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Just four wins in 108 years for Leicester City at Chelsea

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Leicester City's clash with Chelsea today will mark their 50th trip to Stamford Bridge.

One thing is for certain, history is not on the visitors' side. City have won there just four times in 108 years.

The last victory was back in 2000, thanks to goals from Muzzy Izzet and Stan Collymore. If you want to find a league win before that, you have to go all the way back to 1965.

If recent history is anything to go by, goals should be on the cards.

In the clubs' last three meetings, there have been 18 goals. Chelsea, though, have scored 13 of them.

The most recent was the FA Cup quarter-final in March 2012 at Stamford Bridge, which ended in a 5-2 victory for the hosts.

Nigel Pearson had returned to City for a second time in the November.

The City side has changed immeasurably since then, as Pearson has rebuilt a side in his own image, getting rid of those who were unable, or unwilling, to share his goal.

Interestingly, only four players in the City side that started that day are still at the club – Kasper Schmeichel, Paul Konchesky, Wes Morgan and David Nugent.

"We are a better side than we were then, but there are no guarantees," said Pearson. "We have still got to go and perform on the day.

"We have proven in the time between then and now, not just on the playing field but as a football club, that we have continued to develop.

"The question now is, can we compete in the same league."

It is not just City's side that is better now. Chelsea's too is hardly recognisable.

There will also be no resting players for a cup game against a lower-league side. The Special One will come with all guns blazing.

Diego Costa will start up front. Eden Hazard, Oscar and Andre Shurrle will try to cause havoc around him. Cesc Fabregas will pull all the strings in behind.

City, meanwhile, will be without Matty James and Danny Drinkwater through injury, although Jamie Vardy and Marc Albrighton could feature.

Mourinho, of course, boasts a sensational record at Stamford Bridge. He has lost just once there in 79 Premier League games as Chelsea manager.

City boss Nigel Pearson, then, is under no illusions as to how tough a test his side faces this afternoon.

"It speaks for itself," he said. "Their record there is very good. But I think you have got to look at these games as being somewhat of a bonus.

"I don't think many people give us much hope but I think the important thing for us is that we have a pretty strong resolve.

"If we can be an awkward customer then I would be very happy.

"But I don't want to underplay what we are about. We have got some talented footballers."

One thing that City will try not to do, as Mourinho often complains about sides who come to Stamford Bridge, is 'park the bus'.

"It would be nice to think we wouldn't have to," said Pearson. "But it will be dependent on how well we look after the ball.

"That's always the key. If teams park the bus, they park the bus. You have to do what you have to do in any game to give yourself the best chance.

"I don't want to be going there and just soaking up pressure. I want us to go there and express ourselves.

"I do feel that we have some threats. But we are going to have to be at our best, there's no doubt about that."

Just four wins in 108 years for Leicester City at Chelsea


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