Chelsea v Newcastle Betting Preview – FA Cup 28th January 1.30pm
An all-Premier League clash starts the FA Cup action on Sunday and the last thing that Chelsea will want out of this is another replay like they needed in the last round against Norwich. The Blues will be keen to put this to bed at the first time of asking but it comes after a midweek failure in the EFL Cup against Arsenal so the Blues aren’t going to be as fresh as the visitors are. Newcastle will be heavy underdogs for their visit to Stamford Bridge though where they have struggled for results in recent times.
Chelsea v Newcastle FA Cup Betting Tips
Chelsea’s last chance at domestic silverware now is the FA Cup. That is because they lose their EFL Cup semi-final duel with Arsenal in midweek. Despite a bright start the Blues really didn’t create a lot of chances for themselves and again looked a bit tired after such a long stretch of fixtures without a break. They are certainly lacking something up front with Alvaro Morata being a doubt (and out of form anyway), while Cesc Fabregas is out and Willian got injured against the Gunners to add to their problems. So Chelsea can’t be at full strength. After this, they go again in the Premier League in midweek against Bournemouth. So they are going to have to shuffle their pack once again. Chelsea have drawn each of their last three games at Stamford Bridge, firing in just the one goal in that sequence of games. So at the moment with the issues the Blues have, under 2.5 goals is at odds of 21/20 at Paddy Power* (betting odds taken from January 25th at 00:21 a.m.). Adding to that is the fact that Chelsea have been solid at the back at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have five clean sheets in their last six games at Stamford Bridge in all competitions, and a Chelsea to win to nil option at Paddy Power could have some appeal. Will they be able to produce the goods up front in this one, because with their injury problems, if it isn’t Eden Hazard pulling strings, then no-one looks able to do so for them in and around the opponents penalty area. In the last round, Chelsea needed a penalty shoot out to find a way past a resilience Norwich side. The Blues went down to nine men in the replay at the Bridge but managed to churn out the shootout win to progress. Chelsea do have some positive head to head form going for them against Newcastle as the Blues are unbeaten in their last four against them, winning 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in a Premier League meeting with Newcastle at the start of December. Chelsea have won their last five home games in a row against the Magpies, three of them to nil. From their eleven previous FA Cup games, Chelsea are 5-3 up with three drawn matches. Six of the last eight between the two have gone over 2.5 goals.
A good cup run would probably boost the morale of Newcastle who have been having their struggles in the Premier League this season. Still, it has been a little better from them lately as they have moved to a W2 D2 L1 record in their last five played, the loss there coming against Man City in the Premier League last weekend. The Magpies saw off League Two powerhouses Luton at the first time of asking with a 3-1 home win over the Hatters in the FA Cup third round. Their away form hasn’t been much to write home about though. Newcastle have won just three away games this term and all three of those wins were against sides struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table like themselves (West Ham, Swansea and Stoke). They are W3 D2 L7 in their road games this season. Newcastle have been far from a prolific side this season, but they have netted in all but one of their last seven road fixtures but they may have trouble breaking a solid Chelsea defence and both teams not to score with Paddy Power is a good option.
Chelsea v Newcastle FA Cup Betting Odds*
Chelsea 2/5, Draw 17/5, Newcastle 13/2* (Betting Odds taken on January 23rd, 2018 at 0:55 a.m.)
Chelsea v Newcastle FA Cup Predictions
Chelsea would have to be backed on home soil to get the job done. They have such a good record, especially at the back at Stamford bridge recently that it is unlikely that they are going to go and suffer a loss in this one, even though the Magpies will threaten in patches during the contest.
