Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Watford midfielder Mario Suarez is available for his debut after joining from Fiorentina at the weekend.
Jose Holebas may start at left-back as Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake is ineligible to face his parent club.
Chelsea could recall Kurt Zouma and Cesar Azpilicueta, who were unused substitutes in the win against MK Dons.
Willian will be monitored after an opponent trod on his foot in Sunday’s game, but the problem is not thought to be serious.
Recent signing Pato lacks fitness and a late decision will be made on his availability.
Editor’s Note: Watford find themselves 10th in the Premier League and after a relatively poor January they will be hoping that February brings them more cheer, Tonight they will look to claim another scalp at Vicarage Road in the form of defending champions Chelsea.
Quique Sanchez Flores’s side had gone off the boil after their Boxing Day point with Chelsea in which saw them go through a run of 4 defeats in a row, thankfully for them they emerged to end that barren run with a win over struggling Newcastle on January 23rd.
Sanchez Florez has reinforced his squad to try and ensure Premier League safety with Mario Suarez joining last week to go along side Costel Pantilimon and Nordin Amrabat who made their debuts in the F.A. Cup 4th Round win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Chelsea also had cup success at the Weekend in what was probably the most bizarre game of the 4th Round, they comfortably beat MK Dons 5-1 but with the Dons’ Defending it could have quite honestly been 8 or 9 such was the absurdity of Karl Robinson tactics that Afternoon.
That win meant that Guus Hiddink still hasn’t lost since taking charge of Chelsea for the Second time. His first game in charge was when these two sides last met and played out a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. A game that Chelsea should have won were it not for Oscar slipping when taking a late Penalty.
Last time out in the League Chelsea got the better of their long term adversaries Arsenal with a Diego Costa Goal securing the 3 points. The turning point of game was arguably when Per Mertesacker was sent off for his tackle on Costa. Costa lured the German into the tackle and then took full advantage as he made a big enough deal of the contact to make sure the Blues had a numerical advantage which they undoubtedly capitalised on.
Chelsea find themselves 14th in the League at present but if results go their way they could go up to the heady heights of 11th. The resurgence is slowly but surely taking place but any dreams of Top 4 Football must be over by now. The F.A. Cup looking like the best route for silverware this season.
Much will be made of the fact that this is the first game since John Terry announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season although the story has taken an interesting twist with Hiddink saying the Ex England Captain could still be at the club for the 2016/17 campaign.
As for matters on the pitch, Chelsea are gaining more confidence by the week under Hiddink and I can’t see that unbeaten run coming to and end especially with Diego Costa in a rich vein of Goalscoring form. Whether Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney can create a nuisance Tonight remains to be seen but I reckon it will be an Away win Tonight.
