For Chelsea to remain in three competitions, the team must return along the A13 tonight having dealt with League One opposition at the second attempt. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton relay the replay facts and figures.

TALKING POINTS
Football usually throws up a swift opportunity to wipe the memory of a dreadful game, and so it is with this FA Cup replay.

Tonight we can begin to rebuild after Sunday's depressing second half at Old Trafford, and our worst defeat there since the days of Andy Townsend and Steve Livingstone, 16 years ago.

Chelsea fans who know their music will be hoping Morrissey was wrong when he sang 'Every Day Is Like Sunday'. He chose Southend as the location for the video of the single, with its lines about 'the coastal town they forgot to shut down', but the one about 'come, Armageddon, come' might be in more people's heads in the unlikely event that Chelsea don't make it into the fourth round to face Ipswich Town. 

KEY STAT Southend have never beaten a club from the top flight in the FA Cup.

Chelsea's arrival will be the biggest thing to happen in the estuary town since Mark Keeley's Elvis Show at Canvey Island's Paddocks on 10 January. 'The King' and his impersonators are still huge throughout Essex, and one of Southend United's mascots is 'Elvis J Eel', a foam eel with a quiff, a huge saggy microphone (and arms). Will they have 'Such A Night', or 'Do The Clam' this evening? It will certainly be a heartbreaker for one team.

There is one other portion of costumed seafood for the kids at the pitchside, with 'Sammy the Shrimp', one of football's more remarkable frivolities. For grown-up gentlemen, the Shrimpers' half-time dance troupe, the Blue Belles, may even compete with what goes before them.

Although it's nominally Southend-on-Sea, the town Chelsea play in is actually on the mouth of the river Thames, 50-odd miles downstream from Stamford Bridge. It is renowned for having the world's longest pier, but a series of accidents culminating in a devastating fire in 2005, led to the launch of a restoration scheme, Adopt A Plank. (This definitely had nothing to do with player sponsorship.)

Mostly, though, Southend has been known as a place to come for fun, whether for the ballrrom dancing, pub rock of the Seventies, its seafront funfair, or the waxworks, one of which featured a frightened man tied down beneath a diabolical swinging axe.

United's manager Steve Tilson will not be feeling exactly like that unfortunate soul, though their recent league form has been poor - one win in nine - and his chairman is disappointed at their midtable showing in League One.

Southend have not played since the Chelsea match; Crewe were due to visit Roots Hall last Saturday, but it was postponed because of a frozen playing area. The recent thaw and heaters under covers should ensure that the pitch - traditionally one of the best in the Football League - will be fine for the London Blues' trip.

If the surface will be decent, other aspects of the stadium will present more of a culture shock. The stands are small and very close to the pitch and the dressing rooms a far cry from those of Roman Abramovich-era Stamford Bridge. Tilson suggested this week that 'unless the heaters have been fixed since the last game it will be cold in there'. All of which, as the wisdom of the ages has it, adds to the magic of the Cup.

With no other game to worry about for ten days, the draw at the Bridge has electrified the town with the possibility of matching the famous cup giantkilling of November 2006, when a Freddie Eastwood goal turfed our recent Mancunian opponents out of the League Cup. Chelsea will remember Burnley at home this season and Barnsley away last and not want that humbling experience again.

Of course, it might not be decided during normal time. If the scores are level after 90 minutes tonight, 30 minutes of extra time will be played. Should there still be no winner, the referee will call for penalties.

That would not be a reassuring moment: Chelsea have lost the last five penalty shootouts against Burnley (League Cup), Manchester Utd (Champions League), Manchester Utd (Community Shield), Liverpool (Champions League) and Charlton (League Cup). The total rises to six if you include the Railways Cup in pre-season. Our last triumph was at Ipswich way back in January 1998.

The Shrimpers have a better record. They lost one shootout against Dagenham and Redbridge (the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2007/08) and won against Colchester (LDV Vans Trophy 2004/05).

The winner will be at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday 24 January, kick-off 3pm.

TACTICAL BRIEF
Southend's ultimate hero in the first match on the Fulham Road was goalie Steve Mildenhall, who made inspired saves from Didier Drogba and, especially, Franco Di Santo's last-gasp point-blank header. But their goalscorer, centre-back and birthday boy Peter Clarke, was the man celebrating a tactical coup.

Having seen Chelsea struggle to get behind hard-working defences, Steve Tilson asked his side to play tight, safe football with little attacking motive, and was not worried if they conceded. He reasoned that if Felipe Scolari's side could be restricted to a single-goal lead, the home crowd might become restless and jittery, and United might be able to push forward in the closing stages, superior endeavour and set plays and crosses into the box creating the odd chance. His game plan worked, but only after Di Santo's late frustration.

Up until last Sunday, of course, Chelsea were unbeaten on our travels domestically this season. The three away goals conceded at Old Trafford doubled our opponents' tally for the season.

All three were scored from well inside the 18-yard box, as were all those by Fulham, West Ham, Burnley, CFR Cluj, Bordeaux, Tottenham, Man Utd's back in September, one of Arsenal's, and Roma's opener in Italy. We had become unused to seeing goals such as that scored against our well-organised side, especially as many of the scorers have found previously unheard-of space and time in the Chelsea area.

So we arrive not having kept a clean sheet in three matches, but under the circumstances, with the FA Cup taking on perhaps new importance, will the Blues' manager maintain the same personnel as Old Trafford, providing the opportunity to make good? Or will he make the team and tactical changes hinted at in the post-match press conferences?

The Blues have a good record in cup replays and Felipao will certainly be looking for more chances created and taken than in Manchester, where Van der Sar had to deal with Ashley Cole's loping drive and no other shot. Chelsea's statistics for on-target shooting do not include ones that are blocked some way out, but they do point to a similar failing in crucial recent domestic setbacks.

In the losses against Manchester Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool, a total of five shots on target was recorded. During the draw with United earlier this season we managed nine. Against Southend it was eight, not enough considering the dominance of possession in their half. Such difficulties contribute to a loss of confidence, so the opposite would apply should the Blues find their shooting boots again tonight, whoever starts and finishes the match.

Southend's manager will not worry too much about which personnel his team faces. With the live tv spotlight on Roots Hall, he will be more concerned with ensuring that, unlike the pitch last weekend, his team does not freeze.

Manchester United tonight complete the first of their two games in hand, at home to in-form Wigan Athletic. The Mancs have never lost at home to the Latics, and have won this fixture three times in succession, scoring 11 goals. If they earn the three points this evening, they will leapfrog Chelsea into second place by two points.

WE HAVE HISTORY
It is over 36 years since we last visited Roots Hall in a competitive game although our most recent trip to the Thames estuary was in a pre-season friendly in July 1994: Peter Taylor and Glenn Hoddle managed the sides. Chelsea won 2-1 with goals from Steve Clarke and Paul Furlong. Dominic Iorfa scored for the Shrimpers.

Our three competitive encounters
Jan 11 1913 FA Cup first round
Chelsea...............5 Southend...............2
Whittingham 4        Frost 2
(2 pens)
Woodward           Att: 14,569

Chelsea Brebner, Bettridge, Sharp, Taylor, Ormiston, Calderhead, Ford, Whittingham, Woodward, Brown, Bridgeman.
Southend Kebbell, Thomson, Spencer, Emery, Moon, Axcell, Scott, Wilson, Frost, Bradshaw, Parke.

Sep 6 1972 League Cup second round
Southend...............0 Chelsea................1
Att: 24,160                 Garland

Southend Bellotti, Ternant, Smith, Elliott, Albeson, Harrison, Johnson, Best, Garner, Bennett (Woods), Booth.
Chelsea Bonetti, Mulligan, McCreadie (c), Hollins, Webb, Harris, Garland, Kember, Osgood, Boyle, Houseman.

Chelsea signed Bill Garner the next day from Southend for £80,000.

Jan 3 2009 FA Cup third round
Chelsea................1 Southend...............1
Kalou 31 Clarke 90
Att: 41,090

Chelsea  Cudicini Ferreira           Ivanovic               Carvalho          A Cole      Belletti                  Mikel              Lampard (c) J Cole                 Drogba                Kalou  Substitutes Di Santo for J Cole (83), Sinclair for Kalou (87)  Revell                        Barnard McCormack Stanislas                                        Grant Christophe Herd              Barrett (c)                 Clarke           Sankofa  Mildenhall Southend  Substitutes Moussa for Christophe (76), Freedman for Barnard (76), Laurent for Revell (76)

 

After playing 299 games for Chelsea between 1968 and 1974, Blues legend David Webb (pictured below) managed Southend on four separate occasions between June 1986 and November 2003 and guided the Shrimpers to promotion from the old Fourth Division in 1990 and from the Third Division a year later. Following the sacking of Ian Porterfield in February 1993, Webby was brought in by Ken Bates as manager until the end of the season, and we finished mid-table.

 
CHELSEA STATS
We have three wins in 11 games in all competitions and conceded six goals in the last three games.

Chelsea last lost an FA Cup third round tie way back in 1998, when Manchester Utd beat us 5-3 at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have won our last four away FA Cup replays at Tottenham (2006/07), West Ham (2001/02), Newcastle on penalties (1995/96) and Sheffield Wed (1993/94). We last lost an away replay at Second Division Sunderland in the quarter final in 1991/92.

Chelsea have won the FA Cup in 1970, 1997, 2000 and 2007 and have been finalists in 1915, 1967, 1994 and 2002.

Last five seasons in the FA Cup
2003/04 Fifth round - lost 1-2 away to Arsenal
2004/05 Fifth round - lost 0-1 away to Newcastle
2005/06 Semi-final - lost 1-2 to Liverpool at Old Trafford
2006/07 Winners - beat Man Utd 1-0 at Wembley
2007/08 Quarter-final - lost 0-1 away to Barnsley
 

Chelsea's previous six games
Dec 14	West Ham H	D 1-1
Dec 22	Everton A	D 0-0
Dec 26	WBA H	W 2-0
Dec 28	Fulham A	D 2-2
Jan 3	Southend H	D 1-1 FA Cup
Jan 11	Man Utd A	L 0-3

2008/09 scorers
Anelka 16, Lampard 11 (2 pens), Kalou 5, Malouda 4, J Cole 3, Deco 3, Drogba 3, Belletti 2, Bosingwa 2, Terry 2, Alex 1, Carvalho 1, own goals 2 (Wheater, Middlesbrough, Djourou, Arsenal). Total 55.

MILESTONE
If selected, Ashley Cole will make his 100th start in a blue shirt.

SOUTHEND STATS
Founded 1906 

2008/09 FA Cup results
Nov 8 (1)	Telford A	D 2-2 Laurent, Christophe
Nov 18 (R)	Telford H	W 2-0 Francis, Walker
Nov 29 (2)	Luton H	W 3-1 Stanislas 2, Walker
Jan 3 (3)	Chelsea A	D 1-1 Clarke

The furthest Southend have progressed in the FA Cup is the fifth round on several occasions, the last of which was in 1993 when they were defeated at Sheffield Wednesday.

Before our tie, Southend have been drawn against top-flight opposition in the FA Cup 21 times and lost all of them, two after a replay.

However, the Shrimpers did beat Man Utd 1-0 at Roots Hall in the League Cup fourth round in November 2006. Although United were not at full strength, Rooney and Ronaldo both played the 90 minutes.

Last five seasons in the FA Cup
2003/04 Third round replay- lost 0-1 away to Scarborough
2004/05 First round - lost 0-3 at home to Luton
2005/06 Second round - lost 1-2 at home to MK Dons
2006/07 Fourth round - lost 1-3 away at Tottenham
2007/08 Fourth round - lost 0-1 at home to Barnsley

The Shrimpers have won one and lost four of the last six games in all competitions. 

Southend's previous six games
Dec 6	Leicester A	L 0-3
Dec 13	Huddersfield H	L 0-1
Dec 19	Hartlepool A	L 0-3
Dec 26	Northampton H	W 1-0
Dec 28	MK Dons A	L 0-2
Jan 3	Chelsea A	D 1-1 FA Cup

 
2008/09 scorers
Barnard 5 (1 pen), Clarke 4, Freedman 4, Laurent 4, Revell 3, Sawyer 3, Stanislas 3, Walker 3, Christophe 2, Robson-Kanu 2, Barrett 1, Betsy 1, Francis 1, Grant 1, Harding 1, own goal 1. Total 39.
 

Coca-Cola League One table
Top		P	GD	PTS
1	Leicester	24	27	54
2	MK Dons	24	25	50
3	Oldham	25	16	45
4	Scunthorpe	24	13	44
5	Millwall	23	7	44
6	Peterborough	23	15	43
7	Stockport	24	10	38
8	Tranmere	23	4	37
9	Huddersfield	25	-2	37
10	Leeds	24	6	36
11	Colchester	24	-1	32
12	Walsall	23	-1	31
13	Northampton	24	1	30
14	Southend	23	-8	30

The record crowd at Roots Hall is 31,090 against Liverpool in the FA Cup in 1979. The current capacity is just under 12,500.

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The referee is Chris Foy, who this season has officiated two Chelsea wins - at home to Villa and away to Blackburn.

OTHERWISE ENGAGED
Midfielder Alan McCormack is suspended for Southend for collecting five yellow cards (he would have been available had Saturday's league game not been postponed). José Bosingwa, John Mikel Obi and John Terry have four domestic bookings and are one away from a one-match ban.

There will be full audio commentary of the game through Chelsea eyes on Chelsea Plus, or turn to Chelsea Mobile if you are out and about.