Blues to prove too strong for valiant Bees at Stamford Bridge

          

Blues to prove too strong for valiant Bees at Stamford Bridge

Uwe Rosler's side impressed many earning a cup replay after a 2-2 draw at Griffin Park, but Jamie Dickenson is backing the Premier League side to show their class at home

Chelsea were given a shock to the system against League One Brentford last month when they were forced to scramble a draw in their FA Cup fourth round tie.

That result came during a run of four games without a win for Rafael Benitez's side, who have responded to that slump by securing back-to-back victories over Wigan and Sparta Prague.

While Brentford performed above their station at Griffin Park, it is hard to see anything other than a Chelsea win here, but it's priced at just 1/7 (1.14) with Paddy Power.

Those odds will hardly get the juices flowing for punters, who could back a repeat draw at  a lengthy 7/1 (8.0) or support the Bees at an outrageous 16/1 (17.0).

Although it would be nice to see such legs on a bet for this Sunday's midday kick-off, Chelsea look to have steadied their form and could rack up a big scoreline.

The Blues have scored two goals or more in seven of their last nine outings, and knocked four past Wigan on their most recent Stamford Bridge excursion.

Brentford have scored exactly two goals in seven of their last nine matches, adding to the value of a bet on both teams to score at 10/11 (1.91).

But with slightly improved odds of evens (2.0) for Chelsea -2.0 in the handicap betting, that looks to be a better potential stake.

Benitez's team will be too strong at home for Brentford to contain, and while the visitors could get on the scoresheet siding with Chelsea to make up the difference should be taken.

One man in form for the West Londoners is Frank Lampard, despite having yet to be offered fresh terms on his current contract at the club.

Lampard has scored in four of his last five matches - for both Chelsea and England - and has 16 goals for the season for club and country.

The 34-year-old has continued to score regularly this campaign, but since Christmas he has struck nine times in 15 appearances for the Blues.

Curiously for the supposedly ageing Lampard, all but two of those goals have come in the second half of games, some of which have been crucial penalties for his team.

Therefore while his odds to score anytime are tempting at evens (2.0), punters might fancy backing the midfielder to score last at a healthy 5/1 (6.0), given his tendency to score late on.