Birmingham v Chelsea: tough test for visitors after Villas-Boas exit
Published:Chelsea head into this FA Cup third round replay in the frustratingly familiar position of having just sacked their manager.
Andre Villas-Boas was turfed out by Roman Abramovic after just 40 games in charge and now caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo will lead the team into this vitally important FA Cup game with Birmingham City.
The FA Cup does represent the west London club’s best chance of silverware this season but, with their recent troubles on and off the pitch, they will face a struggle at St Andrew’s.
Match betting
Unsurprisingly, the Blues are 4/5 favourites to win this match and they represent pretty decent value at those odds.
Birmingham have shipped two goals in each of their last two home games and have won just one of their previous five.
However, Chelsea are in the midst of a dreadful run of form and have lost each of their last three away games.
They have also had a tough time during their recent trips to St Andrew’s, winning on just two of their previous six trips, including a defeat last time out.
Brum are 7/2 to cause a big upset but a better bet may be to back the game to be level after 90 minutes at 5/2.
Goal markets
None of the last six games between these sides at St Andrew’s has seen more than two goals scored, so backing under 2.5 goals looks well worth a punt at 8/11.
There have been three goalless draws in that period as well and a stalemate after 90 minutes can be backed at a pretty decent 11/1.
If you can see a goal being scored though, then Didier Drogba is favourite to open the scoring at 4/1.
