Sturridge starts for Blues

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti kept faith with the team he named yesterday which meant a start for striker Daniel Sturridge, who has scored for the club in the last two rounds of the FA Cup.

The home side’s midfield was the one which started the Barclays Premier League defeat at Everton in midweek, with England’s Frank Lampard handed the captain’s armband.

Defender Ricardo Carvalho made his 200th Chelsea start in all competitions.

Cardiff made two changes from the team which beat Peterborough at home in the Coca-Cola Championship last time out, with Gavin Rae and Aaron Wildig replacing Stephen McPhail and Darcy Blake.

Chelsea: Hilario, Paulo Ferreira, Alex, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Joe Cole, Drogba, Sturridge.

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Gerrard, Gyepes, Kennedy, Burke, Rae, Wildig, Whittingham, Chopra, Bothroyd. Subs: Enckelman, Quinn, Taiwo, Blake, Feeney, Matthews, McCormack.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)