Pundit pinpoints how Chelsea can 'save their season' ahead of FA Cup clash with Aston Villa

It is no secret at this point - the 2023/24 season is swiftly unravelling into yet another tricky campaign for Chelsea. However, there is still plenty of time left - while they are miles away from a title challenge, the Blues are still in with a chance of winning one of England's domestic cups this season.

BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton believes that success in the FA Cup and League Cup could be just what Chelsea need to salvage their season. They have reached the final of the League Cup, after defeating Middlesbrough by a score of 6-2 on aggregate - they'll face Liverpool at Wembley Stadium later this month.

In the FA Cup, meanwhile, the Blues are gearing up to take on Aston Villa in the fourth round of the competition. Sutton believes that Chelsea will 'edge' the contest by a score of 2-1 - even though it was the Villans who emerged victorious when the two teams played each other earlier in the season.

How did Chris Sutton say that Chelsea could save their season?

On BBC Sport's FA Cup predictions piece, Sutton wrote: "The cups offer a way for Chelsea to save their season, and they are already in the final of the Carabao Cup after beating Middlesbrough. Mauricio Pochettino's side have been getting better, it's just not the momentous rise we expected.

"Chelsea can't afford not to go full pelt at this game but Aston Villa might be thinking about the top four, and Tuesday's game with Newcastle. I'd love to see Villa give it a real go in the FA Cup as well, because they have been excellent this season, but I don't know how Unai Emery will approach it. All of this is making me think that Chelsea will edge it, but I have been wrong about them plenty of times this season already."