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Port Vale will look to pull off one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history on Saturday when they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for a place in the semi-finals.
The League One side are all but certain to be relegated to the fourth tier of English football in May but stand one win away from a trip to Wembley and three away from lifting football's oldest cup competition.
As for the hosts, this is a match where anything other than a comfortable victory would reflect badly on Liam Rosenior and his coaching staff.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our free expert FA Cup predictions.
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Chelsea vs Port Vale key stats
- Chelsea have not lost any of their last 19 home games against teams from lower divisions.
- Port Vale have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions.
- Chelsea have scored 13 goals in three FA Cup outings this season.
Chelsea vs Port Vale: A much-needed fixture for the Blues
| Chelsea | vs | Port Vale |
|---|---|---|
| 6th (Premier League) | Position | 24th(League One) |
| 48 | Points | 31 |
| 53 | Goals For | 29 |
| 38 | Goals Against | 54 |
| 9 | Clean Sheets | 10 |
| 12th | Home Rank | 24th |
| 2nd | Away Rank | 21st |
Rosenior will be glad that his side has a match of this nature next up, as pressure is already mounting on the former Strasbourg boss despite him being just three months into the job at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have lost each of their last four matches in all competitions, including a damning 3-0 defeat to Everton immediately before the international break.
While Rosenior will receive no praise should his team do what is expected on Saturday and crush Port Vale by a wide margin, it could at least breathe some confidence into his squad and give the fans a trip to Wembley to look forward to.
Chelsea have advanced from each of their last six FA Cup quarter-final ties and nine of their last 10..
There is no real reason for Rosenior to take any unnecessary risks with his squad selection for this game, either. Reece James, Jamie Gittens, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, and Filip Jorgensen are all out injured, but star players such as Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez should feature.
As for their opponents, this match can only be described as a free hit at eternal glory. Nobody is expecting Port Vale to progress to the semi-finals, but there has to be belief within the squad that the impossible is, in fact, possible.
Manager Jon Brady took the reins at Vale at a similar time to his opposite number, who did the same at Chelsea, but like Rosenior, his appointment has not had the desired effect as the club are destined for relegation to League Two.
Only Man Utd and Arsenal have won more FA Cup trophies than Chelsea.
The cup run from the first round to the sixth has been mightily impressive, though, not least because they downed Sunderland in the fifth round courtesy of a first-half strike from Ben Waine.
Waine is expected to feature in the Port Vale starting XI again on Saturday, but there will be no place in the squad for the injured trio of Ben Heneghan, Jayden Stockley and George Byers.
Chelsea vs Port Vale form guide & betting tips
| Chelsea | vs | Port Vale |
|---|---|---|
| W-L-L-L-L | Form | D-L-W-L-L |
| 6 | Goals For | 3 |
| 14 | Goals Against | 8 |
| W-W-W | FA Cup form | W-W-W |
Whispers predicts: Chelsea 4-0 Port Vale
Chelsea have played three lower-league opponents already in this season's FA Cup, and they have scored a minimum of four goals in each one. Therefore, Chelsea to score over 3.5 goals at 5/6 is good value.
Alternatively, Chelsea to win with a -3.5 handicap, which is effectively the same bet if you believe the Blues will keep Port Vale out, is priced at 5/4.
Could this be the day that Liam Delap finally gets going in a Chelsea shirt? If not now, when? Delap is priced at 21/20 to score anytime.
> Chelsea to score over 3.5 goals at 5/6 | Likelihood: Probable
> Chelsea to win with a -3.5 handicap at 5/4 | Likelihood: Probable
> Delap to score anytime at 21/20 | Likelihood: Possible