Chelsea vs Blackburn Rovers prediction, odds and betting tips

Chelsea will be looking to reach the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup when Blackburn Rovers visit west London on Wednesday.

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⚡ Quick Manchester United vs Newcastle United tips

• Chelsea to win to nil - events at bet365
• Under 2.5 goals - 11/8 with BetVictor
• Nicolas Jackson to score any time - 11/8 with BetMGM

Chelsea vs Blackburn Rovers odds

Chelsea vs Blackburn Rovers predictions

Chelsea just cannot seem to build up a head of steam.

Prior to the weekend, it looked like Mauricio Pochettino’s side might have turned a corner. Four games unbeaten in all competitions lifted the mood at Stamford Bridge after a disappointing start to the season.

But on Saturday, Chelsea came crashing back down to earth with a 2-0 home defeat by Brentford.

It was the third time on the bounce that the Bees have beaten their west London rivals in front of their own supporters, as goals from Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo put Chelsea to the sword.

It was not an undeserved victory either. Chelsea made a bright start but were unable to make the breakthrough, after which they faded dramatically.

The Blues offered little in attack throughout the second half, both before and after Pinnock had given Brentford the lead.

It was a disappointing display and one which shows how much further Chelsea still have to go. Given they have the youngest squad in the Premier League, it should not come as a surprise that they are not yet the finished product. This season is one of transition after another busy summer.

A club of this size cannot afford to simply write off a full campaign, however. Given they are not in Europe and are only outsiders to finish in the top four, the domestic cup competitions will be important to Chelsea this term. 

That is why a shock defeat on Wednesday would be a huge early blow to the Pochettino project.

📝 Chelsea vs Blackburn Rovers betting tips

Chelsea are very much a work in progress under Mauricio Pochettino, but they should still come out on top in this one.

Chelsea to win to nil - Evens (bet365)

Chelsea kept a clean sheet in their victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the third round of the EFL Cup.

A 1-0 win towards the end of September was seen as a surprise result at the time given how well Brighton had been playing.

Chelsea will hope for a more emphatic victory on Wednesday, but it is worth noting that their record at Stamford Bridge has been poor for some time.

Since the March international break last season, Chelsea have won just one of their 13 Premier League games at their home ground.

Three of their last four top-flight matches at the Bridge have ended in defeat, with the Blues failing to score in each of those losses.

So while Blackburn Rovers are a Championship team, there is no guarantee that Chelsea will breeze past them.

Perhaps their best chance of a victory is by shutting Blackburn out, and Pochettino will preach the importance of a clean sheet to his players in the run-up to the game.

At the odds available, this is an appealing wager.

Under 2.5 goals - 11/8 (BetVictor)

“The analysis is clear because in the first half we should score and we didn’t score,” Pochettino  said after the Brentford game.

“That's easy. When you dominate and create chances, don't concede chances, and the opponent doesn't cross the halfway line, you should score. 

“If you don't score, you need to blame yourself. So we blame ourselves because we were not nasty and clinical in front of the goal.”

It is a problem that has dogged Chelsea for some time, even as the personnel within the squad has changed.

They scored only 38 goals in 38 games last term, a record better than only four other Premier League teams.

This time around the Blues rank joint-11th for goals scored. Conversion has been a continual problem: based on the quality of the chances they have created, Chelsea should have found the back of the net around five more times than they have.

Blackburn, who are 12th in the Championship following a 1-0 loss to Swansea City last time out, will dig in and try to make life difficult for their opponents. 

All things considered, this is unlikely to be a high-scoring encounter.

Nicolas Jackson to score any time - 11/8 (BetMGM)

Nicolas Jackson began the season as Chelsea’s first-choice striker, but he dropped out of the XI in October.

The former Villarreal man returned to the team for the Brentford game, but he was unable to prevent his team falling to defeat. 

Jackson has had a mixed start to life at Stamford Bridge. He is still unpolished and is not the most reliable finisher in front of goal, although he can disrupt opposition backlines and give defenders something to think about. 

He has scored three times in 11 outings so far - and for all his imperfections, no one has contributed more goals to the Chelsea cause.

One of Jackson’s strikes came in the last round of the EFL Cup as Chelsea edged out Brighton.

In many ways Jackson exemplifies Chelsea’s profligacy: he frequently gets into dangerous positions but does not always make the most of those opportunities. 

Another goal on Wednesday would boost his confidence and potentially help Pochettino’s men through to the quarter-finals.

📺 How to watch Chelsea vs Blackburn Rovers

• Location: Stamford Bridge, London, England.
• Date and time: Wednesday 1 November 2023, 7.45pm.
• How to watch: Not being shown live in the UK.

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