branislav Ivanovic is suspended for this game having picked his 5th domestic yellow card of the season against Crystal Palace. Cesar Azpilicueta is set to replace the Serbian and start in his natural right back position for only the 3rd time 15 appearances this season – the previous two also came in this competition.

Ashley Cole will start at left back after Mourinho confirmed of his inclusion last Friday in his press conference as his deputy Ryan Bertrand is still out with an injury for another week at least. Center back Gary Cahill was rested on Saturday due to pain in his quadriceps and it remains to be seen if he has recovered in time to start this game. Otherwise, John Terry and David Luiz are set to continue their central partnership in defence.

Mark Schwarzer looks set to start once again in goal and the same applies for Michael Essien as both have played every minute of the Capital One Cup this season. Kevin De Bruyne should finally get his chance to impress the manager and Mourinho may well also give game time to Oscar and Samuel Eto’o to shake off their rustiness having just recovered from respective injury recently.

Provisional Squad: Cech, Schwarzer, Blackman, Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Luiz, Kalas, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Oscar, Mata, De Bruyne, Hazard, Schurrle, Willian, Eto’o, Ba and Torres

Stats and Facts

1. Chelsea have reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup in 10 of the last 13 seasons. They have progressed in five of their nine previous ties in this run. (via BBC)

2. They have kept three successive League Cup clean sheets, all away from home. (via BBC)

3. The Blues have managed eight clean sheets in their last 12 away games in this competition. (via BBC)

4. Jose Mourinho has never lost a League Cup game as Chelsea manager (excluding penalty shootouts), winning 12 and drawing three of 15. (via BBC)

5. There have been three own goals scored in the last two meetings between Sunderland and Chelsea. (via BBC)

6. Chelsea have kept just 3 clean sheets in their last 10 matches in all competitions. In contrast, Sunderland have kept 3 clean sheets in their last 6 games.

7. Chelsea last failed to score at the Stadium of Light back in 2001 in 0-0 draw, 10 matches ago.

8. Sunderland have only failed to score ONCE in their last 14 matches at the Stadium of Light in all competitions.

9. Sunderland have only kept 2 clean sheets in their last 13 matches at the Stadium of Light in all comeptitions.

10. Sunderland are appearing in the quarter-finals of this competition for the seventh time, and first since losing to Crystal Palace in 2000-01. (via BBC)

11. The Black Cats are winless in their last five matches. (via BBC)

12. Despite playing just 5 domestic games this season, Michael Essien is one yellow card away from serving a one game suspension.

Match Odds (Final Result/Full Time)

Sunderland WIN - 5/1

DRAW - 14/5

Chelsea WIN - 8/15

*Odds obtained from SkyBet*

TV

Depending on where you are from, you can watch the match in the following channels:

United Kingdom: Sky Sports 1/HD, Sky Go UK, Sky Sports 1 Ireland

United States: beIN Sport Play, beIN Sport USA

Middle East: Al Jazeera Sports

Belgium: Belgacom 11+

India: Ten HD, Ten Action

For additional regions, you can check out the TV schedule for the match here.

There should be many match streams that can be found online if your local sports channels are not broadcasting the game or if you happen to be busy and cannot catch the game live, follow TalkChelsea on Twitter as it would provide live match commentary on the action.

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[CHOULO19 24,332]

Oh shit. Jason doing the preview again? We got lucky two times in a row and not lost. Can we get lucky a third time? Nervy times..

[Jase 43,479]

*bump*

[Strike 6,961]

Jason's become a lucky charm now. Keep it going

[Jase 43,479]

Jason's become a lucky charm now. Keep it going

It's now P6 W2 D2 L2 for us when I have done match previews.