Chelsea V Cardiff City Betting: Saturday, 13th February (FA Cup)

Chelsea V Cardiff City

Saturday, 13^th January – 12:00 GMT

Chelsea

FA Cup Outright Odds: 2.75 Ladbrokes

This tournament is shaping up more and more like Chelsea’s to lose after they were granted yet another ‘easy’ tie at home to Championship side, Cardiff City. The London outfit, whom are hot on the heels of their second successive FA Cup crown, have had a very easy run in up till now and have seen some of the bigger teams in the competition fall at the wayside, leaving Chelsea as the strong favourites to claim the spoils in Wembley’s showdown in May.  

Thus far; Chelsea have beaten Watford (5-0) and Preston North End (0-2), both of which were Championship opposition. Now the blues aim to complete a Championship hat-trick as they welcome welsh side, Cardiff, to Stamford Bridge in a game they are hotly tipped to sail through without too many problems. Some bookmakers have them as short as 1/7 to beat Cardiff, while the best we could find was a half-decent 1/5 with Bet365 & SkyBet. It’s short, it won’t get you rich and leaving in Beverely Hills any time soon but it does look the closest thing to a banker since David took on Goliath – Although, dare we say, the bookie back then must have made a killing on that upset! 

Chelsea, though, look flawless in our eyes and we really would have to eat humble pie were Chelsea to have a drastic day at the office and lose this fifth round tie with Cardiff City. The talent they possess in their squad will leave Cardiff manager Dave Jones drooling with envy, while Jones can be seen hiding behind his pink, fluffy pillow after watching clips of Chelsea’s first-half demolition of Arsenal on Sunday. Carlo Ancelotti’s men were simply far too strong and smart for a dangerous Arsenal, and it doesn’t bode at all well for the Welsh travellers that Chelsea can cruise through a fixture with Arsenal like no-one’s business.

We don’t like writing off anyone’s chances but this really does look a forgone conclusion. So, with Chelsea’s odds not enticing us enough to have a serious wager, we’ve instead been forced to look for alternatives and we think we’ve found a gem of a bet in Didier Drogba to score any time, although we reckon half the footballing country will have clicked onto this beauty, with the Ivorian at 1.73 with Boylesports to get on the score sheet on Saturday. Since returning from Africa empty-handed, Drogba has featured twice for Chelsea, both from the off and both saw Drogba get on the score sheet, scoring their equaliser at Hull City and two in Chelsea’s comfortable weekend victory over Arsenal. His sheer power and strength will be too much for a weak Cardiff defence which conceded five goals in their last outing, a 5-1 hammering at Newcastle United.

Cardiff City

FA Cup Outright Odds: 200/1 VCbet

The task ahead for Dave Jones and his Cardiff side is so colossal that even Southampton of League One have been priced up as more likely winners than the Bluebirds, with the Saints a best priced 150/1 with VCbet, compared to Cardiff’s 200/1 with the same firm. It’s clear the bookies don’t think much of their chances, and neither do we… 

Still, football, well, the FA Cup anyhow, isn’t just about winning games but more about the occasion, especially for the fans as they will get a rare glimpse of a famous European Stadium – If you can really call Stamford Bridge a famous stadium. We have no doubt Cardiff will have sold their ticket allocation within minutes and several thousand Cardiff supporters will voice their support at The Bridge in a bid to defy the mammoth odds. However, they may have to settle for a world famous Chelsea half-time pie, and a viewing of some poxy Chelsea flags, as their chances of winning this tie don’t look good, not good at all.

At the end of the day, even we are forgetting what this competition is all about – Shocks – and Cardiff, at least on paper, do have the credentials to give Chelsea a few scares along the way, if not make this a raring good contest. After all, The Bluebirds have won more games away from home in the league and have scored more goals away from home in the league, so their league form would suggest they have an ounce of a chance. However, Cardiff have yet to register an away win in this competition, after drawing with Bristol City in round 3, 1-1 at Ashton Gate before winning 1-0 at home, while they were 4-2 victors at the Cardiff City stadium in the previous round against Leicester.

You have to be honest, brutally if you’re a Cardiff fan, and say Saturday probably won’t be your day if you’re a Cardiff City fan. However, the Welsh side could have at least a goal in them and their could be value, if not just for the pure hell of cheering something on at a long price, on backing a potential hero, and by that we mean an any time scorer. The two likely candidates would be Peter Whittingham, whom has scored 15 league goals this season, and former Sunderland forward, Michael Chopra, who has 14 league goals to his name. Both have been lively and lethal for Cardiff in front of goal, especially Whittingham who is a midfielder by trade, and both represent very good value in making a name for themselves at The Bridge with a goal.

Match Verdict: Chelsea to WIN – 1.20 Bet365

There’s no an awful lot to say about this verdict really in that a victory for the home side should be common knowledge, and on most punters accumulator slips. You would feel the only factor which could let Chelsea down would be a case of arrogance, which they definitely have in them, but Ancelotti is desperate to land some form of silverware in his first season and this looks a major coup in the making for the former Champions League winner. The Londoner’s look, and should be, far too strong for Cardiff City on Saturday and should make it three straightforward wins from three in this competition as they continue their march towards the final.

Value Scorer Punts:

Didier Drogba Anytime Scorer – 1.73 Boylesports

The guy is a powerhouse and has been arguably the striker of the season, certainly up their with Wayne Rooney. He’s only been back two minutes and he’s already back doing what he does best – scoring goals. Didier has yet to play an FA Cup fixture this season due to his Ivory Coast commitments but will be eager to show his competitors what he has in store for them. He has 17 league goals to his name this season, 17 goals against Premiership quality defences, and he could run riot against this Cardiff defence, one which shipped 5 in it’s last away outing.

Michael Chopra Anytime Scorer – 4.50 WilliamHill

An error, a bad back pass, any sort of mistake and Chopra will be lurking just around the corner to tuck home. He does have the ability to find space behind defenders but he’s pitting his wits against the very best in John terry and looks almost certain to hit his head against a brick wall by trying to oust John terry. Instead, anything sloppy from Chelsea, or even a rebound from the keeper, and Chopra could be on hand to tuck home from close range. If you’re looking for a potential Cardiff scorer then Chopra is your man. However, Peter Whittingham, who has scored more than Chopra, looks ever so tasty at 5.00 with WilliamHill.

Match Odds:

Chelsea – 1.20 Bet365

Draw – 6.50 PaddyPower

Cardiff City – 17.00 SkyBet