PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V FULHAM

WE HAVE HISTORY
Chelsea are looking to extend our unbeaten run against Fulham to 11 games. The Cottagers last victory was at Craven Cottage in March 2006 in the Barclays Premier League. Luis Boa Morte scored the only goal.

We have been drawn together twice before in this competition, most recently at chilly Craven Cottage in José Mourinho's first season, 2004/05.

One of Fulham's current team was the Blues' key man that evening. Damien Duff tormented the Whites defence and opened the scoring with a deflected shot ten minutes into the second half that eluded Edwin van der Sar.

The home side rallied and substitute Elvis Hammond set up Brian McBride to beat Carlo Cudicini with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Duff was swiftly removed from the fray and his replacement, Frank Lampard, soon bore out the manager's decision, setting up Alexey Smertin for a great chance before hitting the net himself in the dying minutes of the game.

Famously, Chelsea went on to lift the first trophy of the Roman Abramovich era by beating Liverpool in the 2005 League Cup final.

Fulham have won two of our 36 previous meetings in all competitions at Stamford Bridge. They were 1963/64 (1-2) in the old First Division and 1979/80 (0-2) in the old Division Two.

Clive Walker and Tommy Langley both featured the last time Fulham came away from Stamford Bridge with a victory. John Beck and Gordon Davies scored the goals for the visitors in October 1979.

Chelsea have won both previous League Cup ties against Fulham.

Previous League Cup meetings
3rd round 29 October 1985 Stamford Bridge
Chelsea …………………1 Fulham…………………1
Hazard                                   Carr
                                     Att: 19,699

3rd round replay 6 November 1985 Craven Cottage
Fulham…...…………….0 Chelsea…………..…..1
                                             Dixon
                                    Att: 20,190

Biggest win at Stamford Bridge for each team
Chelsea 4-0 Fulham - 26/09/1925 and 07/04/1984 (both Division 2)
Chelsea 0-2 Fulham - 27/10/1979 (Division 2)

DAYS SINCE
Chelsea won the League Cup: 1,670
Fulham last won at Stamford Bridge: 11,653
Arsenal won a trophy: 2,315
Liverpool won a trophy: 1,958

Chelsea v Fulham