Chelsea vs Port Vale: can Port Vale pull off a shock?
Port Vale
In the FA Cup quarter-final, we are set for a meeting between Chelsea and Port Vale, which will take place on Saturday, April 4, kicking off at 18:15 CET, and I suggest placing a bet on this fixture.
Chelsea vs Port Vale: match facts and head-to-head
- Chelsea have lost their last four matches.
- Chelsea have conceded in eight consecutive games.
- At home, Chelsea are winless in four matches: two draws and two defeats.
- Port Vale have lost their last two matches.
- Across their last six outings, Port Vale have managed just one win.
- Chelsea have kept clean sheets in a quarter of their matches this season, Port Vale 24%.
- Port Vale have lost 33% of their matches this season without scoring, Chelsea 7%.
- In 36% of their matches this season, Chelsea have scored in both halves.
- These two sides have not previously faced each other in competitive fixtures.
Chelsea vs Port Vale: match preview
Chelsea reached the FA Cup quarter-finals by overcoming relatively modest opposition along the way. They defeated Charlton 5–1, then thrashed Hull City 4–0, and followed it up with a 4–2 win over Wrexham. As a result, they now find themselves in the quarter-finals, once again facing lower-division opposition. However, their overall form has been far from convincing. The London side have lost their last four matches, including two in the UEFA Champions League and two in the league. In their most recent outing, they suffered a heavy 0–3 defeat to Everton. In the Premier League standings, the team sit sixth, just one point behind fifth place.
Port Vale are a representative of League One, the third tier of English football. Their recent results have also been underwhelming, with the team losing their last two matches and winning just once in their previous six. However, their FA Cup run has been nothing short of remarkable and can already be considered a sensation. They began their campaign from the first round, beating Maldon & Tiptree 5–1, then Bristol Rovers 1–0, Fleetwood 1–0, Bristol City 1–0, and edging Sunderland 1–0. This will be an extremely difficult challenge, but they have already produced several upsets and may look to deliver another.
Probable line-ups
- Chelsea: Sanchez; Acheampong; Tosin, Badiashile, Hato; Lavia, Essugo; Neto, Estevao, Garnacho; Delap
- Port Vale: Gauci; Lawrence-Gabriel, C. Hall, Humphreys, John, Gordon; Ojo, Walters; Waine, Brown, Archer
Prediction
Chelsea are the clear favourites for this match, and I believe they will be able to end their poor run and finally return to winning ways. I suggest backing Chelsea to score over 3 goals individually.
