Middlesbrough vs Chelsea Preview

February 26, 2013
By: Deke Hardman

FA-cup

The final game from the fifth round of this season’s FA Cup takes place at the Riverside Staduim on Wednesday evening as Middlesbrough host Chelsea, with Manchester United awaiting the winners in the quarter finals.

The two teams met in the final of the competition sixteen years ago, where Roberto Di Matteo set the Blues on the way to victory after just 42 seconds, before Eddie Newton sealed the victory seven minutes from time.

The hosts go in to the game on a poor run of form that has seen them take just four points from the last twenty-seven available in the Championship.

Tony Mowbary will be unable to call upon Josh McEachran, Keiron Dyer and Sammy Ameobi, who are all ineligible, while Jonathan Woodgate, Lukas Jutkiewicz, Stuart Parnaby, Justin Hoyte and Julio Arca are all out injured.

Marvin Emnes is widely available at 11.0 (10/1) to get the first goal of the game, while Curtis Main who has three in his last four games is 13.0 (12/1) with Ladbrokes.

Middlesbrough are best priced at 8.0 (7/1) to win the match, with Chelsea a 1.44 (4/9) shot with most firms. Bet Victor offer 4.8 (19/5) for the tie to go to a replay.

The visitors go in to the game having slipped to fourth place in the Premier League following their 2-0 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill are set to miss out, so captain John Terry could be recalled after being rested at the weekend.

Demba Ba is favourite to net first at 5.0 (4/1) with Ladbrokes despite not scoring in his last eight appearances, while Coral have Frank Lampard at 7.0 (6/1) to make a mends for his penalty miss at the Etihad Stadium by opening the scoring.

The Blue have scored exactly two goals on each of their last visits to lower league opposition in this competition, so you may be tempted to take advantage of the 3.25 (9/4) on offer from William Hill for them to do so on this occasion.

Alternatively, as Chelsea have been victorious without conceding the last five times they have met Middlesbrough, you can back them to win to nil again at 2.70 (17/10) with Ladbrokes.

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