Chelsea vs Plymouth head to head

Bobby Campbell and Ken Brown were in charge the last time our sides met in the old Second Division in February 1989, when Kerry Dixon scored the only goal at Home Park.

Plymouth’s last victory (1-2) against us came at the Bridge in September 1979 in a League Cup second round match. Micky Droy scored our goal that evening in front of a 14,000 crowd.

Over a century ago, centre-forward Jack Cock was our top scorer in all competitions in three successive seasons 1919/20 (24 goals), 1920/21 (15) and 1921/22 (13). After he left Chelsea in 1923 he played for Everton, before moving to Plymouth and becoming their highest goalscorer in successive seasons, recording 32 goals in 1925/26 and a club record 33 the following year.

Our last home meeting with Plymouth

CHELSEA 6 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 2Full Members’ Cup first round, Stamford Bridge, 09.11.1988, 7.30pm

Chelsea: Roger Freestone, Steve Clarke (Gareth Hall), Tony Dorigo, Graham Roberts, Joe McLaughlin, Darren Wood, Kevin Wilson (Billy Dodds), David Lee, Kevin McAllister, Gordon Durie, Clive WilsonScorers: K Wilson 37, McAllister 50, 72, Clarke 65, Roberts 76, McLaughlin 87Manager: Bobby Campbell

Plymouth: Gary Penhaligon, Ken Brown, Leigh Cooper, Adrian Burrows, Nick Marker, John Uzzell, Calvin Plummer, John Brimacombe (John Matthews), Tommy Tynan (Sean McCarthy), Greg Campbell, Mark StuartScorers: Stuart 53, McCarthy 63 (pen)Manager: Ken Brown

Attendance: 4,767

Chelsea stats

In the Roman Abramovich era since June 2003, we have only failed to reach the fifth round twice.

The first was in 2010/11 when we went out to Everton at Stamford Bridge on a penalty shoot-out. The other was against Bradford City, who were the last team from a lower division to beat us in the competition, in 2015 at Stamford Bridge. The Bantams were sixth in League One at the time and ended our run of 12 successive home victories by winning 4-2.

Thomas Tuchel’s side are unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in 14 matches in all competitions since the 0-1 defeat by Manchester City in September (eight wins, six draws).

Plymouth stats

Best seasons in the FA CupSemi-final: 1983/84Quarter-final: 2006/07

This seasonLeague One: SeventhFA Cup: Fourth roundCarabao Cup: Second roundFootball League Trophy: Group stage

Top scorers all competitions: Hardie 12, Jephcott 10, Garrick 6

The last time Plymouth progressed from the fourth round was in 2006/07 when they were in the Championship. They went on to reach the quarter-finals by beating Peterborough, Barnet and Derby before losing to Premier League side Watford at Home Park.

Since they were relegated from the Championship in 2010, Plymouth have spent their seasons in either League One or League Two.

Steven Schumacher’s side picked up their first League One win since Boxing Day as they came from behind to triumph at bottom-placed Doncaster last weekend.

Plymouth are currently seventh in League One, three points off the play-offs (with a game in hand) and 12 behind leaders Rotherham.

Plymouth play their home games at the 18,000-capacity Home Park, which has been their ground since 1901.

37-year-old manager Steven Schumacher will take charge of a side against Chelsea for the first time.

This will be Plymouth’s eighth Premier League opponent in the FA Cup this Millennium. Although they were eliminated by all seven they did manage notable goalless draws at Anfield against Liverpool in 2016/17, and at home against Newcastle in 2009/10.

Away from home, the Pilgrims have won three of their last seven in all competitions, including their extra-time victory at Birmingham in the last round of the FA Cup.

Plymouth have failed to keep a clean sheet in eight of their last 10 games on the road stretching back to the beginning of November.

FA Cup scorers

Garrick 3, Hardie 1, Jephcott 1, Law 1

Discipline

Yellow cards only count in the competition they are received. In the FA Cup, two yellow cards will result in a one match suspension (or four if the club entered the competition at the first-round stage). The cut-off point is the quarter-finals, so no player can miss the final through cumulative yellows.

Chelsea: Saul 1Plymouth: Houghton 2, Law 1, Garrick 1

Referee and VAR

Referee: Simon HooperVAR: Mike Dean

Simon Hooper is reffing his first Chelsea game.