Chelsea v Swansea Betting Preview
The Blues have found the goals flowing for them recently, and a heavy away win at Southampton in the FA Cup will make them favourites to progress. They were stunned recently at Stamford Bridge by QPR in the league though, where they have won just half of their Premier League matches this season, but they have been in high scoring mode in this season’s League Cup. With the addition of Demba Ba, they will be favourites to win the first leg. Swansea have managed just one win in their last six matches in all competitions, and earned a late draw at home against Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday. Can they hold out from being over-ran and take something back to the Liberty Stadium?
Chelsea v Swansea Betting Odds at online bookmaker Paddy Power
Chelsea 2/5, Draw 7/2, Swansea 7/1
Chelsea v Swansea Recommended Bet:
So far in the League Cup this season, Chelsea have beaten Wolves 6-0, edged past Manchester United 5-4 in extra time and thumped Leeds 5-1. So that is the form they are carrying with them into the Wednesday’s first leg of the League Cup at Stamford Bridge. Demba Ba marked his arrival with aplomb, netting a brace at St Mary’s as Chelsea came back from a goal down to beat Southampton 5-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday. If Ba continues his high scoring rate and keeps Fernando Torres out of the team, Chelsea really could turn into a consistently prolific team. They have already had more shots on target than any other side has mustered up so far in the tournament. Their last match at Stamford Bridge though, resulted in that shock 1-0 defeat against QPR in which they couldn’t break through a packed defence, despite dominating the game.
The last three times Chelsea have been in the semi finals they have made it through to the final. This is their 11th semi in the cup, making the final six times out of the ten previous attempts. The Blues have only ran into Swansea once before in the League Cup and they won that tie back in 1965 with a 3-2 victory at the Bridge. Their form in the cup at the Bridge in fact is great, winning 18 and losing just three of their last 25 ties there, so big history. However, their recent home form has been pretty patchy, winning just two of their last six on home soil. However, they are unbeaten in the last five against Swansea in all competitions, most recently picking up a 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium earlier in the Premier League season.
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Swansea are still seeking their first appearance in the final of the League Cup. Their progress has been solid, opening with a 3-1 home win over Barnsley, before a nervy 3-2 away win at Crawley, before out-gunning Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield. They then edged their way past strong Championship side Middlesbrough in the quarter finals to set up this big clash with Chelsea. Swansea are going to have a very busy January with the two legs of this cup and a replay in the FA Cup third round to come against Arsenal after Danny Graham snatched a late equaliser. In the League Cup this season, Swansea have scored a goal inside of the last ten minutes in each of their League Cup matches this season, but here is what may put the Swans at a disadvantage. They have failed to score in five of their last ten away matches and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 19 League Cup matches. So resilience is going to be the best route for them against Chelsea and the Swans have lost just one of their last seven away matches in all competitions. So they may be good for a draw if they can dig deep for ninety minutes, but seeing them win could be a stretch. Their last two visits to Stamford Bridge resulted in a 6-1 and 4-1 defeat. A score draw wouldn’t be a bad result for them to take back to the Liberty, but they are underdogs and a Chelsea -1.5 Asian Handicap at 11/10 at online Paddy Power could pay off.
Form
Chelsea WWWWLW, Swansea LDDWDD
Stat Attack
Chelsea have won just two of the last six matches at Stamford Bridge in all competitions
The Blues have had more shots on target in this season’s competition than anyone else
Swansea have scored inside the last ten minutes of all their League Cup ties this season
Swansea have not kept a clean sheet in the last 19 League Cup away matches
The Blues have only won 2 of their last 6 matches at Stamford Bridge
Online bookmaker Promotion
It should be a good encounter at Stamford Bridge, with some great open football being played and both teams likely to get on the scoresheet. Follow the action live with in-running betting at online bookmaker Paddy Power, where new markets will be opened up. Get yourself a free £50 bet for your Chelsea v Swansea League Cup betting by opening a new account at Online bookmaker Paddy Power, as the bookie will match the value of your initial stake with a free bet.
