Chelsea is coming off of its most comprehensive victory of its season, a 3-0 romp on the road against Crystal Palace. However, as has been the case all season long, the Blues have had a history of one step forward and two steps back. Guus Hiddink knows that he can't afford to take it easy this year in the FA Cup, starting with a Sunday tea time fixture against Scunthorpe United.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chelsea -485
Scunthorpe United +1200
Draw +635
Over/Under 3.5 (under -135)
ODDS ANALYSIS
You almost have to get the feeling that bettors are going to be tentative to lay the lumber with Chelsea in this match. The Blues have been a huge letdown time and time again all season long, and that's why they're still really in the midst of the relegation fight in the Premier League, whether they'd like to admit it or not.
Chelsea is giving a full two goals against the League 1 side alongside a total of 3.5 with -135 vig on the under.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Chelsea, which bowed out of this tournament last year against Bradford City here at Stamford Bridge, is just entering the FA Cup in the third round proper.
Scunthorpe though, has had to take a bit of a road just to reach this point. Paddy Madden has been the star of the FA Cup for the Iron, giving them two goals against Southend United to put them into the second round proper, the second of which came in the 78th minute. He didn't score against Leyton Orient, but he was a huge reason for the three goals which were scored in the replay against League 2 side Leyton Orient just a few weeks ago.
RECENT FORM
Scunthorpe hasn't exactly been scoring goals at will of late. Four straight matches have ended with either one or two total goals. The Iron have managed just five points in their last four fixtures, and that isn't going to ultimately be good enough to keep them in League 1 for another season if that keeps up.
Chelsea has now picked up at least a point in four straight fixtures after crushing CP at Selhurst Park last Sunday. The results have generally been positive since scoring an equalizer against Watford on Boxing Day, though a loss here would erase all goodwill that Hiddink has built up at Stamford Bridge in recent weeks since taking over for Jose Mourinho.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Chelsea needs to be realistic here with its expectations and play the FA Cup like its life depended on it. The Blues aren't going anywhere this year, and they aren't going to reach the Top 4 to get into the Champions League. That's why these matches should be of utmost importance.
Of course, we just don't see it playing out that way. Hiddink doesn't have a great history in this tournament, and Scunthorpe could be the next to play the role of the giant killer. We love getting a full two goals on our side when one team, even if overmatched, is going to play all out while the other seems more interested in being on the golf course than anything else.
We don't think the Iron are going to figure out how to score a goal at Stamford Bridge, but it wouldn't be overly shocking if the Blues didn't find the back of the net either. Could we be on our way to a replay at Scunthorpe in another week and a half? Don't rule out the possibility.
Chelsea 0, Scunthorpe 0
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