By Alex Roberts
The West London club have had some rotten FA Cup luck in recent years, making the final in three of the last five seasons, losing all of them against Arsenal, Leicester City, and Liverpool as they head into their first game of the 2024/25 edition.
It’s the kind of record Morecambe fans would kill for, a side that have only been above League Two twice in the last 15 years and are struggling to stay in the football league this season.
Chelsea have a history
The task seems insurmountable for lil ol’ Morecambe, but Chelsea have lost to lower league opposition in the FA Cup before, notably losing 4-2 to League One Bradford all the way back in 2015.
It’s been a decade since the defeat to Bradford, and Chelsea are no longer have a chiselled Gary Cahill or a Russian oligarch to rely upon, now it’s young Levi Colwill and a consortium of American venture capitalists.
Just like pundits up and down the nation like to say, ‘anything can happen’, and it’s happened before, Morecambe beat Bradford in the previous round after all, but the odds are certainly in Chelsea’s favour.
A goal scoring defender
Morecambe have a secret weapon in Jamie Stott. A defender who happens to be their second top league goal scorer, boasting the best xG in the side, but in true centre-back style, also having the most missed big chances.
He’s not the type of player who should be fight against relegation in League Two and has been a driving force in the two wins they have from their last five games, scoring in the 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers and showing his ability at the back in the 1-0 victory against Carlisle.
Of course, Chelsea are a completely different beast, but it’s a game in which Stott could impress potential suitors.
Give the kids a chance
One of the most positive things Enzo Maresca has done is give Chelsea’s kids hope after a summer of upheaval for their famed youth conveyer belt. Both Neil Bath and Jim Fraser stepped down as academy directors.
Players such as Conor Gallagher, Ian Maatsen, and Lewis Hall, just to name a few, were shipped out for ‘pure profit’, leaving genuine question marks regarding a clear pathway for the current academy stars.
Chelsea will be hoping despite all the change, more players will commit to the club and do a Josh Acheampong rather than a Rio Ngumoha, and games like this are the perfect chance to show them they’re wanted.
Prediction
It’s easy to get carried away with the romance of the FA Cup and giant killings etc. but it’s important to remain realistic.
Morecambe winning this would arguably be the biggest thing to happen to the club, but it would take a miracle, so we’re going to go with 4-0 to Chelsea.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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