Chelsea vs Port Vale LIVE: FA Cup match stream, latest score, goal updates and fan reaction | OneFootball

Blues without Enzo Fernandez as they look to book semi-final trip to Wembley

Joao Pedro looked to pick up a knock during Chelsea’s pre-match warm-up

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Chelsea vs Port Vale LIVE!

Chelsea are strong favourites to reach the FA Cup semi-finals as they host Port Vale at Stamford Bridge. The Blues will be expected to make light work of opponents who sit bottom of League One in their first meeting since 1929, ending a slump that has seen them lose four matches in a row across all competitions. Out of the Champions League and with a tough task to reach the Premier League’s top four, this competition could offer salvation during a difficult season.

It has been a hugely disappointing 150th anniversary campaign for the Valiants, though they are into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years after stunning Sunderland and will be backed by 6,000 travelling fans. Follow Chelsea vs Port Vale live below!

Live updates

3 minutes ago

Joao Pedro hurt in Chelsea warm-up

Joao Pedro looks to have hurt himself during the pre-match warm-up at Stamford Bridge.

Hopefully nothing that will require his late withdrawal from Chelsea’s starting lineup...

Action Images via Reuters

8 minutes ago

'A team selection that shows how important the FA Cup now is'

Here are more pre-match thoughts from Standard Sport’s Chelsea correspondent Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge...

10 minutes ago

Strong Chelsea team is no surprise

Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge

Something of a surprise that Rosenior has gone quite so strong with the team?

To an extent, but then Chelsea have no need to rest given they are out of the Champions League and now have a free midweek before facing Manchester City.

This FA Cup run also takes on a new-found importance because of the fact they are out of Europe.

So it is understandable from Rosenior, and needs to be met with the right result.

18 minutes ago

Four Port Vale changes from Wycombe thrashing

Port Vale boss Jon Brady makes four changes to the team hammered 4-0 at Wycombe in League One last weekend.

Jaheim Headley, Ethon Archer, Jordan Shipley and George Hall make way for Liam Gordon, Rhys Walters, Martin Sherif and Ben Waine.

Ryan Croasdale and Jayden Stockley are fit enough for the bench, but there’s no Onel Hernandez.

Getty Images

26 minutes ago

Three changes for Chelsea as Rosenior goes strong

With a clear midweek ahead and only one trophy left to play for this season, it’s a predictably strong team from Chelsea as Liam Rosenior makes only three changes to the side brushed aside 3-0 by Everton in the Premier League before the international break.

Jorrel Hato moves to left-back as Tosin Adarabioyo comes into central defence to partner Wesley Fofana, with Marc Cucurella dropping to the bench.

Andrey Santos is paired with Romeo Lavia in midfield with no Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo only among the substitutes.

Estevao is brought into the attack, with Cole Palmer named captain with no Reece James or Fernandez.

There is still no Jamie Gittens, with Chelsea’s bench including 17-year-old winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, who has yet to make his senior debut.

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

34 minutes ago

Port Vale lineup

Port Vale XI: Gauci, Gabriel, Humphreys, C Hall, John, Gordon, Walters, Ojo, Garrity, Sherif, Waine

Subs: Amos, Stockley, Archer, Croasdale, Shipley, Campbell, G Hall, Magloire, Gray

47 minutes ago

Chelsea lineup

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Tosin, Hato, Andrey Santos, Lavia, Estevao, Palmer, Neto, Joao Pedro

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Sarr, Cucurella, Caicedo, Essugo, Garnacho, Kavuma-McQueen, Delap

50 minutes ago

Brady backs Rosenior amid criticism of Chelsea boss

Jon Brady also backed Chelsea counterpart Liam Rosenior amid the recent criticism faced during the Blues’ run of four consecutive defeats across all competitions.

“I look at all that has gone on with him in the last few months and I'm just disappointed with media and people that want to try to put a good young English manager down,” he said.

"It seems to be a fact here in this country that anyone that's good that we seem to knock them down.

“I don't get it, I don't understand it."

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

53 minutes ago

Port Vale lose pitch leveller as Brady expects 'greased lightning'

Much has been made of the desperate state of Port Vale’s pitch this season, which undoubtedly helped them to topple both Bristol City and Sunderland 1-0 in the space of just five days last month.

But manager Jon Brady knows that there will be no such advantage today on a bowling green of a surface at Stamford Bridge.

"We said Sunderland would be the ultimate test, but that was at home,” the Australian said on Thursday.

“We'll hold our hands up, it [the Vale Park pitch] slowed the game down a bit and that played into our hands.

"This is away and in world football it's a huge test for any club.

“They've got an incredible squad and the pitch will be greased lightning.

"This will be one of the toughest challenges some of the players and myself will face in our careers, but one we have got to relish and enjoy and something that, no matter what, will create a memory for a lifetime."

Getty Images

1 hour ago

Port Vale defy League One nightmare in FA Cup fairytale

Plenty of FA Cup cutout trophy replicas among the 6,000-strong travelling fanbase this afternoon.

“Super Vale not stayin’ up, but we’re gonna win the FA Cup,” reads one.

Such a strange situation the club find themselves in, subject to strong criticism from supporters following a disastrous and short-lived return to League One after bouncing straight back by winning the League Two title last term.

Darren Moore was sacked in December and replaced by ex-Northampton boss Jon Brady on an 18-month deal, but he has been unable to rescue their fortunes.

But their otherwise dreadful 150th anniversary year has also featured this first run to the FA Cup quarter-finals for 72 years and shock wins over the likes of Sunderland and Bristol City.

Go figure!