Premiership preview: Chelsea v. Blackburn Rovers
Wednesday, 31 January 07, 02:27 PM · Comments (10)
A resurgent Chelsea return to Premiership action after easy wins in the League Cup and FA Cup respectively.
The Blues' revival will be tested to the full by an in-form Blackburn Rovers side.
Jose Mourinho is set to recall Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele after both missed the win over Nottingham Forest.
John Terry isn't ready to make his comeback but is expected to start against Charlton at the weekend, and Arjen Robben is still out with ankle ligament damage.
Rovers have also experienced bad luck with injuries recently: both Andre Ooijer and Robbie Savage suffered broken legs last week.
Mark Hughes is also without Andy Todd who is ill and new signing David Dunn who is short of match fitness, while Stephane Henchoz faces a late fitness test.
Chelsea have recorded two 0-2 victories at Ewood Park this season, in the Premiership and third round of the League Cup, and Rovers have won only one of their last six Premiership visits to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have won only once in five Premiership games since Christmas.
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I'm staying up late (very late) to watch this one. I think it's fair to say this is a very crucial game. We win - confidence high, we're OK. We lose - the press'll kill Jose and the rest of the team.
3-0.A comfortable win.Any news for Cole?
An easy 3-0 win ...blues are really really back ...cheers....keep going "mourinhonians"...
Booyakasha!!!
Jose is back
The team is back
Only Roman is missing ...
From the way TOCWS makes it sound, every single Blue played a blinder, and the final score should have been about 6-2.
I'm looking forward to watching this in a second. Our confidence is most definitely back, and we've still got Terry, Boulah, Robben and Joey Cole to return. Selection may get a lot harder for Jose!
Diarra for right-back? Mikel and Shevchenko guaranteed starters? It's possible!
Maybe we can afford to drop Makelele when Terry's back, putting Essien in the defensive mid role behind Mikel, Lampard and Ballack.
On a more melancholy note, it's disappointing to hear about Ashley Cole's injury, but at least Wayne Bridge can get consistent play.
Arsenal in the League Cup final? Bring them on. United? Go for it.
The rest of this season is going to be very interesting indeed.
10 Comments · Add yours
I suppose it's fair to say the next 2 games are a must win situation for us, especially now as we have the Scousers breathing down our necks.
As old red nose says "it's squeaky bum time"
Are you sitting comfortably?
No.
I am worried about tonight.