Brendan Rodgers will try to use his inside knowledge to exploit Chelsea's vulnerability at set-pieces as Watford bid for an FA Cup shock.

The Hornets manager spent four years at Stamford Bridge as youth-team coach and then reserve manager and has detailed knowledge of the Blues squad.

During their faltering League campaign which led to this week's sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari, Chelsea have repeatedly conceded goals from free-kicks and corners.

And it is a flaw that has not escaped Rodgers' notice - but he is also wary that Chelsea's players will be keen to impress new boss Guus Hiddink, who will be watching the fifth-round tie from the Vicarage Road stands.

Rodgers said: "Sometimes you just go through a run of games where you do concede and that's what Chelsea were in. Set-pieces are important and it is something for which we will prepare.

"But I know well from my stay at Chelsea that sometimes the worst time to play the big teams is when they're wounded. For guys like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, this has been a difficult time. Obviously, things haven't quite worked out."

Rodgers, 36, joined the Blues in 2004 and stayed with them until last November when he took up his first senior managerial post with Watford.

He said: "I had a wonderful time at Chelsea. I was there during the most successful era that the club have ever had. So I know how special a club they are and how special the people there were."

Asked about Scolari's departure, he added: "I was surprised more by the timing. It is obviously sad when people lose their job but it had been a difficult period for the last 18 months at Chelsea.

"There is no way Scolari is a bad coach or anything like that. Maybe it was the wrong place at the wrong time. Whatever the reasons were, he is a good guy.

"For me, I had the opportunity to learn from a manager who had won the World Cup and there are not many coaches who get the chance to do that."

Rodgers is also full of respect for former Blues boss Jose Mourinho.

He added: "Players won't listen to you as a coach if you are not a decent human being.

"Jose was a terrific coach but for all the things he won, he was a better man."