ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Aston Villa v Chelsea

talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent ALEX CROOK looks ahead to Wednesday’s FA Cup replay between Aston Villa and Chelsea…

⚪ ASTON VILLA v CHELSEA 🔵
Wednesday, 8pm

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Mauricio Pochettino has found himself on the back pages of the newspapers this week for all the wrong reasons, and it could get worse before it gets better for the under-fire Chelsea manager.

It looked as though the embattled Blues boss had turned a corner when his side went on a run of just one defeat in seven games that included booking their place in the EFL Cup final.

But, things have quickly come crashing down for Pochettino after last week’s thrashing at Liverpool was followed by Wolves winning at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 1979 on Sunday.

The latter of those defeats saw Chelsea drop below their visitors and into the bottom half of the Premier League table – inexcusable after spending more than £1bn to put their squad together.

For the first time since taking charge in the summer, a large section of the home fans turned their ire on former Tottenham chief Pochettino (pictured), which is usually the beginning of the end for any manager.

Even though the Chelsea hierarchy insist they are still backing the Argentine, the wife of defender Thiago Silva’s social media post appearing to suggest he should be sacked was a very unhelpful, if amusing, side-show.

Chelsea’s staggering spending means it is vital Pochettino delivers European football next season and the cups represent their most realistic route, so the trip to Villa Park is arguably one of their biggest games of the season.

I was at the first game at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea were the better team in the first half before Villa came on strong in the second.

But, Unai Emery’s men are a much different proposition at home than they are on their travels and you have to feel Newcastle’s recent 3-1 win at Villa Park was an anomaly rather than the start of change of fortunes.

Villa bounced back from that defeat with an emphatic 5-0 thrashing of bottom club Sheffield United on Saturday and Emery will take this replay seriously by naming a strong team.

Losing defender Ezri Konsa to injury is a blow, however Aston Villa to win in 90 minutes at 1/1 with starsports.bet is still a strong selection, especially as Chelsea have lost five of their last six away games.

After a run of six games without a goal, Ollie Watkins has bounced back to form by scoring in each of his last two matches and was the star of the Blades bashing at Bramall Lane.

Watkins to score the first goal has been price boosted to 5/1 by starsports.bet and makes a lot of appeal.

ALEX CROOK

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