Prediction and odds for the game: Chelsea (1/16) vs Morecambe (50/1)

We are backing Tammy Abraham to be anytime goalscorer at odds of 1/2

When: Sunday, 10th January 2021, Kick-off 13:30

Where: Stamford Bridge

On Sunday afternoon, Premier League Chelsea host League Two Morecambe at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup third round.

Chelsea

The Blues head into this clash on the back of a poor run of form, as they have slipped to ninth-place in the Premier League table. Head coach Frank Lampard is now under major pressure. He will be keen to avoid any embarrassment in the FA Cup.

However, it could work the other way for the Blues in that they could use the tie to improve confidence. The home side needs a lift after just one victory in their previous seven outings in all competitions.

Lampard’s team have a decent recent record in the FA Cup. Last season the Blues got to the final of the competition, only to suffer a 2-1 defeat by Arsenal. The defeat ended a five-game winning run for Chelsea in the FA Cup. The Blues have an exceptional home record in the FA Cup winning 15 of their last 16 home games in the competition.

Chelsea are without N’Golo Kante through suspension, while Reece James and Andreas Christensen are fitness doubts so are unlikely to feature.

Morecambe

The visitor’s main priority this season is winning promotion to League One and they are currently in a play-off spot. The Shrimpers have won their last four games in all competitions, scoring at least twice in three of the four matches. However, they may be a bit rusty as they have not played since Boxing Day.

Morecambe don’t have the best record in the FA Cup, as the team from the north west have won just two of their last 14 games in the competition over 90 minutes. The visitors needed extra-time to see-off National League Solihull Moors in the last round.

Derek Adams team will obviously be looking to be competitive against a likely strong Chelsea starting line-up. However, they face an uphill battle, even if Blues boss Frank Lampard decides to field a rotated team.

Cameroonian midfielder Yann Songo’o has been one of Morecambe’s more impressive of late. Young Spanish striker Carlos Gomes could be a threat to the Blues backline, as the 22-year-old has scored seven goals in the league this season.

Conclusion

This looks like a tie that has the potential for an upset. However, we just can’t see it happening, as we believe that Chelsea will have too much quality for the lower league visitors. The home win offers little value though. Instead, we are backing Chelsea forward Tammy Abraham to be an anytime goalscorer. We are also backing Chelsea to be winning at half-time and full-time, which offers slightly better odds than the simple home win.

Verdict: We are backing Tammy Abraham to be an anytime scorer at odds of 1/2 and/or Chelsea half-time/full-time at odds of 1/3. (All odds are taken from Bet365)

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Can Chelsea avoid the potential massive banana skin at Stamford Bridge?