Afternoon all! Sports Mole's FA Cup third-round coverage continues from the capital as Premier League side Chelsea welcome League One outfit Scunthorpe United. On paper, it should be a comfortable progression for the home team, but the Blues supporters will not have forgotten their fourth-round exit to Bradford City last season. Can Scunthorpe provide a cup shock here? It will be tough, that is for sure.

These two teams also met at this stage of the FA Cup in the 2004-05 season and Chelsea booked their spot in round four with a 3-1 win on home soil. The pair have not met since then, but Scunthorpe's wins over Southend United and Leyton Orient this season earned them a trip to the Blues. It is not the tie that they would have wanted in terms of their chances of progressing, but it will be a nice money-spinner for a team that are currently struggling in League One.

Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Stamford Bridge. Have both managers picked strong lineups? Let us have a look...

TEAMS:

CHELSEA: Begovic; Ivanovic, Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Pedro; Costa

SCUN: Daniels; Clarke, Mirfin, Wallace, Laird; Dawson, Ness, Bishop, Williams; Madden, van Veen

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has somewhat surprisingly resisted the temptation to shuffle his pack this afternoon and the Dutchman has named a very strong XI against the League One strugglers. Asmir Begovic starts ahead of Thibaut Courtois between the sticks, while Ramires comes in for Nemanja Matic in the middle of the park. Club captain John Terry has also dropped to the bench, but Willian, Oscar and Pedro will operate behind Diego Costa in the final third. Hiddink means business here.

Scunthorpe, meanwhile, are also pretty much at full strength for this match. The Iron have made just one change from last week's 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic in the league, with Murray Wallace replacing Niall Canavan at the back. Netherlands forward Kevin van Veen will operate alongside Paddy Madden, while the skipper Stephen Dawson takes up his usual spot in midfield.

So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now around 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild afternoon in London. As expected, the away supporters have travelled in their numbers and are already making plenty of noise inside the stadium. League One is certainly the priority for Scunthorpe this season, but the chance to get one over on the English champions does not come around very often. This might be a bad time to play a seemingly rejuvenated Chelsea though.

WARM-UP: Great reception as Luke Daniels heads out for his warm-up. #UTI pic.twitter.com/9WGO25Tw3A — Scunthorpe United FC (@SUFCOfficial) January 10, 2016

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a very poor season for Chelsea. The Blues won last season's Premier League title in fairly comfortable fashion, but they have already lost nine times in the 2015-16 campaign, with a total of 23 points leaving them 14th in the table. As it stands, they are 19 points behind the league leaders Arsenal and 13 points off the top four. A Champions League place seems unlikely, but there has been vast improvement under Hiddink.

Whatever way you look at it, a lot of Chelsea players stopped playing under Jose Mourinho and the decision was made to relieve the Portuguese of his duties. Hiddink has since taken control of first-team affairs and the Dutchman has improved matters at both ends of the field. Since replacing Mourinho in the dug-out, Hiddink has led his side to two wins and two draws in the Premier League.

Arguably Chelsea's most impressive performance of the season occurred last time out when they won 3-0 at Crystal Palace. Recent draws against Manchester United and Watford, however, suggest that there is still a lot of work to do. Eden Hazard's form – or lack of it – has been a problem this season, while Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa have also been linked with moves away.

© AFP

With respect to the Scunthorpe players, the wider audience will be less familiar with their faces than those of Chelsea. So, here is who to look out for in a Scunthorpe shirt this afternoon...

Today's Iron line-up... pic.twitter.com/hM6TSYOdG4 — Scunthorpe United FC (@SUFCOfficial) January 10, 2016

An FA Cup run would do nicely for Hiddink's side, however, and the Blues are also in the knockout stages of the Champions League. It is not all bad, but they are already out of the title race in the Premier League which is not good enough at this stage of the season. A home draw in the FA Cup is always welcome, but you feel that this is a no-win game for Chelsea. If they advance, well then they were expected to, but if they lose, talk of a crisis will occur once more. Fun of the FA Cup!

Chelsea are seven-time winners of the FA Cup, with their last success coming in 2012, when they beat Liverpool 2-1 in the final. They also won it in both 2009 and 2010 and Hiddink was indeed in interim charge when the Blues overcame Everton in the 2009 final. Hiddink will have fond memories of his last spell at Stamford Bridge and he will be keen to deliver another FA Cup.

Confirmation of the two teams and indeed substitutes for this afternoon...

Today's teamsheet from Stamford Bridge... pic.twitter.com/xNqyydtU3y — Scunthorpe United FC (@SUFCOfficial) January 10, 2016

As for Scunthorpe, there history is a little more modest. They won League One in the 2006-07 season, but that was their first trophy since winning the Football League Third Division North in the 1957-58 campaign. They went out of last season's FA Cup to Chesterfield and have not faced Premier League opposition in the competition since 2011, when they lost 5-1 at home to Everton.

Mark Robins's side will enter this match having only won two of their last seven games in all competitions, while they are struggling in League One as it stands. A total of 32 points from their 25 league games has left them in 15th position, just seven points outside of the relegation zone. In truth, surviving in the third tier is much more important than any cup competition this season.

That said, the chairman will welcome the additional funds from this match and a draw would arguably be the best possible outcome for the club. Welcoming Chelsea for a replay would bring more revenue and certainly help the club financially. It is a big ask against such a strong Chelsea XI, but Scunthorpe will be able to take heart from Bradford's performance at Stamford Bridge last season.

PREDICTION! I am finding it very difficult to look past Chelsea here. Scunthorpe will seemingly line up with two strikers this afternoon and while their adventure should be praised, that could play into the hands of the home team. In truth, I am expecting a routine Chelsea win in London, 3-0.

Around 3,000 Scunthorpe fans have made the trip to Stamford Bridge this afternoon and they are in really fine voice as we approach the start of this match. Can the visitors cause a big, big shock?

KICKOFF! Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites here, but Sheffield United almost shocked Manchester United yesterday as Premier League met League One. Anything can happen in the FA Cup, just ask Bradford. Right, it is the home team that get the first 45 minutes of action underway here...

... this is a Premier League team selection from Hiddink, but Scunthorpe only have 12 minutes of Premier League experience in their team and that comes from Luke Daniels, the former West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper. As expected, the Blues have taken control of the possession from kickoff.

A loose first touch from Pedro hands Scunthorpe the chance to break with Williams, but the number seven runs into traffic and Chelsea advance down the other end with Willian. Scunthorpe have already taken up a defensive shape here and that will be the pattern of this match in London.

Fabregas attempts to chip a ball towards Costa inside the Scunthorpe box, but it is strong goalkeeping from Daniels, who takes the pressure off his defence. As expected, Chelsea are enjoying all of the possession here, but Scunthorpe are leaving two men in the Chelsea half of the field.

Williams has been Scunthorpe's best player in the opening eight minutes, with the number seven looking dangerous each time he carries the ball. It is a case of 'so far, so good' for the visitors, who have restricted Chelsea to very little thus far. The stadium is also pretty quiet at this stage.

It is good work from Van Veen, who drives down the left for the visitors before attempting to deliver, but there is not a single yellow shirt inside the box. Good stuff from Scunthorpe on the ball.

You sense that Scunthorpe will need to take the lead here if they are to stand a chance of progressing, but Bradford went 2-0 down at Stamford Bridge in the fourth round last season and managed to win 4-2. Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the opening 12 minutes here.

Chelsea take the lead in the 13th minute as Scott Laird turns an Ivanovic cross past his own goalkeeper. It appeared that Costa had made the final touch, but replays show that it was indeed an own goal. That has settled the crowd and Scunthorpe now have a tough task on their hands.

SAVE! Chelsea come close to a second as Fabregas hammers one from the edge of the box, but Daniels is on hand to make a super save. The Blues are in complete control now.

Chelsea continue to pop it around in the middle of the park and Scunthorpe do not look too secure at the back, which is creating tension throughout the team. The visitors really cannot afford to concede a second goal at this point, especially against a Chelsea team with growing confidence.

After much debate, Costa seems to have been given the goal. No-one is quite sure!

SAVE! Daniels is forced to make another wonderful save for the away side after a thunderous strike from Pedro, who had met a long ball from Fabregas. Scunthorpe are on the ropes here!

CLOSE! Oscar just curls one wide of the post after linking with Costa in the final third. It appears only a matter of time before the Premier League champions find a second goal.

The visitors have just managed to enjoy a period of possession, but they are lacking quality in the final third and Begovic has been a spectator in the Chelsea net in the opening 25 minutes. As long as the score remains 1-0, Scunthorpe have a chance, but they are very much second best here.

Scunthorpe corner here. Maybe their best chance of scoring this afternoon...

... Scunthorpe crowd the Chelsea box and the home side take a while to clear the danger, but Cahill makes a super block (with his head) on Dawson's thumping effort, which was seriously travelling!

Everything is very narrow for Chelsea at the moment, but it seems to be working as Oscar, Willian and Costa continue to combine outside the Scunthorpe box. The visitors need to find a way of repelling some of this pressure and they are not helping themselves by easily losing the ball.

Willian delivers another dangerous cross into the Scunthorpe box, but Wallace does enough to clear under pressure from Costa. The resulting corner is then delivered towards the near post, but Clarke produces a towering clearance. The visitors attempt to break, but Van Veen is felled.

SAVE! Williams, who has been the away side's biggest threat, finds space outside the box and curls one towards goal, but Begovic drops down to make the save. Better from Scunthorpe!

Little under 10 minutes of the first period remaining and Scunthorpe have done well to keep this to 1-0 as we approach the half-time break. They will always have a chance while it is just one here.

Scunthorpe are doing their best to counter here, but they just do not have the numbers in the final third of the field. Williams is the player that looks the most likely to find that pass, but Madden and Ness have been quiet in the opening 39 minutes. Costa's strike still separates the two teams in London.

Willian works a yard of space outside the Scunthorpe box after good play from Costa, but the Brazilian's effort was always rising over the crossbar. Not long left in this first period of action.

It must be said that there is not much of an atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment and Scunthorpe are finishing this half quite well as they enjoy time in the Chelsea half of the field.

Scunthorpe work a free kick back to Laird, but he completely misses his kick and Chelsea are away on the counter. Luckily for the away side, it comes to nothing as yellow shirts flood back following a poor pass into Pedro. Not sure Laird will want to see that fresh-air kick on too many occasions!

Williams drives into the Chelsea box after a mistake from Cahill, but Zouma is across to make a fine challenge. The visitors are ending this first half really well and Chelsea look wobbly at the back!

Just the one additional minute to be played here.

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Chelsea leading Scunthorpe 1-0. When Costa sent the home side ahead in the 13th minute, it did appear that the floodgates would open, but Scunthorpe grew into the match and actually ended the first half in London on top.

STATS! Chelsea have utterly dominated the possession with 71%, while they have had six attempts - three of which were on target. Scunthorpe, meanwhile, have had four attempts, one of which was on target. There have been seven fouls, but no yellow cards, which is good to see.

BENCH WATCH! Chelsea do not have a whole lot of attacking experience are on their bench this afternoon, but youngsters Kenedy and Traore are both in reserve, in addition to the likes of Loftus-Cheek, Baba and Mikel. Scunthorpe, meanwhile, have options in the shape of King, Adelakun and Wootton.

RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Scunthorpe find a route back into this match? It is the visitors that resume the action in the capital...

... CHELSEA SUB! Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaces Oscar.

Loftus-Cheek does well to burst through the middle of the park before attempting to slide a pass into Pedro, but the Spaniard loses his footing and the danger is cleared. A second goal for the home side might well to kill this match and Scunthorpe need to be wary early in this second period.

Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances since the restart, but Loftus-Cheek has been everywhere since entering the match. There is a really strange atmosphere inside the stadium, with only the Scunthorpe supporters making a bit of noise. The home fans are a little subdued here.

Clarke battles with Costa and the Scunthorpe defender is forced to bring the Spanish international to the ground. The resulting free kick is taken by Willian, Daniels does well to hold under pressure.

Laird delivers a super cross into the Chelsea box after a mistake from Begovic, but the home team manage to survive. There is a better urgency about Scunthorpe at the moment as Ness battles for possession in the middle of the park. Still more than 35 minutes of this game remaining here.

PENALTY SHOUT! The away side want a penalty as Van Veen goes down in the box under a challenge from Ramires, but the referee is not interested. I have certainly seen them given!

This is much better from Scunthorpe, who ended the first period on top and have also been strong early in the second period. Ramires, in my eyes, is fortunate to get away with that challenge on Van Veen. The contact was minimal, but it was still enough to send the striker sprawling to the ground.

Possession football from Chelsea, but they are not really going anywhere with it at the moment.

Still no movement on either bench, but we are approaching the stage of the match where both managers will be considering changes, especially Scunthorpe. Still more than 30 to play here.

Cannot imagine Roman Abramovich is too enthused by this game at the moment...

© Getty Images

Terrific pressure from Bishop in the middle of the park, but the Scunthorpe man is adjudged to have felled Costa. That is very harsh and there is a little coming-together after the incident.

BOOKING! Dawson (Scunthorpe) is booked after clashing with Willian.

Former top-flight referee Howard Webb, speaking on BT Sport, has claimed that Scunthorpe should have been awarded a penalty when Van Veen went down under contact from Ramires!

Scunthorpe again come forward and a cross into the Chelsea box causes problems, but Dawson was standing in an offside position when he met the ball from Van Veen. Chelsea just have not got going in this second half and they are fortunate to still be ahead at this stage of the contest.

BOOKING! Ivanovic (Chelsea) is booked for an act of dissent.

Pedro, who has been poor today, concedes a free kick on Dawson as the away side continue to cause problems. However, the set piece, which is delivered by Ness, is cleared by Zouma.

Chelsea have their second of the match in London as Azpilicueta delivers a cross into Loftus-Cheek, who fires his effort into the bottom corner. Super finish from the 19-year-old.

Scunthorpe have been very good in this second period and should have been awarded a penalty, but they need to be careful that they do not concede another goal in quick succession here.

CHELSEA SUB! Kenedy replaces Pedro.

CLOSE! Van Veen hits the side-netting with a super free kick from distance!

Bar a late turnaround, Chelsea are going to be in the draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup and it will be another game unbeaten for Hiddink, who has started to get this team playing once again.

Chelsea want a penalty this time as Kenedy goes down inside the box under a challenge from Clarke, but the referee is not interested. There might also have been a hint of handball there! Little over 10 minutes of the contest remaining and the home side have regained control of this game.

CLOSE! Madden sees Begovic off his line and it is a very good effort from the midfielder, who just fires high of the crossbar. Scunthorpe are preparing to make their first change here...

... SCUNTHORPE SUBS! Adelakun and King replace Williams and Dawson.

SCUNTHORPE SUB! Final away change as Wootton replaces Van Veen.

Possession football from Chelsea as they pass and probe in their own half, with no real urgency to score a third, which is not that surprising. Hiddink will be starting to think about their Premier League game during the week as the Blues attempt to continue their strong run of recent form.

Traore is preparing to enter the field for Chelsea as we approach the final five minutes.

CHELSEA SUB! Traore replaces Costa for the home side.

CROSSBAR! Scunthorpe come close to registering as a period of pressure ends with Clarke striking one from a wide angle, but Begovic pushes the full-back's effort onto the crossbar!

Scunthorpe are going to exit the FA Cup this afternoon, but they have really impressed for long stages of this match and if they perform like this in League One, they will rise up the table.

Three minutes of additional time here.

Not an awful lot to report in stoppage time, with Chelsea more than happy to keep hold of the possession. Just a reminder that the draw for the fourth round takes place on Monday night.

So there we have it. Chelsea book their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe at Stamford Bridge. The visitors certainly gave a good account of themselves, but Chelsea deserved to advance. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!