One of the first orders of business in the new season (proper) will be to contest the second round of the Carabao Cup (i.e. League Cup). This is something we had to do just once during the previous era, but thanks to yet another season without any European football whatsoever, will now be doing it for the second time in three years. That’s just the BlueCo Blues blues!
On the plus side, we get an extra home game against opposition we should be readily beating, with today’s draw pairing Chelsea against third division outfit Luton Town. Yes, Luton may have been in the Premier League just a few years ago, but back-to-back relegations have dropped them into the third tier, where they finished seventh last season. But at least they halted their precipitous fall and can look to recover.
New summer signing and former Chelsea Academy standout Kasey Palmer should help them in that regard, along with another Chelsea youth product, midfielder George Saville. Luton, who are managed by former Arsenal sickboy Jack Wilshere, beat fourth division Gillingham in the first round to earn this trip to Stamford Bridge in a couple weeks (exact date/time not yet announced).
We’ve won our last five games against the Hatters, dating back to 1991. We’ve scored exactly three goals in the last four games. Expect nothing less this time around as well!
The Carabao Cup second round draw was split into northern and southern sections. The draw in full, is as follows:
> Stoke City vs. Hull CityNewcastle United vs. West Bromwich AlbionBlackburn Rovers vs. Sheffield UnitedNottingham Forest vs. Leeds UnitedDoncaster Rovers vs. MiddlesbroughBarnsley vs. Crewe AlexandraPreston North End vs. EvertonBlackpool vs. Lincoln CitySheffield Wednesday vs. Wolverhampton WanderersBradford City vs. Burnley
>
> Fleetwood Town vs. Shrewsbury