It’s been a long eight days; a long time to wait for the opportunity to exorcise last weekend’s humiliating 3-0 defeat to Middlesbrough.
Jose Mourinho has included Robert Huth and Lassana Diarra in the squad; both will be in the starting line-up. Huth is likely to replace John Terry, who’s suspended, while Diarra will replace the injured Claude Makelele.
William Gallas and Asier Del Horno are both out injured, while Damien Duff and Paulo Ferreira are back in training and likely to feature. Dider Drogba has returned from the African Cup of Nations and is included in the squad despite reports of a persistent knee injury.
Prediction: The connections of Colchester United have been talking a good match this week. If they walk the walk equally as well as they talk the talk then we’re in for another good Cup tie. But for all their bravado it’s unlikely they’ll take anything from this match except for memories and a huge wad of cash. 3-1.
Related links:
- Huth and Diarra come in for sold-out FA Cup clash
- Chelsea need Sunday best to feel better about Barcelona
- Mourinho fires out warning
- The great dictator
- Parkinson promises bold approach
- Overnight queue for Cup tickets
- Baldwin back at the Bridge
Chelsea 3 – 1 Colchester United · Update
Colchester, at least in the first half, walked the walk.
See Ferreira and Joe Cole’s goals here (downloadable zip files).
Match reports: BBC Sport; Sky Sports; ESPNSoccernet; Official Chelsea FC Website; The Guardian; The Independent; The Times; Daily Telegraph.
Related links:
- Reaction: Jose — Colchester weren’t afraid
- Cole impressed by Colchester show
- Cole rises from bench to get Chelsea out of a jam
