Chelsea will look to progress to the third round of the EFL Cup when they welcome AFC Wimbledon to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
The EFL Cup resumes this week with the second round of the 2023/24 campaign. Premier League teams not playing in Europe enter the competition at this stage. And Chelsea will look to secure a spot in the third round when they host AFC Wimbledon at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Chelsea’s performances have improved somewhat in the early stages of the 2023/24 season. While they lost their second game of the Premier League campaign to West Ham United, they have also produced two impressive displays. And the Blues come into the EFL Cup fixture on the back of a comfortable 3-0 win over Luton Town this past weekend.
On the other hand, AFC Wimbledon pulled off an upset in the first round by beating Coventry City 2-1. Meanwhile, they are unbeaten after the first five games in EFL League Two thus far this term. Johnnie Jackson’s men have won just two games while playing out three stalemates to sit fifth on the table.
The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the EFL Cup meeting between Chelsea and AFC Wimbledon at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Watch Mauricio Pochettino's look ahead to AFC Wimbledon LIVE! https://t.co/LguaEE8cHP
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 29, 2023
Mauricio Pochettino does not have any new fitness concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s first EFL Cup fixture of the 2023/24 season. Against AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday, the Chelsea manager will be bereft of the services of ten first-team players.
Romeo Lavia (match fitness) and Reece James (hamstring) are the most notable absentees, with the former likely to make his Chelsea debut after the international break. The duo accompanies Marcus Bettinelli (unspecified), Wesley Fofana (knee), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Christopher Nkunku (knee), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), and Armando Broja (knee) on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Pochettino is sweating over the fitness of Mykhailo Mudryk, who has been working hard to shake off a niggle to make himself available. As for the team composition, the Chelsea boss should hand much-needed starts to fringe players and youngsters.
So, summer signing Djordje Petrovic will make his Chelsea debut on Wednesday, with the Blues lining up in a 3-4-3 formation in front of him. Bashir Humphreys will make his second appearance for Chelsea, starting alongside Levi Colwill and Manchester United-linked Marc Cucurella in the back-three.
As for the midfield unit, Lesley Ugochukwu will likely make his first start for Chelsea, taking his place in the double pivot alongside Conor Gallagher. The wing-backs will flank the midfield duo, with Malo Gusto and Ian Maatsen likely being the wide duo.
Finally, Mason Burstow should spearhead the Chelsea attack against AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday, with Noni Madueke and Diego Moreira completing the numbers in the final third. Mudryk will make an appearance if he is fit and available.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Petrovic; Humphreys, Colwill, Cucurella; Gusto, Ugochukwu, Gallagher, Maatsen; Madueke, Burstow, Moreira
AFC Wimbledon
Unlike his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Johnnie Jackson has new issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. The AFC Wimbledon manager will likely be without four first-team players on Wednesday.
The most notable absentee is Jake Reeves, who tweaked his hamstring against Forest Green. Apart from the AFC Wimbledon captain, Armani Little also picked up an injury in the same game. The duo has joined Paul Kalambayi (knee) and Huseyin Biler (thigh) on the sidelines.
We are live now on @SkySportsNews! 📺 #AFCW 🟡🔵 pic.twitter.com/m13RFaFmAY
— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) August 29, 2023
Nikola Tzanev should start between the sticks for AFC Wimbledon, who will line up in a 4-4-2 formation in front of him. And the backline will feature Isaac Ogundere, Joe Lewis, Ryan Johnson, and Lee Brown.
As for the midfield department, James Ball and Harry Pell should replace the injured duo of Reeves and Little. The duo will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park while initiating quick transitions. James Tilley and Ryan McLean should be the two wide men, with Ali Al-Hamadi and Omar Bugiel being the strikers.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Tzanev; Ogundere, Lewis, Johnson, Brown; Tilley, Ball, Pell, McLean; Al-Hamadi, Bugiel
Key Stats
- Wednesday’s clash will be the first-ever meeting between Chelsea and AFC Wimbledon. The Blues are unbeaten in their last seven debut matches against domestic opponents (W4 D3) since a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth in the second tier in September 1988.
- AFC Wimbledon’s 2-1 victory over Coventry in the first round was their first-ever League Cup win against a side from a higher division than them (L7). They are looking to reach the third round of the competition for just the second time, after 2021/22.
- As a top-flight side, Chelsea have won 14 of their last 15 games against teams in the fourth tier or lower in all competitions (D1), with their last defeat coming against Scarborough in October 1989.
- AFC Wimbledon have lost four of their five meetings with Premier League clubs in all competitions, the exception being a 4-2 win against West Ham United in the 2018/19 FA Cup.
- AFC Wimbledon are unbeaten in the 2023/24 season thus far, winning the only game in the EFL Cup while emerging victorious in two League Two outings (D3).
Player to Watch
Marc Cucurella
Cucurella has endured a nightmare of a Chelsea stint thus far, with his performance levels stooping significantly. But Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that the Spanish international will make his first start of the 2023/24 season on Wednesday against AFC Wimbledon.
Amid widespread links with Manchester United, the 25-year-old needs an impressive performance to kick-start his campaign. And a solid performance against AFC Wimbledon tonight will go a long way in stabilising things for him this season.
Prediction
Chelsea 3-1 AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon might be unbeaten across competitions thus far this season. But beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is an unenviable task, even when the Blues have not been at their best in the last 12 months. And with the hosts showing positive signs under Mauricio Pochettino, another solid display might be on the cards.
But Pochettino will utilise a makeshift backline with young and fringe players featuring in the defensive unit. So AFC Wimbledon might conjure up a few opportunities. But Chelsea should be comfortable for the most part. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the home side, who will progress to the third round of the EFL Cup.
