(Football news) The matchup between the two teams is their first since the FA Cup fourth round in January 2010, when the Blues defeated the Lilywhites 2-0 at Deepdale. With a 3-2 victory over Luton Town in the Premier League last weekend, Chelsea finished the previous year with four wins in their final five games across all competitions. This puts them in a positive attitude heading into 2024.

Although Luton heroically fought back to score twice in the final ten minutes, ultimately to no avail, the West Londoners nearly let slip their comfortable lead as Cole Palmer, playing for the Blues, was instrumental in all three goals at Kenilworth Road, scoring twice and setting up Noni Madueke for his second goal in as many games.

Chelsea, now just three points behind Brighton & Hove Albion in seventh place in the Premier League, managed to hold on for what turned out to be a significant victory as all four of the clubs above them dropped points. Mauricio Pochettino’s team is still ranked tenth in the league.

Chelsea’s next two cup matches are against Championship teams. On Tuesday, they will play the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final away at Middlesbrough. On Saturday, they will play the FA Cup third round match against Preston, whom they have defeated nine times in their last fifteen encounters across all competitions.

The last time Chelsea crashed out at the same level in successive seasons was between 1978–79 and 1980–81. This season, Chelsea lost badly 4-0 to eventual winners Manchester City, and they were ousted in the FA Cup third round for the first time in 25 years.

Though they have won all 18 of their FA Cup matches against lower division opponents since suffering a 4-2 home defeat to League Two Bradford City in 2014–15, the Blues will be optimistic about their chances on Saturday.

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