Chelsea vs Port Vale: Match preview, predicted line-ups, team news and prediction
Chelsea welcome League One outfit Port Vale to Stamford Bridge for their FA Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday.
Chelsea survived a major scare to defeat Championship side Wrexham 4–2 after extra time in a dramatic FA Cup fifth-round encounter, while the Valiants secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Sunderland to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Match preview
Following that result, Chelsea have gone on a four-game losing run in the Premier League and Champions League, scoring just two goals and conceding 12.
The Blues were battered 8-2 on aggregate by Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League. They have also suffered goalless defeats to Newcastle United (1-0) and Everton (3-0) in the Premier League.
The defeats have left Chelsea’s quest for Champions League qualification in doubt as they are currently languishing in sixth place, six points off fourth-placed Aston Villa in the Premier League standings.
Liam Rosenior’s side will now shift focus to the FA Cup, their sole remaining chance of silverware this season, a trophy they last lifted in 2018.
The Blues will be optimistic about booking a seventh FA Cup semi-final spot in the last decade, boasting a flawless record against lower-league sides with 37 cup tie wins since their 4-2 defeat to Bradford City in the 2015/16 campaign.
Port Vale will relish their first FA Cup quarter-final appearance in 72 years and will be aiming to pull off a stunning upset against the Premier League side.
Port Vale have endured a difficult campaign in League One this season, struggling for consistency and results. The Valiants sit rock bottom and are 14 points adrift of safety, leaving them on the edge of relegation.
Chelsea and Port Vale last met in any competition in April 1929 in a league encounter, won 1-0 by the Valiants. All 14 meetings between the teams were in the second tier between 1905/06 and 1928/29 (7 Chelsea wins, 4 draws, 3 Port Vale wins).
Team news
Chelsea will be without captain Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill, while Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian are fine to return to the matchday squad.
Enzo Fernandez is also out due to disciplinary action following his comments made during the international break.
Ben Heneghan, George Byres and Jayden Stockley are sidelined with injuries for the visitors.
Predicted line-ups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez, Acheampong, Tosin, Sarr, Hato, Lavia, Santos, Estevao, Neto, Garnacho, Delap.
Port Vale (4-2-3-1): Gauci, Lawrence-Gabriel, C. Hall, Humphreys, John, Gordon, Ojo, Walters, Waine, Brown, Archer.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Port Vale.