13 Dec 2021
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With many English games being postponed due to covid outbreaks amongst players and staff, it’s difficult to assess the strength of the teams that some of these managers are going to put out.
Chelsea weren’t even able to name a full bench in their weekend visit to Molineux, with at least seven confirmed positive covid cases in the camp, while numerous injuries severely hampered Thomas Tuchel’s men.
Brentford had their match with Southampton postponed at the weekend meaning their last two outings have now been postponed, and it’s surprising to see this one going ahead with the number of absentees in both camps.
What’s for certain is that both sides are going to be severely weakened, and it might be a chance for these managers to introduce some academy prospects into the fray.
The Blues have a much stronger record in the FA Cup than they do in this competition. Indeed, the Blues have reached four of the last five FA Cup finals, though you have to go back 15 seasons for their last four League Cup finals, as they’ve exited at this stage in each of the last two seasons.
What’s more, when facing fellow Premier League opposition, their record certainly leaves more to be desired.
Over 90 minutes, Chelsea have a relatively poor W7-D15-L7 record from their last 29 outings against such sides going back to a home win over Bolton in 2009, and with Tuchel indicating this may be a full youth side taking to the field, it’s difficult to see that getting better.
Marcus Forss To Score Anytime
Brentford are the top scoring side in the competition so far this year with their 12 goals one more than free-scoring Liverpool’s 11.
Much of that is down to a 7-0 victory over Oldham Athletic in the second round, with Marcus Forss’ four goals in that outing helping him to top the scoring charts at the moment.
The young Finnish striker may get a chance to add to his tally here, and has actually scored in six of his nine career starts in this competition, so we’ll back him to put one away here should he take to the field from the off.
Brentford Or Draw - Double Chance
The Bees are looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since that 7-0 victory in this competition, and while they’ve struggled for that kind of consistency, they’ve only lost one of their last five matches.
The fact that their training ground has been closed over the last week will have halted any momentum they were hoping to build, though they should feel well rested heading into this clash and we’ll back them to avoid defeat here against a Chelsea side that are struggling to find their way at this moment in time.
PREDICTIONS:
MARCUS FORSS TO SCORE ANYTIME
BRENTFORD OR DRAW - DOUBLE CHANCE
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