Chelsea vs Fulham, 21st September 2011, 19.45

The Blues get their League Cup campaign started with a home game against neighbors Fulham on Wednesday night.

Chelsea’s last victory came in 2007, when they beat Arsenal 2-1 in an action packed match, the win came courtesy of a Didier Drogba’s brace.

Whilst it is early days for André Villas-Boas, Roman will want him to win some silverware this season and like his old mentor Jose Mourinho, he will take this competition seriously.

Following Chelsea’s defeat to rivals Manchester United on Sunday, they will be keen to get back to winning ways. It is expected that there will be a host of changes from the aforementioned loss, Drogba has been given the all-clear following his concussion against Norwich and we could see a first start for Romelu Lukaku.

Fulham will be missing defender Aaron Hughes, who has a hamstring problem and Andrew Johnson is struggling with a knock. Bobby Zamora could be rested after his double on Sunday against Manchester City.

Head-to-Head

Fulham last got a point at Stamford Bridge back in 2007, when they drew 0-0 and Drogba was sent-off for a second yellow card, and you have to go all the way back to 27^th October 1979, for the last time the Cottagers won at the Bridge.

In the last 75 games between the two clubs, has seen Chelsea win 42 compared the Fulham’s 11.

The two teams have only met in this competition twice; both times the Blues were victorious (1985 and 2004). The latter was a tight affair – Damien Duff scored against his current club, then Brian McBride equalized before Frank Lampard came off the bench to score an 88^th minute winner.

Prediction

3-0 home win – Chelsea will come out hungry after Sunday’s defeat, and if they attack as well as they did at Old Trafford then this should be a comfortable night.

The 3-0 victory is currently a generous 19/2 but over 2.5 goals is not so attractive at 100/165. For the best odds on the game visit: http://www.astamfordbridgetoofar.com/betting.

By Scott Balaam

Twitter @theshed11