Nottingham Forest are in the large group of teams going for promotion in the Sky Bet Championship this season.
Much like their league rivals though, consistency has been a big issue. Leeds and West Brom, both sitting in the automatic promotion places, have only managed one win in their last five each and yet still find themselves nine points clear of third.
Forest have won their last three though and scored three last time out as they beat Blackburn. Positive steps for a side desperate for a striker to come in during the January transfer window.
It'll be intriguing to see who Sabri Lamouchi uses in that striker role at Stamford Bridge. Lewis Grabban is the obvious preferred candidate but Sammy Ameobi may get the nod, with Albert Adomah a potential too after he played up front in the Carabao Cup defeat at Arsenal.
In the markets though, there's big appeal in taking the 25/1 on Forest defender Tobias Figueiredo netting anytime here.
Forest's best chance of a goal may be from set-pieces. Joe Lolley has demonstrated his ability to deliver a quality ball, as has Tiago Silva when he is on the duties instead.
Interestingly, 26% of Forest's league goals this season have also come from a set-piece situation. It's something that is also reflected in Figueiredo's shots statistics. The centre-back has registered eight shots in 12 league games this season which is a high mark for a defender.
That's led to two goals and his aerial presence could be a problem for the Chelsea backline. Half of his league games this season have seen at least three aerials won, with five against Blackburn, six against Wigan and an incredible eight in their away defeat at Huddersfield.
The 25/1 available looks a very generous price given the contest, one in which Forest can get themselves on the scoresheet.
Best bet:
If this game was a couple of weeks ago, Gillingham would have been a great bet.
The latter stages of Manuel Pellegrini’s reign had all the makings of an FA Cup upset. The Hammers’ great start to the season essentially turned once they lost 4-0 to third tier Oxford in the Carabao Cup in September and you would not have trusted them here.
But with David Moyes back in the building and instantly winning 4-0 (albeit against struggling Bournemouth) it is hard to see them slipping up so early in his reign.
In fact, in our outright FA Cup preview, Paul Higham has tipped them to reach the latter stages at some attractive prices and you cannot argue against it, should they get a generous draw of course.
There was a temptation to back Andriy Yarmolenko to take his opportunity but the 11/4 price on Robert Snodgrass is more appealing. The Scot should start at Priestfield and is looking to add to his three-goal tally, with his most recent one coming against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
The attacker is a consistent performer and is always willing and able to dig in for tough fixtures like this. He has had four shots in his last three Premier League appearances and he always possesses a danger cutting in onto his favoured left foot from the right.
These ties always have the banana skin potential, but surely not so early in Moyes’ reign with players looking to impress their new boss.
Best bet:
Odds correct at 1420 GMT (03/01/20)