The season's campaign opens up on a third front today with Chelsea entering the Capital One Cup at the third-round stage.

Half a century ago, when Tommy Docherty sent a much-changed Chelsea team to Swindon Town comprising four teenagers, three of them debutants, the Football League responded with the warning, 'We are not going to allow the cup to be turned into a second-team tournament.'

It's a measure of how the game and the competition has adapted to bigger squads that the starters Jose Mourinho has already announced for tonight included several names that will add only to the buzz of expectation around the County Ground.

In keeping with tradition, Mourinho asked his assistant Steve Holland to conduct the pre-match media conference, and the former Crewe manager suggested there may be room yet in the side for an untested, promising youngster.

Who knows where that opportunity may lead? In the 4-0 League Cup win over Notts County of October 1964 John Hollins became Chelsea's youngest ever skipper at 18 years and three months. He went on to played almost 600 times for Chelsea.

Tonight's televised match is sold out, with locals remembering the Robins' exploits in last season's competition in which they saw off Stoke en route to the fourth round and a last-minute defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.

Following decades of ignominy Chelsea's record against lower league sides has been excellent in recent years. Scarborough were a Fourth Division side when they beat the Blues 4-3 on aggregate 14 years ago in this competition. Bobby Campbell had fielded a near full-strength side for the trip to Yorkshire in one of the last damp hurrahs for the age-old inconsistent Pensioners. Swindon Town are in League one, the old Division Three.

Chelsea's top scorer this season with three, Oscar, is one of those unlikely to start tonight but a new goal machine emerged from Saturday's west London derby win.

John Mikel Obi's volley from John Terry's head-down brought the Nigerian his first ever league goal and his third for the Blues. His previous two were registered in the 2006/07 FA Cup during Mourinho's last full season in charge, the last being against Nottingham Forest on 28 January 2007. He had played 260 matches in all competitions since then - but only 32 under the Special One. John now requires just 202 goals to become Chelsea's all-time top scorer.

Five of the 19 remaining top-flight sides will definitely exit this tournament at the third-round stage as 10 are involved in all-Premier League clashes.

Chelsea made it to the semi-finals of last season's competition before losing out to eventual winners Swansea over two legs.
Wolves (6-0), Manchester United (5-4) and Leeds away (5-1) made for a wonderfully entertaining campaign. Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Victor Moses and Fernando Torres were join top-scorers with two apiece.

If the scores are level after 90 minutes tonight, 30 minutes extra time will be played. Should no winner emerge the tie will be decided on penalties.

The draw for the fourth round is tomorrow (Wednesday) night.


- Match preview by chelseafc.com