WANDERERS have been urged to forget all about their Championship woes and attempt a seismic cup shock at Stamford Bridge tonight.

Few give Dougie Freedman’s side a chance of coming away from west London with anything but a hiding as they take on Premier League leaders Chelsea in the Capital One Cup third round.

Jose Mourinho’s title favourites have been in imperious form, while Wanderers boast just one win from their opening eight games in the second tier.

Some bookmakers were yesterday quoting odds of 16/1 against Freedman’s side yesterday – but the Scot insists the game is not an unwanted disruption, and could actually work in his favour.

“You need to respect Chelsea, of course you do, but you also need to enjoy the occasion,” he told The Bolton News.

“That is the key. This is a chance for the players, the staff, to put themselves up against the very, very best.

“It’s a challenge, a very difficult one, but in football you crave opportunities; this is one of the best you’ll get.

“This isn’t a distraction at all. We’ve worked very hard against two lower league teams in Crewe and Bury, 120 minutes of football in each game, to earn this tie. And I’ve been looking forward to it ever since the draw was made.

“It has been a difficult season so far for everyone, I know that, but we can’t be in awe of Chelsea. We should be thinking ‘what could a good result do for us?’ We have to look at it that way.”

Freedman may see the game as a 90-minute respite from the criticism he has received in a poor start to the Championship campaign, which sees Wanderers hovering outside the bottom three on goal difference after claiming five points from a possible 24 so far.

Around 750 tickets had been sold for the game as of yesterday afternoon, with many Whites fans travelling more in hope than expectation.

Freedman – albeit against popular consensus – remains convinced his team are close to turning their season around.

“If anyone has been watching us recently they will know we have been very, very close,” he said.

“There is absolutely nothing in this division.

“I know I keep saying it but I think we’re playing very well right now.

“All we need to do is develop a bit more of a winning mentality.

“A result in this game would give us that but I think our performances, the number of chances we’re creating, being brave on the ball, it’s all good.

“We just need to see results through a little better.”