The 3rd Round of the competition saw both teams record wins against in-form and high-flying Championship sides. Chelsea traveled to Pride Park and ran out 2-0 winners against Derby County through goals from John Obi Mikel and Oscar, while Stoke beat League-leaders Leicester City 2-1 at the Britannia via goals from Charlie Adam and Kenwyne Jones










The last meeting between the 2 sides was in the League at the Britannia on December the 7th, in which an impressive Stoke recorded a shock 3-2 win over Chelsea with a late stunner from Liverpool loanee Oussama Assaidi sinking José Mourinho's dour side and handing the Potters their first League victory over the West Londoners in almost 40 years.










Stoke manager Mark Hughes is of course a winner of this competition with Chelsea, in 1997 - a Final Chelsea won 2-0 over Middlesbrough via goals from eventual Champions League-winning managerial pair Roberto Di Matteo and Eddie Newton.











Injured for the home side is in-form frontman Fernando Torres, following the Spaniard's injury in Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with José Mourinho saying the striker will likely be out for "a few weeks", while the Potters will be without goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, wide man Matthew Etherington, defender Andy Wilkinson, and Chelsea youth product and former first-team player Robert Huth.

Matic Matic Matic.

I think we should get the win here, I'd love to win this once again.

This thread was so shoddily thrown together I was almost embarrassed to put it out


Apologies.

Better than what I could do.

Which isn't saying much....













































Kidding

You never saw my threads.

They were crap.

Please start Matic. And Ba.

And Mata.

Shed wrote:And Mata.

NO!

Why not?

Pls.

Kick wrote:

Cech
Azpilicueta Cahill Terry Cole
Matic Ramires
Schurrle Mata Hazard
Ba

Pls.

  

Wow. over 10 years.

Also, since Mata is gone. I'd like to see:

Salah to come on from the bench if he is allowed to play.

Little chance for Salah, I'd say. I don't even think he's left the continent yet


Besides, I think players have to be registered a certain amount of time before a match to be eligible for selection. Don't even think he's officially joined yet.

Thats what I was thinking.

Shame we have to play so many first-team regulars. Oh well.

Yes, unless we call up like Baker, RLC or another youngster.

And in a tie against a PL opponent, it's unlikely.

My thoughts exactly.

It's not a game Jose would want to lose either.

Wonder if Schwarzer will get the nod over Cech