Hull v Chelsea

Hull striker Henrik Pedersen could make his first start for City in attack, at the expense of Michael Bridges.

Also up front, veteran Dean Windass (calf) may not be risked while recent signing Caleb Folan is cup-tied.

Chelsea are without Frank Lampard (thigh) and Didier Drogba (knee), while Mikel Jon Obi is suspended.

Ricardo Carvalho (back) is not yet ready to return, while Michael Ballack and Wayne Bridge are both still sidelined with ankle injuries.

Hull's average crowd this season is 17,405.

Hull's results this season
Aug 11 Plymouth (h) L 2-3
Aug 15 Crewe LC1 (a) W 3-0
Aug 18 Coventry (a) D 1-1
Aug 25 Norwich (h) W 2-1
Aug 28 Wigan LC2 (a) W 1-0
Sep 3 Blackpool (a) L 1-2
Sep 15 Stoke (h) D 1-1
Sep 18 Wolves (a) W 1-0
Sep 22 Sheffield Wed (a) L 0-1

Hull's inability to find the net on Saturday at Hillsborough against point-less Sheffield Wednesday was the first time they have failed to score in 16 games stretching back to mid March. Team: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Delaney, Garcia, Ashbee (c), Marney (McPhee 67), Hughes (Livermore 85), Okocha, Bridges (Pedersen 59).

The Tigers' scorers this season in all competitions have been: Dean Windass 3 (1 pen), Richard Garcia 2, Ian Ashbee 1, Nick Barmby 1, Michael Bridges 1, Stuart Elliott 1, Dave Livermore 1, Dean Marney 1, Steve McPhee 1.

After last weekend's games Hull lie in 18th place with eight points from seven games. Chelsea dropped to sixth with 11 points from seven games, five points behind leaders Arsenal who have a game in hand.

Chelsea haven't lost away in the League Cup since Aston Villa defeated us in December 2003 nine games ago.

Chelsea's and Hull City's last five seasons in the League Cup:
Hull
2002/03 First round - lost to Leicester at home
2003/04 First round - lost to Wigan away
2004/05 First round - lost to Wrexham at home on penalties
2005/06 First round - lost to Blackpool away
2006/07 Third round - lost to Watford away

Chelsea
2002/03 Quarter-final - lost to Man Utd away
2003/04 Quarter-final - lost to Aston Villa away
2004/05 Winners - beat Liverpool in Cardiff
2005/06 3rd round - lost to Charlton at home on penalties
2006/07 Winners - beat Arsenal in Cardiff

Chelsea won the League Cup in 1965, 1998, 2005 and 2007 and have been runners-up in 1972. We have appeared in nine semi-finals.

John Mikel Obi will serve his first of a three-match suspension following his dismissal on Sunday.

The referee is Chris Foy who was in charge of our win at Newcastle in this competition last season.

Congratulations to Michael Ballack, currently unavailable through injury, who celebrates his 31st birthday on the day of the match.

Michael Essien and Paulo Ferreira, if selected, are due to make their 100th start for the club and Ashley Cole his 50th game in a blue shirt.

Chelsea's overall record against Hull City in all competitions is: played 35, won 23, drawn 8, lost 4

If the scores are level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes extra time will be played. If there is still no winner the tie will be decided on penalties.

Chelsea's recent shoot-out record is not good having lost the last three. The last time we were successful was in January 1998 in the League Cup quarter-final at Ipswich. Here is our full record:

Aug 2007 Man Utd (Wembley) FA Community Shield.
Lost 0-3. Keeper: Cech.

May 2007 Liverpool (away) Champions League semi-final second leg.
Lost 1-4 (Lampard). Keeper: Cech.

Oct 2005 Charlton (home) League Cup third round.
Lost 4-5 (Robben, Gudjohnsen, Lampard, Drogba). Keeper: Cudicini.

Jan 1998 Ipswich (away) League Cup quarter-final.
Won 4-1 (Leb?uf, Zola, Di Matteo, M Hughes). De Goey two saves.

Oct 1997 Blackburn (home) League Cup third round.
Won 4-1 (Leboeuf, Sinclair, Clarke, Nicholls). Hitchcock one save.

Aug 1997 Man Utd (Wembley) FA Charity Shield.
Lost 2-4 (Zola, Leboeuf). Keeper: De Goey.

Jan 1996 Newcastle (away) FA Cup third round replay.
Won 4-2 (D Lee , Wise, Peacock, Newton). Hitchcock one save.

Feb 1995 Millwall (home) FA Cup fourth round replay.
Lost 4-5 (Stein, Wise, Burley, D Lee). Keeper: Kharine.

Nov 1992 Ipswich (home) Full Members' Cup area quarter-final.
Won 4-3 (Wise, Dixon, Allon, V Jones). Hitchcock two saves.

Feb 1991 Luton (home) Full Members' Cup third round.
Lost 1-4 (Dorigo). Keeper: Beasant.

Nov 1985 West Brom (away) Full Members' Cup area semi-final.
Won 5-4 (Spackman, Pates, Jasper, Wood, C Lee). Keeper: Niedzwiecki.

Oct 1983 Leicester City (home) League Cup second round second leg.
Won 4-3 (Dixon, C Lee, Hollins, Spackman). Niedzwiecki two saves.

Should we make it safely through tonight, the draw for the 4th round is this Saturday lunchtime and will be broadcast live on Sky.