Chelsea predictions vs. Derby: Warm welcome, but a business-like result

Chelsea will have to put aside their feelings for Frank Lampard if they want to advance in the Carabao Cup. With both managers seeking their first trophy, neither will want to go out cheaply, regardless of the emotions or quality gap.

Frank Lampard vanquished his former manager Jose Mourinho to reach the next round of the Carabao Cup. Now he has to get through his long-time club. Nope, not a whiff of shadiness around that fifth-round draw, nope, none.

Scott Brant: Chelsea 2 – 1 Derby County. Chelsea showed they can produce without Eden Hazard the Great. But all I can imagine when I think of Frank Lampard as an opposing manager, is how he must know something that will give his team enough of an edge to keep it close. Maybe it’s a respect thing, or I – kind of in a weird way – want to see Lampard succeed. Either way, the Blues are too much for Derby and pull it out near the end. Goals for Olivier Giroud and Mateo Kovacic.

Hugo Amaya: 2 – 0. After a very good performance in the Premier League, Maurizio Sarri will give the bench a chance to shine, and shine they will. The Blues will put in a solid and strong performance from every angle. Although it won’t be a fast paced game, they will dominate Frank Lampard’s team. A goal in each half will be enough to seal the win for Chelsea, and we move on.

Nate Hofmann: 3 – 0. Derby are coming off a 1-1 draw against Tony Pulis’s Middlesborough, having been undone by Jayden Bogle’s late own goal. It should come as no surprise that Pulis’s side plays in a very Pulisian fashion, a style of play that could easily be mistaken for outright physical combat. After presumably spending a week preparing for Boro’s charming combination of long balls and sharp elbows, they’ve now had only a few short days to prepare for Sarri’s Chelsea. That’s a big ask, even for the most experienced of sides and wiliest of managers, neither of which Derby have.

Frank Lampard looks like he could become a very good manager, but this might be a bridge too far at this point in his career. Regardless of who’s on the pitch, expect Sarrismo to win the day, if only because it’s the exact antithesis of Pulismo. Deux pour Giroud and uno por Cesc Fabregas.

Barrett Rouen: 3 – 1. Derby will make a better go of this than many think, but in the end Chelsea’s current midfield form will continue. Look for both Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to start, with maybe Fabregas or Kovacic in the holding. Some rest for N’Golo Kante and Jorginho will lead to some early frustration, but by the 60′ everything will continue rolling along.

Abhishek Pancholi: 5 – 0. It won’t be a happy homecoming for Frank Lampard, despite the crowd serenading him every fifteen minutes. A second- or third-string Chelsea side should have enough in the tank to comfortably dispatch Derby County and that is what will happen. Callum Hudson-Odoi should finally get a start, with Pedro crocked and Willian starting way too many games. Olivier Giroud will finally break his duck and grab a couple of goals before a late flourish ends Derby’s run.

Kevin Peacock: 2 – 1. This game will just be too much excitement. Super Frankie Lampard returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time as manager, bringing with him those young upstarts Mason Mount and Fikayo Timori. The three have started the season well with Derby and will be keen to show Blues fans what they’re about.

Once the niceties are out of the way and the game is underway the Rams will discover that Sarri’s Chelsea are no Mourinho United. The Italian will field a strong starting XI including Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who will take the opportunity of an unusual hat-trick by scoring goals in three different competitions inside a week.

Chelsea will simply be too strong for Derby despite Lampard’s best efforts at getting one over his old team. It won’t be easy, though. A goal from Olivier Giroud in the first half will supplement Loftus-Cheek’s. Willy Caballero will let in a late goal, but Super Frank doesn’t go dancing down the touchline.

Gabe Henderson: 3 – 1. Mount, Timori and Lampard’s returns will be filled with excitement and Stamford Bridge will be buzzing. Given the recent form of their young Blues, the fans will make the atmosphere incredible and, for much of the match, it’ll be an incredible bout between two of England’s most exciting teams.

However, in the end, Sarri’s experience will outlast Lampard. Although Derby will get a goal that’ll spark a fight in the Championship side, the Blues will ultimately prove too much for them.