Chelsea V Scunthorpe at Stamford Bridge : Match Preview

08 January 2016 17:34
Chelsea V Scunthorpe - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Guus Hiddink wants repeat performance in the FA Cup

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink has made the FA Cup a priority in his second term in charge of the club.

Jose Mourinho's well-publicised struggles at Stamford Bridge this season meant the Blues can realistically only challenge for two trophies before Hiddink departs the club in the summer.

Hiddink admitted that while he will not be staying beyond his temporary contract, he is targeting cup success.

"I've put two dates in my mind which is May 21 and 28 and then it's finished. Then I can go home on the 29.

"Those dates are (the) FA Cup (final) and Champions League (final). We made it very clear that at the end of this then I will stop."

Hiddink won the 2009 FA Cup during his previous spell as interim boss, when he replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari.

A second win in the competition is an aim for Hiddink.

The Dutchman added: "Fourth place in the Premier League is difficult. Then there are two targets left and one is the FA Cup.

"It's a big target for this group of players to get it."

Hiddink wants Chelsea to back up the impressive showing at Crystal Palace with victory in three home games in the next week - against Scunthorpe, West Brom and Everton.

Hiddink, who did not see last season's fourth-round exit to Bradford, said: "In the upcoming games we have to show what we're capable of."

They will likely have to do so without Eden Hazard, who is out with a groin injury and will not be rushed back.

Chelsea have only one fit striker in Costa, with Radamel Falcao (groin) and Loic Remy (calf) absent.

Scunthorpe captain Stephen Dawson believes the FA Cup third-round trip to Chelsea would have been easier had Mourinho still been in charge.

This weekend 3,000 supporters will make the trip from Lincolnshire to Stamford Bridge to see the Iron try and replicate what fellow Sky Bet League One side Bradford did last season.

Asked whether the tie is more difficult than when the draw was made, Dawson said: "Yeah, I think so, if you look at the sort of run now and the way they are playing.

"I think their manager stressed about doing the ugly side as well and I think they did it well last Sunday.

"Crystal Palace is not an easy place to go to, but they were retrieving the ball back very quickly and being direct.

"I suppose the only plus side is I don't think (Eden) Hazard is playing, so it might give us a bit of a chance, you know?"

While Scunthorpe lie 15th in League One and the hosts are reigning Premier League champions, the Irish midfielder says they head to west London without fear.

"No, I am not scared - it is something I look forward to," Dawson, who has spoken to Bradford cup heroes Mark Yeates and Billy Knott in the build-up, said.

"You don't really get the chance to play these kind of players week in, week out.

"Scared doesn't come into it. It is about 11 of us, the subs, whoever he picks, the whole team going out there and really giving our all. It is 11 v 11.

"If they turn up, then, yeah, it'll be very difficult - we're under no illusions.

"But we all know we are the underdog, people won't give us a chance, which is fair enough. We accept that but we want to go out there and do ourselves proud."

Leading scorer Paddy Madden is expected to be fit for Scunthorpe, despite feeling a tight hamstring.

Iron boss Mark Robins has a handful of other players nursing minor knocks and niggles after three games in eight days over the Christmas and new year period but he thinks everyone will be fit and available, which means Tom Hopper and Gary McSheffrey will return from injury.

New signing Conor Townsend will not be involved as he is cup-tied.


Source: PAR