Blues have long-term problems up front but should avoid an upset

Chelsea limped out of the Capital One Cup having never really looked like breaking down a well organised Swansea side.

They simply didn’t have the patience or guile required, although the damage had been done at Stamford Bride a fortnight ago

Chelsea travel to Brentford on Sunday for their fourth-round FA Cup tie and are 2/7 to make it through in 90 minutes with the Bees 11/1 to cause a shock and 5/1 the draw.

Confidence can’t be too high with Demba Ba – 14/5 to score the opening goal at Brentford – showing again on Wednesday that he is a good player but not a top top-class player and is not the answer long-term to Chelsea’s striking problems.

Perhaps the answer was under their noses. I wonder if there are any at Chelsea who look at the start Daniel Sturridge has made to his Liverpool career.

Sturridge was never the most popular at Chelsea but was he ever given a real opportunity as a central striker?

Fernando Torres is 16/5 to score first against the Bees with Frank Lampard 6s, while Marko Marin (8/1) is likely to be given a rare opportunity.

It would be fair to say Marin hasn’t pulled up any trees during his Chelsea career so far, but he is likely to be given an opportunity in the next week or so.

QPR host champions Manchester City on Tuesday and will be looking to maintain their excellent recent record under Harry Redknapp.

Rangers are 13/2 with City 1/2 and the draw 7/2.

Redknapp’s side are still 1/2 to be relegated and 6/4 to be playing in the top flight next term.

Before the visit of City, Rangers should make it through to the fifth round of the FA Cup given that MK Dons are the visitors.

But you wonder how much of a priority a cup run is to the club with Premier League survival at stake this season.

QPR are 4/6 to win in 90 minutes with MK 22/5 and the draw 3s. A draw wouldn’t suit either side and Rangers really should progress.

Fulham travel to Old Trafford on Saturday evening and I hope they go at United in the same way they did in the league fixture back in August, when they had 16 shots at the home goal and lost 3-2.

United are 2/7 to win the tie in 90 minutes and they will not want a replay with their Champions League games with Real Madrid on the horizon.

Fulham are 21/2 at BetVictor with the draw at 19/4.

Note Fulham are 23/20 to beat West Ham next Wednesday with the Irons out to 5/2 after their mauling at Arsenal.

BetVictor have a number of FA Cup specials, including a televised Sunday treble of 2/1 for Chelsea, Liverpool (away to Oldham) and Spurs (away to Leeds) to all win their ties at the first time of asking.

That said, can you really trust Chelsea at the moment?

For all your weekend odds check out betvictor.com

Be lucky.

Charlie