Carlo Ancelotti insisted Chelsea were taking the FA Cup fifth-round clash with Cardiff seriously - but he was confident enough to reveal his starting XI.
The Blues will be without John Terry, given compassionate leave, and the injured Ashley Cole, while goalkeeper Petr Cech and striker Nicolas Anelka were also absent from the team named by the Italian.
He said: "We'll play Hilario in goal, Paulo Ferreira, Alex, Ricardo Carvalho and Yury Zhirkov; Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel, Michael Ballack; Daniel Sturridge, Joe Cole and Didier Drogba up front.
"The bench will be Ross Turnbull, Jeffrey Bruma, Branislav Ivanovic, Florent Malouda, Nemanja Matic, Fabio Borini and Salomon Kalou.  .  .It's a very important competition. We won it last year - I was not here - and we have a great opportunity to go forward in this competition.''

Cardiff boss Dave Jones has major selection problems.
Stephen McPhail, who has only recently returned to action, has been ruled out of the Stamford Bridge clash having taken a blow to his pancreas during Tuesday`s 2-0 win over Peterborough that required hospital treatment.
Striker Jay Bothroyd is also a major doubt having suffered suspected ankle ligament damage against Posh, with the club awaiting the results of a scan before confirming the extent of the damage.
The Bluebirds, who have seen their financial struggles attract the headlines this week, are already without defenders Mark Hudson (ankle) and Miguel Comminges (thigh), midfielders Gavin Rae (hamstring) and Joe Ledley (hips) and forwards Josh Magennis (broken fibula) and Kelvin Etuhu (ankle).
Defender Tony Capaldi is cup-tied having played for Leeds earlier in the competition during his loan spell at Elland Road.
Darcy Blake was also forced off in midweek due a back problem but he should be available, while Michael Chopra and Gabor Gyepes will be asked to battle through illness.
ESPN

Match will be on DSTV.

Its funny how you just pop in, do a thread and pop out again
more like a bot. . .

We should win this.

~Borat~:

Its funny how you just pop in, do a thread and pop out again
more like a bot. . .

Maybe she dey prepare for her wedding. . .

BlueDiva:

We should win this.

Maybe she dey prepare for her wedding. . .

send me RSVP ooo.

i'm not holding my breath on this one,

26 min, Chelsea 1 Cardiff 0

Sugar!

I thought this was 12.45.
Chelsea scored already.

Cardiff have equalized. .
Alex was jogging after his man.

No organization at the back.
Alex is a total jerk.
Another free header. ,. Cardiff could have had a second.

Honestly, I'm getting worried for our defence.

Without JT, we are a pile of hot self-service at the back.
And if he's having a bad then . . . . . .  . .just like the last match then na wahala be that.

Sereiously, we need a dominating centre back or maybe CArlotti needs to consider pairing other defenders more often than not so that they can gel

nateevs:

Cardiff have equalized. .
Alex was jogging after his man.

very bad, we need another goal ASAP

Not a bad effort by Danny.

Na wa o!

Half time.

nateevs:

Not a bad effort by Danny.

he is doing ok, but needs to learn to play with team mates closer to him. all those his cross country passes are putting us under pressure. Nothing beats simple football, when you see an opened player close to you pass and make yourself available for a return pass or just distract the oponents.

End of first half and I am not impressed at all.

For the crap that Joe Cole and Ferreira have put in so far, I would rather have used Kakuta and Ahamed.
At least I know I have given the youngsters a chance.

Joey wants a 120k package for this sh.it. . . He should piss off to Portsmouth. Miroslav Stoch would have torn this place apart with his pace.
Drogba is trying to dribble every time he has the ball even when it's clear he's making a lot of mess out of it.
Alex, I don't know what to say about the dude. Too slow, very inert and with ball at his feet he looks worse than Drogba.
I can't get it.

Using these average guys, presents just about the same risk as using young players. I will rather see Bruma and Carvalho in defense.

Poor defending by Alex.Cardiff are putting up a real fight here.We haven't had many chances yet.

2nd half and Kalou is on for Joe. .
I'm glad Carllotti can see the bull crap the fella has been dishing out.





Goaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllll
Ballack.

That was a million pound pass from DD!
Where is Ibime?

Ballack!!! What a finish!

Ferreira will never be able to cross past the first player. .
What a shame.

@FBS
Where are you watching the match?
Do you know it's on TV?

1307: Ooh. Rickie Lambert crosses again from the left and David James completely misses it. Radhi Jaidi is as surprised as anyone and the ball hits his head and goes over the bar. They're off again at the Bridge, where Florent Malouda replaces Joe Cole. Not sure if that's an injury, but Cole didn't have the best of first halves.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8513483.stm

This BBC guys are high on dry gin. Nateevs, abeg you see Malouda the pitch?  

nateevs:

Ferreira will never be able to cross past the first player. .
What a shame.

@FBS
Where are you watching the match?
Do you know it's on TV?

Watching on Setanta Sports!
Wasn't posting immediately. . .got my little boy here. .

FBS:

1307: Ooh. Rickie Lambert crosses again from the left and David James completely misses it. Radhi Jaidi is as surprised as anyone and the ball hits his head and goes over the bar. They're off again at the Bridge, where Florent Malouda replaces Joe Cole. Not sure if that's an injury, but Cole didn't have the best of first halves.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8513483.stm

This BBC guys are high on dry gin. Nateevs, abeg you see Maloudn the pitch?  

Malouda ?
Those guys should be fired. . .

FBS:

Watching on Setanta Sports!
Wasn't posting immediately. . .got my little boy here. .

I am watching Channel 134 S4C. . .
Wait how do you get Setanta?. . . I thot they are gone. . .

I am still not convinced about Sturiddge's touch. .
He still looks very clumsy to me.

nateevs:

I am watching Channel 134 S4C. . .
Wait how do you get Setanta?. . . I thot they are gone. . . 

They are available outside the UK.

Sturridge scores. .
He deserves it. . .

The boy has been running riots since morning. . .

nateevs:

I am still not convinced about Sturiddge's touch. .
He still looks very clumsy to me.

Yeah but he got moves and flicks.  

DSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

3-1!!!

FBS:

They are available outside the UK.

I used to think you are in the UK. . .

goallllllllll
DS nice one

Sturidge makes it 3-1

nateevs:

I used to think you are in the UK. . .

hehehe. . . . Yep but in and out.

DD why? release na!

Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

What a header!!!!