Swindon Town - Match Preview

[Strike 7,217]

Chelsea start their League Cup campaign in the 2013-14 season with a third-round trip to League One team Swindon Town.

Saturday's 2-0 win over Fulham stopped a 4-game winless streak after draws against United and Bayern were followed by losses to Everton and Basel. Manager Mourinho blamed the club's indifferent start to the season on a change in philosophy but proceeded to mock Chelsea's critics after the win over Fulham which temporarily put Chelsea top of the table. With a tough away fixture against Tottenham coming up, Chelsea will look to gain some much-needed momentum from this game

Opposition

Swindon Town have had a mixed start to the League One campaign. They currently occupy 11th place having taken 11 points from the 8 games following the 3-2 win over Bristol City on Saturday. Manager Mark Cooper, who took over from Kevin MacDonald last month, is excited to pit his wits against Jose Mourinho on Tuesday night.

"It's another fantastic test for the players. It's great for the club and I'm sure it will be a full house. It will be all about the players and the club and the fans"

"We will prepare the best we can but we'll have to play against some of the best players in the world"

Last Meeting

Chelsea will be hoping for a repeat of the last time they met Swindon, when goals from Gavin Peacock and Dennis Wise handed them a 2-0 win in the Premier League in 1994.

Team News

While Mourinho may not field a full-strength team, Swindon will not be encouraged by news that Juan Mata and David Luiz will start for Chelsea on Tuesday.

Mourinho has also revealed that David Luiz, Michael Essien, Ryan Bertrand and Cesar Azpilicueta will all feature in the game

Expected Lineups

Chelsea(4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Azpi, Kalas, Luiz, Bertrand; Essien, MVG; Mata, KDB, Willian; Torres.

Swindon(4-5-1): Foderingham; Thompson, Hall, Ward, McEveley; Ajose, Thompson, Kasim, N'Guessan; Ranger.

Stats and facts

- Swindon have not lost at home since a 1-0 defeat by Bury on 26 February.

- They have won four of their last five League Cup clashes against teams from a higher division (losing one), with those games producing a total of 21 goals

- Swindon were victorious in the only previous League Cup meeting between the two, running out 3-0 winners back in 1963

- Chelsea scored 16 goals in their first three League Cup ties last season but failed to net in either leg of their semi-final against Swansea.

- The league cup was the first trophy that Jose won with Chelsea in his first stint at Chelsea with a win over Liverpool in 2005.

- Jose Mourinho is the only Chelsea manager to have won the league cup twice.

- Chelsea have failed to win the league cup since Jose's departure in 2007.

Odds

Swindon Win - 9.00, Draw - 5.00, Chelsea Win - 1.40

TV Listings

The game will be broadcasted on Sky Sports in the UK, Setanta Sports in Australia, Al Jazeera in the middle east and Ten Action in the Indian subcontinent.

For country specific listings, check the following link http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/895663/swindon-town-vs-chelsea/

If you can't watch match live, the TalkChelsea Twitter account will provide a live minute by minute feed for the game.

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[CHOULO19 24,332]

Good job, mate. Hope you don't mind I added a couple of things

[CHOULO19 24,332]

- Swindon have not lost at home since a 1-0 defeat by Bury on 26 February.

Was a bit surprised with this since they have rather been struggling in League One. Could probably mean that they defend well at home.

[Jase 43,479]

Was a bit surprised with this since they have rather been struggling in League One. Could probably mean that they defend well at home.

Maybe. Maybe not. Since that defeat Bury, they've gone 12 games unbeaten at home in all competitions but have only won 6 of those and conceded 9 goals in that run though 5 clean sheets were kept.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Maybe. Maybe not. Since that defeat Bury, they've gone 12 games unbeaten at home in all competitions but have only won 6 of those and conceded 9 goals in that run though 5 clean sheets were kept.

Well that enforces more the theory that they defend well at home. Should have more than enough quality to break them down with Mata, Willian and Torres on the pitch, though.

[zolayes 14,489]

Im surprised this game will be televised ...big bonus ,,,hope the streams work FUCK SKY and all who sail with them