Chelsea vs Grimsby Town
Carabao Cup 2019/20
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Wednesday, 25 September, 2019
Kick-off time: 7:45pm BST
Frank Lampard is still looking for his first home win as Chelsea boss as the Blues welcome Grimsby to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
Lampard's reign has started plenty of promise and frustration in equal measure, with Chelsea's all-time top goalscorer handing opportunities to the likes of Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham having been hamstrung by a Fifa transfer ban.
Mount and Abraham have seized their chances, but Chelsea are still very much a work in progress - and Sunday's 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool leaves them 11th in the table and without a home victory so far this season.
The Blues can forget their League frustrations for an evening though as they take on the League Two Mariners, with Lampard finally hoping to celebrate a win in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Chelsea team news and predicted lineup
Lampard has confirmed that while he will use young players in this cup tie, he insists the Blues will respect Grimsby.
Having already given chances to the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori, Lampard says he will play more of the club's promising talent.
Callum Hudson-Odoi will return from his Achilles injury, while N'Golo Kante could be rested after numerous injury complaints.
Reece James is on the comeback trail, but Emerson Palmieri, Antonio Rudiger and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all out, with Andreas Christensen (knee) a doubt.
Chelsea XI: Caballero, James, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso, Gilmour, Kovacic, Barkley, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi, Pulisic
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Grimsby Town
The visitors will show plenty of spirit, but Lampard's attack should see this one out - expect Christian Pulisic to make an impact in particular.
Tickets
Click here for more information about Chelsea tickets.
Betting tips via Betfair Exchange | UK users only | Subject to change
Match odds
- Chelsea to win: 1/9
- Grimsby to win: 33/1
TV channel and live stream information
The match will not be televised live in the UK.
You can follow all of the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog with Jack Rosser at Stamford Bridge.
Head to head (h2h) results and history
Chelsea have beaten Grimsby 21 times, losing 14 games and drawing another eight.
The last time they met was in the 1995-96 season, with Chelsea winning an FA Cup replay 4-1 at the Bridge after a goalless draw in Grimsby.
