The 3rd Round of world football's oldest cup competition sees Chelsea drawn against Championship high-flyers Derby County at Pride Park. It will be the first occasion the clubs have met in over half a decade, when the Rams were last in the Premier League under Paul Jewell, before completing the worst ever top flight campaign in the Premier League era, finishing rock-bottom, with a lowest-ever Premier League points tally of 11, only 1 win in the entire season, and the earliest ever relegation from the Premier League in March.










The Blues have made this competition something of their own in recent years, lifting the cup in 4 of the last 7 seasons, with 7 wins overall - 4th highest in the competition's history. The West Londoners last triumphed in the 2012 Final, against Liverpool, under interim boss Roberto Di Matteo, which they won 2-1 via goals from Ramires and Wembley king Didier Drogba.


Derby, likewise, are one-time winners of the Cup, beating Charlton 4-1 in 1946 in the first post-War final following the competition's 6-year suspension for the duration of the Second World War.












Chelsea's last match in the competition was last year's semifinal, against Manchester City. Roberto Mancini's men were undoubtedly the better side in the first half, and finally broke through on 35 minutes through Samir Nasri. Less than 2 minutes into the second, Sergio Aguero headed home past a grounded Petr Cech to double the Sky Blues' lead. An acrobatic goal from Demba Ba just over 20 minutes from time gave the Blues a glimmer of hope, but proved ultimately just a consolation, and Chelsea were handed their first ever defeat at the new Wembley.










Derby have been on something of a rejuvenation since appointing Steve McClaren boss in September. The former England manager took charge of the Rams following the sacking of Nigel Clough, son of the late Derby legend Brian Clough, early into the season, and have been flying ever since. With 10 wins and just 2 losses in 14 games under the Englishman, the Rams have rocketed up the table to within touching distance of top spot, and are in fine form going into this match. A home loss to Wigan on New Year's Day directly preceding Sunday's tie will be disappointing, but the Rams had previously not lost in almost 2 months, since November the 2nd, and have won 8 of the 10 matches since.










Chelsea, similarly, are coming into this game in top form themselves. In the 10 games since the 1st of December, the Blues have won 7 of them, including 4 wins in their last 5 League games, the remaining one being a good draw away to table-topping London rivals Arsenal. Mourinho's men go into this match on the back of a 3-0 mauling of Southampton at St. Mary's on New Year's Day, and will undoubtedly be brimming with confidence and the desire for another now-trademark deep run in this competition.










Ahead of Sunday's tie, Rams boss McClaren expressed his delight with being drawn against one of the Premier League's heavy-hitters, and said his players should relish the chance to go head to head with one of Europe's elite outfits.

"It is at home, we are up against a big opponent and that will mean a big test for the players," he said.

"They will want to test themselves against one of the best teams in country and Europe, so I think it it’s great for them."

"It’s exciting for the fans, too, and I’m sure a great crowd will be at the iPro Stadium for it as well. It should be a cracking FA Cup tie."

"It is a big challenge for us but one we should relish."










Missing for Chelsea are much-used pair Branislav Ivanovic and Frank Lampard, whom Chelsea manager José Mourinho announced after his side's 3-0 win over Southampton Wednesday would be out for likely the remainder of the month with respective injuries sustained in the Blues' game against Liverpool the weekend before.

Should be alright..

Hopefully Derby put out a weakened team so they can focus on promotion

I hope to God that Azpi is rested for this game. He's took a beating against Liverpool and Southampton, don't want to lose our best full back.

Who would play instead, bear? Ramires, Kalas?

I'd like to see a backline of Bertrand - Luiz - Omeruo - Kalas. Means our first choice back four get a deserved rest from all the games they've played recently

Would be romantic and such (though Bertrand is still injured, btw), but Mourinho would never do that. Having already been dumped out of 1 domestic cup, he's hardly going to play a 3rd string side (or at least backline) in our first match in the other. This game is by no means a foregone conclusion, and playing a back 4 who, apart from Luiz, essentially haven't seen a second on the pitch all season, would be suicidal.

yea, I don't expect to see that but I just want Azpi to be safe

I'd like to see at least one of Kalas or Omeruo play though.

He didn't even play them in the shitty Carling Cup (yes I'm still calling it that ). Why would he in a much more important competition?

Mourinho's Derby pre-match press conference in full.

 

Mourinho preparing to play 'strong side' as Chelsea boss wary of Derby threat:
José Mourinho says Derby will be playing 'without pressure' and that the Blues will show them 'maximum respect'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2533791/Jose-Mourinho-wary-Derby-County-threat-Chelsea-boss-prepares-best-possible-team-FA-Cup-clash.html

"A team that will play the best they can, without any kind of pressure."

"Do we lose? Do we win? Who knows? At least the message is we respect them and we go there with the best possible team."

"The next game after Derby is Hull at the weekend. We can play against Derby and have a day off on Monday."

"It's the last game of this crazy 15 days. After that things come back for normality for a couple of weeks."

"I think the players are also keen on it, to go, go with a strong side and at least tell our opponent that we are going there with maximum respect."

Fair call with that, if we have a week break, may as well play a strongish side.

Seeing what happened to City yesterday, there's certainly no objection to a strong side from me, especially with no mid-week game this week as you said.

Plus, it's our year to win it.

Sir Frank

Of course he is

Team news shortly  

So Lew Baker has traveled.

DERBY XI: Grant (GK), Wisdom, Buxton, Keane, Forsyth, Eustace, Hughes, Hendrick, Dawkins, Ward, Martin

CHELSEA XI: Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Cahill, D Luiz, Cole; Essien (c), Mikel; Ramires, Oscar, Willian; Eto’o

SUBS: Legzdins (GK), Freeman, Sammon, Bennett, Whitbread, Bailey, Cisse


SUBS: Cech, Kalas, Terry, Baker, Hazard, Mata

I don't like this lineup, no Kalas.

Mou the youth killer.