Since Liam Rosenior’s appointment in January, a segment of Chelsea supporters have expressed doubts about his suitability to lead the team forward. The team’s recent streak of four consecutive losses across all competitions has certainly intensified these concerns.
It’s true that two of these defeats came against the reigning European champions, Paris St-Germain, but I still anticipated that Chelsea would secure a positive result at home against Newcastle and then against Everton, who dominated the match.
Advertisement
If Rosenior suffers another loss in this upcoming tie, it will raise serious alarms at Stamford Bridge. This is a match where he cannot afford a slip-up, and he will need not only a victory but also a strong performance to silence the critics.
Wycombe recently triumphed over Port Vale with a 4-0 scoreline, so Chelsea must aim to at least replicate that performance before turning their focus back to the league, with two vital home matches looming against Manchester City and Manchester United.
Port Vale is struggling at the bottom of League One, and I have incorrectly predicted their losses against Fleetwood, Bristol City, and Sunderland.
On a positive note for Vale fans and manager Jon Brady, I will once again predict their loss this time around.
Advertisement
Their strategy will likely be to remain competitive for as long as possible and try to snag a goal, but given the circumstances, Rosenior is expected to field a competitive lineup, which means Chelsea should have an abundance of quality to secure the win.
Sutton’s prediction: 4-0
Read the full predictions and have your say