Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea take on Ryan Lowe's Preston this evening (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea face Championship side Preston North End at Stamford Bridge in the third round of the FA Cup this evening. Express Sport provide you with all the details of tonight's televised clash.
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Chelsea are currently 10th in the Premier League, and have looked a wildly inconsistent team since Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment. A nervy 3-2 victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road sees the Blues enter the New Year with three wins from four, but the tightness of their recent results against the Hatters and Crystal Palace suggests they are still vulnerable.
Following a strong start to the season, Preston are beginning to struggle in the Championship. The Lancashire club sit 14th in the table, with a brilliant win against Leeds United on Boxing Day the only victory in their last five games.
North End visit the Bridge off the back of a 2-0 loss away to Sunderland on New Year’s Day - a result they’ll hope not to repeat.
An FA Cup run would be a boost for both clubs, whose mid-table position gives them little to play for in their respective leagues.
Chelsea have won the FA Cup eight times, most recently in 2018 (Image: GETTY)
Pochettino has openly stated his respect for cup competitions, so we can expect Chelsea to attack the fixture with full force. Ahead of the Blues’ win over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in December, he said: “I want to win a trophy here in England, and win one with Chelsea if we have the opportunity.
“My wish and desire is to win and it’s possible.” The two sides haven’t played since their 2010 FA Cup game at Deepdale, which the Blues won 2-0.
Chelsea have a slight winning record over Preston North End historically, with 31 victories to the visiting team’s 26. In their last fifteen games, however, the Lancashire club have only won once.
What TV channel is Chelsea vs Preston on?
The match will kick off at 5.30pm, and will be shown live on BBC Red Button. The game can also be streamed on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Web. Their coverage will begin at 5.25pm.
Chelsea won their last match against Luton (Image: GETTY)
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Chelsea team news
The most notable among Chelsea’s long list of absentees are Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana and Robert Sanchez.
Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu and Trevoh Chalobah are also missing through injury.
Chukwuemeka and Chilwell are the only absentees to have been seen in training. We do not yet know the extent of Lavia’s injuries, so it’s possible he could return for the Cup game.
Preston North End team news
Preston are in far better shape comparatively, with only Robbie Brady and Jack Whatmough out injured. Neither player is expected to return in time for tonight’s game.