CHELSEA have been wobbling a bit in the Premier League but they should get back to winning ways against Hull in the FA Cup.
Frank Lampard's men dominated their last two matches against Newcastle and Arsenal but ended up with just a point for their efforts thanks to some poor finishing and slipshod defending.
Allowing the 10-man Gunners to twice hit back to earn a 2-2 draw was particularly galling but it summed up a soft underbelly that has been apparent all season.
I said at the start of the campaign that backing both teams to score in Chelsea's matches would be a winning tactic and that's how it has panned out, coming up in over 60 per cent of their games.
Lampard can take comfort from the fact his side still look a threat going forward but Tammy Abraham is set to sit this cup tie out after pulling up injured against Arsenal.
Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud haven't really impressed as back-up to the kid so it's no surprise to see the Blues being linked with the likes of Edison Cavani as they look for a cutting edge.
Chelsea should still have enough firepower to get past a Hull side sitting mid-table in the Championship but the Tigers will fancy their chances of breaching Lampard's defence, even though they have lost their last two games 1-0.
Hull's recent run, three wins and three defeats from their last six matches, sums up a season of inconsistency so it's hard to know what to expect from them here.
How the bookies view it
Hull aren't fancied to pull off a shock, with the Tigers a best 31/5 at Marathonbet. The draw is 19/5 with Betfred while Chelsea are 1/2 with most firms. I'll be going for a Blues win with both teams to score at 2/1 with Bet365.
Recent head to head
These sides met in the last 16 of the FA Cup two years ago at Stamford Bridge and it was a stroll for Chelsea as Willian's double helped them win 4-0 (below).
The Blues have won the last seven head-to-heads and you have to go all the way back to 1988 for Hull's last win, a 3-0 home triumph in the second tier.
Players to watch
I'd expect Lampard to make a few changes, with the cup tie coming between two big league games against Arsenal and Leicester.
Batshuayi should get the nod up front with Giroud not even in the squad against Arsenal as speculation over a move to either Inter Milan or Aston Villa raged.
The Belgian is 22/5 with Unibet for first scorer but I'll play safer and back him for anytime scorer at 13/10 with 888Sport.
Ross Barkley was a threat off the bench against Arsenal and also appeals at 17/4 with Betway in the same market.
Jarrod Bowen has been Hull's main man all season, netting 17 times, so he looks the best option for a Tigers goal at 27/10 with 888Sport.
But it was Tom Eaves who stole the spotlight in the last round of the Cup, with his hat-trick sealing a 3-2 victory at Rotherham. He's a tempting 4/1 with Unibet for another goal here.
Anything else catch the eye?
Hull's Dutch defender Jordy de Wijs has racked up seven bookings this season so I fancied him for another card at 13/5 with Bet365. But he has been left out of the squad so I'll switch to Eric Lichaj at 7/2 with William Hill.
Boylesports have boosted the price on a penalty being awarded to 12/5 and that might also be worth a flutter.
This FA Cup match between Hull City and Chelsea will be played on Jan 25, 2020 and kick off at 17:30. Check below for our tipsters best Hull City vs Chelsea prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
