Scout Scribbles – Drogba Drags Chelsea Through

Didier Drogba nets once again as Chelsea squeeze past Shrewsbury Town in the Capital One Cup. Mario Balotelli emerges from the bench to help Liverpool get the better of Swansea, whilst a much-changed West Brom stumble out at Bournemouth.

DROGBA ON TARGET AGAIN FOR BLUES

Didier Drogba scored for the third successive match as Chelsea overcame League Two side Shrewsbury Town 2-1 to progress to the quarter finals of the Capital One Cup. Jose Mourinho chose an attacking midfield trio of Andre Schurrle, Oscar and Mohamed Salah, with Eden Hazard afforded one minute as a substitute and Cesc Fabregas handed the night off.

Post-match, Mourinho made it clear that he was disappointed by what he saw and the performances of some of his fringe players, suggesting that his team selection for the visit of QPR was straightforward…

“If players that played 90 minutes two days ago were fantastic, I expect people that have not been playing a lot to raise their level and create problems for me. I love problems of choice, but it’s easy to choose my team for Saturday.”

Significantly, Mourinho also offered an update on the likely availability of Diego Costa and Ramires…

“Normally Ramires and Diego Costa are back. Normally we will have only Remy as an injured player and Azpilicueta suspended.”

The Scout Says: Drogba has now played all but 16 minutes of Chelsea’s last three fixtures, scoring in each of them, but his pitch time against QPR on Saturday is sure to depend on the fitness of Diego Costa. Mourinho’s quote post-match, along with Drogba’s minutes, would suggest that the Spain international is set to return to the starting XI on Saturday. Once again, however, Costa’s remaining owners are likely to be made to wait until the teamsheet arrives: Mourinho seems unlikely to offer confirmation of Costa’s availability. Meanwhile, the fact that Fabregas was left out of the side last night means that the 9.7-priced midfielder avoided a booking which would have resulted in a single-match ban. Nonetheless, as we revealed yesterday, the Premier League’s top assist supplier is still perched precariously on the suspension tightrope – Fabregas will surely start against the R’s, with Gary Cahill and Oscar also likely to retain berths despite playing 90 minutes last night.

BALOTELLI INSPIRES REDS TO VICTORY

Brendan Rodgers made nine changes from Liverpool’s weekend stalemate with Hull for last night’s cup clash with Swansea. Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini were handed starts but ultimately failed to impress, with Mario Balotelli climbing off the bench to score and fellow summer signing Dejan Lovren netting late on to send the home side through 2-1.

The Scout Says: He may still have plenty to prove, but Balotelli’s strike will surely hand the forward a confidence boost ahead of Liverpool’s weekend encounter with Newcastle. With Daniel Sturridge set to make his comeback imminently, however, the Italian’s time in the first XI could be set to come to a halt if he fails to kick on from last night’s match-winning cameo performance. Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard were both given the night off last night and will be fully fresh for the trip to the North East, with the former in search for his first goal since Gameweek 5.

SWANS UNDONE BY DUBIOUS DECISION

There were five changes to Swansea’s team from the weekend, with Gylfi Sigurdsson not in the squad after being withdrawn early against Leicester with a groin niggle. With Wilfried Bony handed nine minutes from the bench, it was left to fellow striker Marvin Emnes to notch the Swans’ only goal. Centre-back Federico Fernandez was harshly sent off late on in the game, though Garry Monk has confirmed that he is confident that the decision will be overturned.

The Scout Says: Whilst Monk may be confident, there is still a chance that Fernandez could face a three-match ban after his dismissal last night, starting with this weekend’s trip to Everton. With Jordi Amat still out with a knee injury, Kyle Bartley should come in at centre back. Available in the Fantasy Premier League game for just 3.9, the former Arsenal man could be set for a tough time with fixtures against Arsenal and Man  City proceeding the Toffees encounter. Meanwhile, Sigurdsson’s owners will be confident that the midfielder will now be fit to line up in the starting XI on Saturday after being rested last night, with Monk clearly keen to avoid risking his star man ahead of their aforementioned tough schedule.

IRVINE MAKES WHOLESALE CHANGES IN BAGGIES DEFEAT

Alan Irvine made 10 changes to the side that faced Crystal Palace at the weekend, with only Craig Dawson keeping place his place in the 2-1 Capital One Cup loss to Bournemouth. With the Baggies struggling against the Championship side, Saido Berahino was handed 17 minutes as a substitute, but could do nothing to stop his side slipping to defeat and leaving the competition.

The Scout Says: Irvine’s decision to rest Berahino for last night’s cup clash will come as good news for his growing band of owners. The young forward faces Leicester and Newcastle in his next two, with both defences having only kept one clean sheet in their last seven league fixtures. Berahino then, at just 5.9, will be confident of further returns as he looks to add to his tally of five strikes in his previous four. Victor Anichebe was afforded the full 90 minutes against Bournemouth and, despite grabbing a goal and an assist in the Baggies’ fightback against Palace on Saturday, the striker now looks likely to start on the bench again against Newcastle.

MANE TO BE ASSESSED AHEAD OF CUP TIE

Ronald Koeman has revealed that Saido Mane is an injury doubt for Southampton’s cup encounter with Stoke this evening due to an ankle problem.

The Scout Says: With goals in each of his last two displays, Mane is starting to look like a legitimate alternative to Dusan Tadic in the Saints’ midfield. The winger was placed third in our ICT rankings for Gameweek 9, with four chances created and three attempts at goal indicative of his attacking threat in the win over the Potters. A rest for the 22-year-old this evening would certainly be beneficial for his owners, with the midfielder then more likely to be fit in time for the Saints’ trip to Hull on Saturday.