There is a break from the Premier League this weekend as our FA Cup campaign commences. Our preview to round three begins with statistical information linked to the game...
Chelsea vs Forest head to head record
Chelsea are seeking a seventh successive victory in all competitions against Nottingham Forest.Chelsea and Forest are playing for the third successive season in cup competitions, all at Stamford Bridge.We met at the same stage of the FA Cup last term and in 2017/18 in the third round of the Carabao Cup when the Blues ran out 5-1 victors.
The last time we met in the Premier League was in 1998/99 when we achieved the double of them.Forest last won at the Bridge in January 1995 (eight games ago) when Glenn Hoddle was in charge of Chelsea. A Stan Collymore brace secured a 2-0 win for Frank Clark’s side in the Premier League.
Our overall cup record against Forest is six wins, two draws and one defeat.
Last meeting at Stamford Bridge
CHELSEA 2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0FA Cup third round, Stamford Bridge, 05.01.19, 3pm
Chelsea (4-3-3) Caballero; Zappacosta, Christensen, David Luiz, Emerson; Ampadu, Fàbregas (c) (Kanté 85), Barkley; Loftus-Cheek (Hazard 42), Morata (Azpilicueta 74), Hudson-Odoi.Unused subs Arrizabalaga, Rüdiger, Jorginho, Moses.Injured Willian, Giroud, Pedro. Ill KovacicHead coach Maurizio SarriBooked Barkley 40Scorer Morata 49, 59Cesc Fabregas missed a penalty on his final appearance
Nottingham Forest (4-4-1-1) Steele; Darikwa, Yacob, Fox (c), Janko; Cash (Lolley 56), Colback, Guedioura, Osborn; Carvalho; Murphy.Unused subs Smith, Robinson, Yates, Dias, Appiah, AhmedhodzicManager Aitor KarankaBooked Colback 67
Referee Andy MadleyAttendance 40,544
Biggest win for each team
Chelsea 5-1 Nottingham Forest - 2017/18 - League Cup third roundNottingham Forest 1-5 Chelsea - 1925/26 - Division TwoNottingham Forest 7-0 Chelsea - 1990/91 - Division One
Forest’s biggest win at Stamford Bridge is 6-2 in 1986/87 in Division One
Chelsea's FA Cup form
Frank Lampard’s side are looking to progress to the FA Cup fourth round for the 22nd successive season.
We last lost a third round tie in 1998 when Manchester United beat us 5-3 at Stamford Bridge. Our third round games since then have been:
The last team from a lower division to beat the Blues in the FA Cup was Bradford City in the fourth round in 2015 at Stamford Bridge. The Bantams were sixth in League One at the time and ended our run of 12 successive home victories by winning 4-2.
In his playing career for the Blues, Frank Lampard won his only game against Forest, in January 2007, also in the FA Cup.
Milestones
N’Golo Kante’s next start will be his 150th for the club.
If selected, Emerson will make his 50th Chelsea appearance.
At Brighton, Cesar Azpilicueta started as Chelsea captain for the 100th occasion and Kurt Zouma made his 100th appearance for the Blues.
Nottingham Forest Stats
Best seasons in the FA Cup
Winners: 1898, 1959Runners-up: 1991Semi-finalists: 1879, 1880, 1885, 1892, 1900, 1902, 1967, 1988, 1989
Last season
Championship - ninthFA Cup - third roundLeague Cup - fourth roundTop scorer all competitions: Lewis Grabban 17
This season’s stats (all competitions)
Most appearances: Tiago Silva 28, Sammy Ameobi 27, Matty Cash 27, Joe Worrall 27Top scorers: Lewis Grabban 14, Joe Lolley 5, Albert Adomah 3Most assists: Sammy Ameobi 5, Matty Cash 4, Joe Lolley 4
After a five-game winless run, Sabri Lamouchi’s side have won three successive matches to move back into the Championship play-off places.
After the New Year’s Day fixtures, Forest are fourth with 43 points from 25 games, nine points off the leaders Leeds and West Brom.
In 14 away games this season, Forest have suffered defeats in only three of them; at Wigan and Huddersfield in the league and a heavy 0-5 reverse at the Emirates against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.
Away from the City Ground, Forest have won at Fulham, Swansea, Stoke, Luton, QPR and Hull, drawn at Leeds, Charlton, Blackburn, Bristol City and Millwall.
Top scorer Lewis Grabban has scored 31 goals in 66 appearances since the start of last season.
Forest have taken an allocation of 2,986 tickets.
Forest’s last 10 seasons in the FA Cup
2009/10 Lost at Birmingham in the third round2010/11 Lost at West Ham in the fourth round2011/12 Lost at Leicester in the third round2012/13 Lost at home to Oldham in the third round2013/14 Lost at Sheffield United in the fifth round2014/15 Lost at Rochdale in the third round2015/16 Lost at home to Watford in the fourth round2016/17 Lost at Wigan in the third round2017/18 Lost at Hull in the fourth round2018/19 Lost at Chelsea in the third round
Sabri Lamouchi, who became head coach at the start of the season, has never managed a team against Chelsea. He was presented with the Championship’s Manager of the Month award for September.
Forest's line-up on New Year's Day
Championship Wednesday 1 JanuaryNottingham Forest 3 Blackburn Rovers 2Team 4-2-3-1: Samba; Cash, Figueiredo, Worrall, Chema (Robinson 27); Sow (Semedo 67), Watson (c); Lolley (Adomah 87), Silva, S Ameobi; GrabbanBooked SowScorers Lolley 22, Grabban 25 pen, 55
Discipline
There are no suspensions
Yellow cards only count in the competition they are received. In the FA Cup, two yellow cards will result in a one-match suspension. The cut-off point is the quarter-finals, so no player can miss the final through cumulative yellows.
Referee and VAR
Referee: Peter BankesVAR: John Brooks
This will be Peter Bankes first Chelsea game.