Chelsea will be hoping to maintain their resurgence in form when they travel to the Bescot Stadium to face Walsall in the third round of the League Cup.
The Blues have claimed victories over Maccabi Tel Aviv and Arsenal in the past week, while their opponents are riding high in League One.
Walsall
© Getty Images
Walsall have enjoyed a fine start to the season and after eight games they are second in League One with 17 points.
They are currently a point behind leaders Burton Albion, having missed out on the chance to top the table after being held to a draw by Peterborough at the weekend.
Dean Smith's side looked to be on their way to all three points at London Road when Romaine Sawyers gave them the lead, but a late goal from Michael Bostwick saw the match finish on level terms.
It is not just in the league where the Saddlers have been in good form, as they have already knocked out two Championship clubs in the first two rounds of the Capital One Cup.
Walsall earned a thrilling 4-3 victory in the first round against Nottingham Forest thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Tom Bradshaw, and they followed that up in their next tie to beat Brighton 2-1, with Rico Henry bagging another late goal to secure a comeback victory.
Recent form: WWLLWD
Chelsea
© Getty Images
It was just a week ago that Chelsea headed into their Champions League clash with Macabi Tel Aviv having lost three of their opening five Premier League matches.
Back-to-back defeats against Crystal Palace and Everton had seen the pressure mount on Jose Mourinho and his players, but they responded in emphatic fashion to win 4-0 against their opponents from Israel.
The Blues then faced London rivals Arsenal three days later at Stamford Bridge as they looked to get back to winning ways in the league after collecting just four points from five matches.
It would prove to be a controversial encounter as the Gunners were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half time after Gabriel Paulista clashed with Diego Costa and kicked out at his Brazilian counterpart.
Kurt Zouma then gave the Blues the lead, before Santi Cazorla picked up his second yellow of the match. A stoppage-time strike from Eden Hazard made sure of the points to lift the doom and gloom in West London.
Recent form: LWLLWW
Team News
© Getty Images
Chelsea striker Diego Costa will begin the first of his three-match ban for violent conduct against the Saddlers, while Willian is also ruled out through injury.
However, captain John Terry is expected to return to the starting lineup after missing the last two games, and Radamel Falcao is also set to start.
Papy Djilobodji could make his debut alongside Terry, with fellow summer signing Baba Rahman also involved.
Meanwhile, the hosts could stick with the same side, but Isaiah Osbourne is a doubt with a knee problem.
Walsall possible starting lineup:
Etheridge, Taylor, O'Connor, Downing, Chambers, Henry, Demetriou, Flanagan, Mantom, Sawyers, Bradshaw
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Begovic, Azpplicuta, Terry, Djilobodji, Rahman, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Ramires, Kenedy, Oscar, Falcao
Head To Head
Chelsea have only ever lost once against Walsall, with that sole defeat coming at Stamford Bridge in 1963.
The Blues have won nine of their previous 11 meetings, but the teams have not played each other in 23 years.
We say: Walsall 0-2 Chelsea
Although the Blues have not been at their best in recent weeks it is hard to see them slipping up against Walsall despite their great results in this season's competition. Chelsea have named a strong side and will hope to keep their recent momentum going, which is why we are tipping them to ease into the fourth round.
Alex Meyers
