Chelsea can book their place in the last four of the League Cup with victory against AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Antonio Conte's men battled their way to a hard-fought 1-0 win against Southampton on Saturday afternoon - a victory that meant that the Blues have been beaten in just one of their last 13 matches on home soil in all competitions.
Furthermore, Chelsea have won seven of their last eight domestic fixtures on their own patch and, as such, they are strong favourites to secure a League Cup semi-final spot at the expense of the Cherries; indeed, Paddy Power make the hosts a 3/10 (1.30) shot to win this one inside 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth have failed to win any of their last six matches and Howe's men come into this clash on the back of a chastening 0-4 defeat against Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon, so it is little surprise that the Cherries are chalked up at a chunky 17/2 (9.50) with Paddy Power to stun Chelsea, while the same firm go 4/1 (5.0) that extra time and potentially penalty kicks are required to settle this tie.
Three of Chelsea's last four home victories have been by a 1-0 scoreline and Paddy Power offer 15/2 (8.50) that the Blues win 1-0 against Bournemouth, which would be keeping in tradition as Chelsea were 1-0 winners in both the home and away leg when these two teams last met in the League Cup back in 1994, while the most recent meeting between the teams also ended in a 1-0 win for the Blues.
Paddy Power also offer 3/1 (4.0) that Conte's team win by a single goal margin, a particular play that would have landed in four of the last five home matches that the Blues have won.
Chelsea, however, have managed just a solitary clean sheet in their last five fixtures, while there were goals at both ends in both of Chelsea's two League Cup victories so far this season - against Nottingham Forest and Everton respectively - and Paddy Power go even money (2.0) that both teams score, while the same firm offer 4/7 (1.57) that there are at least three goals scored when these two teams lock horns.
It would be something of a surprise should Conte's charges come up short against the Cherries on this occasion, given their home record this season, but the visitors will be hoping to keep things tight and they may take encouragement from the fact that the Blues have failed to find the net more than once in four of their last five fixtures at Stamford Bridge.
A tight tussle, therefore, could be on the cards here and Paddy Power's 5/4 (2.25) quote for fewer than three goals to be scored could well prove popular with punters, although better value may lie in backing Chelsea to win to nil at 11/10 (2.10); the selection would have landed in six of the last eight matches that Conte's team have won.
Chelsea to win to nil at 11/10 (2.10) for a 1pt stake with Paddy Power 
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