Guppy's guide to cup giantkilling

By Charlie Henderson

In Jermaine Easter Wycombe have got one of the in-form strikers in the country Steve Guppy

Steve Guppy has urged former club Wycombe to leave Stamford Bridge with no regrets after their Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea.

Guppy, who has had two spells at the club, certainly believes Wanderers have a chance after a 1-1 first-leg draw.

The former England international told BBC Sport: "It'll be a fairytale and they'll be up against it, but why not?

"I just hope they go and give a good account of themselves and leave everything they've got on the park."

Scorecast: Can Wycombe stun Blues in the Cup?

Winger Guppy, who also had spells at Celtic, Leicester and Port Vale, was at Adams Park from 1989 to 1994 and for four months in the 2004/05 campaign.

And after returning from a stint in America in the summer Guppy, 37, was put through his pre-season paces with the Chairboys.

Wycombe manager Paul Lambert opted against signing him up and he is now at Conference side Stevenage, but despite that snub Wanderers remains his club and he will be in the pub early on Tuesday to secure a good seat for the match, as he did for the first leg.

"What I went through at Wycombe as a young lad, everything we achieved, it was fantastic," he reflects. "In my mind they're my club."

"I played with Lambo at Celtic so I know him a bit, but he didn't offer me a contract so I'm still not talking to him!

"A lot of people went for that job so it's a fantastic opportunity for him.

"They're making all the right moves on and off the park and the structure of the club is forward thinking.

"What they've implemented there is fantastic. The facilities are great and the backroom staff set up programmes to get the best out of the players, there's strength training and recovery and it's no coincidence they're getting the best out of their players fitness wise."

Stefan Oakes can certainly unsettle Chelsea Steve Guppy

So that clears up the secret to the youthful energy of 35-year-old skipper Tommy Mooney who has been a relentless runner in attack for Wycombe during this Cup run.

Mooney will have to be on top of his game again at the home of the Premiership champions as, if Wanderers are going to pull off the ultimate giantkilling, a goal is a must.

To that end, Guppy believes they have an ace up their sleeve in Jermaine Easter.

The striker, who has been linked with Manchester City and Blackburn, has scored in every round of the competition and squared the first leg with a second-half strike.

"They're definitely going to have to ride their luck and in Jermaine they've got one of the in-form strikers in the country," he said of the 20-goal forward.

"Confidence is a great thing and he's full of it at the moment.

"With the way he's playing he may only need half a chance, and when you have that on your side there's always hope."

And the other joker in the pack Guppy picks out as being crucial to Wycombe's chances is midfielder Stefan Oakes.

EASTER'S GOALS IN 2006/07 League: 13 in 25 games FA Cup: 1 in 1 League Cup: 6 in 6 JP Trophy: 0 in 1 Total: 20 in 33

"Stef has a lovely left foot so if they get any set-pieces around the box, or any corners, he has to be looking to get in some great deliveries," he explained.

"I don't care who you are or what standard you play at, if the delivery's right any defence can be in trouble and Stef can certainly unsettle Chelsea."

So that is the attack sorted. What about the defence?

"You like to think the Wycombe boys can raise their game like they did in the first leg - it'll be a fantastic occasion," added Guppy.

"Chelsea have a lot of dangerous players. Didier Drogba could play and he's shown he can be the difference in the Premiership, let alone against a team lower down the league ladder.

"And Andriy Shevchenko may be having a tough time of it but he is also a world-class player - the team's packed with them.

"But there are some good players in that Wycombe side. They've got to keep a steady head and will have to ride their luck, but Chelsea aren't invincible and if they get a chance they've got to take it.

"Obviously Wycombe have over-achieved in this competition but it's brilliant for the club and in recent years they've had a tendency of doing well in the cups.

"I was on the receiving end of one of their giantkillings a few years ago when I was at Leicester and they beat us on their way to the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool in 2001.

"Imagine if they went one better this time. It would be brilliant for a great bunch of players and what a fairytale."