By Since66
January 14 2009
Due to the first team's FA Cup replay at Roots Hall tonight, Chelsea TV (as I expected) have cancelled live coverage of tonight's 4th round FA Youth Cup tie against Walsall at Brentford's Griffin Park.
It should be a cracker of a cup-tie with lots of goals expected as Walsall have already scored twelve in their three cup games so far.
On route to tonight's match, Walsall have beaten Hednesford 5-3, Rochdale 4-3 and Barnsley away from home 3-2. Tonight's game is the Academy's first game of the year and as youth coach Dermot Drummy explains, preparations have been difficult due to the cold weather. He said, "It has been difficult to prepare because of the cold weather, we have been in the dome which is a little smaller, but having said that I doubt any clubs have managed to get out on the pitches because of the cold. "I think the boys relish the Youth Cup, they see it as their most important competition, and I always find there is little more excitement in the air a week before a Youth Cup match." If you need reminding, Chelsea beat Man Utd at Old Trafford 3-2 before Christmas after being 1-0 down, with goals from Gael Kakuta, BIG Frank Nouble and Fabio Borini and the star of the night was keeper Nic Heimann who pulled off a series of fine saves to keep the young Red Devils at bay. Its a shame that Chelsea didn't have the foresight of a replay against Southend when arranging tonight's game. These kids are worth watching and with the first team in action, will anybody bother to turn out at Griffin Park, later tonight? I was already and all set for a double dose of Chelsea tonight. The Youth Cup on one TV and the first team on the other. Oh well, hey ho. I will try and bring news as I can and when it is available. 


