Since our last league game – the forgettable defeat at the hands of Manchester City – the top of the Premier League has changed somewhat, with Manchester United overtaking us for the top spot and Arsenal completing what seems to be their 57th forced re-entry into the title race, with the Gunners level on points with us in third, albeit possessing a slightly inferior goal difference. Capitulation is therefore not an option against the not-so happy Hammers.

By all accounts it’s been nothing short of a woeful season for West Ham. Having finished 9th last time out, just two points off a Europa League qualifying place, Gianfranco Zola would have expected his side to sustain or push on up the table this campaign. As it is, they have struggled throughout, hanging around the bottom of the Premier League for the majority. They currently sit in 16th with 27 points, just three away from Wolves, Burnley and Hull, two ofwhom occupy relegation spots.

Wins have been rare for the Hammers, not least away from home where they have taken three points just once this season. Along with their five home wins, Zola’s side returned triumphantly from Molineux on the opening day of the campaign, beating Wolves 2-0 a hefty 211 days ago by the time the game on Saturday kicks off. Since then, they’ve recorded five draws and nine defeats in all competitions, scoring just nine goals in those fourteen games, and shipping 26.

They do have quality in their side though, let down by some shambolic defending at times. Their man between the sticks, Robert Green, has been largely impressive despite West Ham’s negative goal difference, and is many fans’ tip to take the number one shirt for England at this summer’s World Cup. Carlton Cole is also thought to have an outside chance of making the finals after some eye-catching performances, while the likes of Matthew Upson – JT’s defensive partner in England’s recent friendly against Egypt – Alessandro Diamanti and Valon Behrami have all had more than a few good games in a West Ham shirt.

One of West Ham’s major problems in recent seasons has been their inability to keep an entire squad – or anything near to full ranks – match fit throughout the season. Ahead of Saturday’s game, they could be missing up to six players. Zavon Hines, Luis Boa Morte, Calum Davenport and Herita Ilunga are all definitely out, while Benni McCarthy and Danny Gabiddon are doubts. Defender Manuel da Costa is suspended.

Fresh from reaching the FA Cup semi-finals yet again, Chelsea are near full-strength with the exception of a few key players. Petr Cech is still out, as is Ashley Cole, while José Bosingwa won’t play again this season after a setback in his return from a knee injury. Juliano Belletti also has a knee problem, but Yuri Zhirkov is back in training. Michael Ballack returns from suspension after his attack on Carlos Tevez in the Man City game.

Goals have been few and far between in the most recent meetings between the sides – if you exclude Frank Lampard’s three penalties in the 1-1 draw earlier this season – but we have managed to knock four past West Ham three times in the last eight times we have played them. Our last win against the Hammers was at Upton Park last season, when a solitary Salomon Kalou goal proved enough for the win. A single strike was also enough the last time we took three points against them at the Bridge, with Joe Cole’s 76th minute effort enough for the win in December 2007.

The last time West Ham recorded a win against Chelsea at SW6 was a game in which Zola played in. The legendary Italian was a 63rd minute substitute for Boudewijn Zenden, but by then Chelsea were already 2-1 down, having gone ahead through a Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink penalty, only to be pegged back by goals from Jermain Defoe and Paolo di Canio. Zola scored on 74 to level matters, but a late di Canio goal sealed a 3-2 win for a Hammers side which included Cole and former Blue Scott Minto. John Terry was on the bench, with William Gallas and Robert Huth favoured instead.

Mark Clattenburg will be the man given the honour of keeping charge of the London derby this Saturday. The Tyne and Wear official has reffed three of our games this season, booking just five players (three for Chelsea) and sending-off none. He has also done three West Ham games this season, awarding a harsh penalty against them in a 3-3 draw with Hull back in November. In 32 games, he’s awarded five red cards and 83 yellows.

With Inter Milan looming, it is vital that we don’t lose focus for what is immediately ahead of us, a potentially tricky game against West Ham as we attempt to reclaim top spot in the Premier League. Manchester United play Fulham on Sunday at home, with both sides involved in mid-week action; United still coming back down to earth after an impressive 4-0 home win over AC Milan on Wednesday and the Cottagers returning to England after their tough away game against Juventus on Thursday night. Arsenal have a late kick-off away at Hull on Saturday, by which time we will have either pulled away from them, or left them an opening in the title race.

West Ham on Saturday, Inter on Tuesday. Two wins and we’re back on top of the world. Dropped points and European elimination? Don’t even think about it.

On the balance of play, a draw would probably have been the fairer result, but with Chelsea grabbing an away goal, the Blues will be confident of nullifying Inter at the Bridge in three weeks time and progressing to the latter stages of the tournament.

The big news ahead of the game – on the pitch at least – was the absence of any recognised left-back in the Chelsea squad due to injury worries, which meant that Florent Malouda was asked to step-in to the berth usually occupied by Ashley Cole or Yuri Zhirkov. Kalou was also given a start in what appeared to be an attacking line-up.

With Carlo Ancelotti looking to reclaim the San Siro, after being somewhat of a nuisance to Inter in his Serie A days, it looked as if he had sent out Chelsea to get a foothold in the two-legged tie and lay down a marker for the 180 minutes of football which would follow.

He would not have been pleased with Inter’s 3rd minute goal then. Before many of us had taken our seats at the San Siro or gotten over the fact that we were to be treated to Gareth Southgate’s dulcet tones on ITV1, Milito picked up the ball on the left of the box, easily jinked inside John Terry, and slotted past Petr Cech. The Czech stopper was beaten at his near post, and it looked as if he started to dive to his left, before watching helplessly as Milito’s shot went to his right.

This was anything but a sign of things to come in the first-half though. Malouda in particular was allowed to set up camp inside Inter’s half of the pitch, while Kalou was also pleasingly lively. The often out-of-sorts Ivorian set up Anelka for a shot, and also tested Inter ‘keeper Julio Cesar inside thirteen minutes.

If Kalou was surprising though, Drogba was his usual devilish self, unsettling the Inter defenders from the first whistle. His shot from a free-kick after fifteen minutes rattled Inter’s crossbar for a good two or three, with Julio Cesar beaten.

While Drogba was enjoying a number of half-chances, Inter’s attacking play was seldom seen. Milito looked like troubling Ricardo Carvalho in the box at one point, but after working his way past the Portuguese, Milito decided to emulate Steven Gerrard, ridiculously diving – arms outstretched and all – and picking up a booking rather than a penalty.

The home side’s next chance also had a touch of comedy to it, with Wesley Sneijder drilling in a low cross towards Samuel Eto’o, who had gotten away from Terry. Eto’o, one of the most fearsome strikers in world football, mis-kicked from less than six yards out, and Chelsea escaped.

There was just one major talking point of the half, and it came right at the death. A long Branislav Ivanovic throw-in was missed by the Inter defence, and Kalou ran through on goal. From a tight angle, he attempted to control the ball in the box but was hacked down by a desperate challenge from Walter Samuel. Definite penalty, criminally not given, and memories of a certain Norwegian referee came flooding back in an instant.

The second-half continued where the first left off, with Chelsea pushing forward. Although it took slightly longer after the whistle than it did for Inter, the Blues were soon celebrating an early goal of their own six minutes after the break.

Ivanovic – who had been rampaging forward often in the first 45 – was allowed to run at the backtracking Inter defence, and with the Serb seemingly born with a layer of armour beneath his skin, he kept hold of the ball despite several nicks at his heels. Ivanovic fed Kalou on the edge of the box, and the resurgent number 21 curled past a despairing Julio Cesar for the equaliser. The Brazilian ‘keeper, sporting black eyes from a car accident on Sunday evening, added red to the shading of his face.

But if Chelsea thought that it would signal a goalscoring frenzy, they were wrong. Or at least, they were with regards to which side would bag the next goal.

Just four minutes after Kalou’s goal, Inter were back ahead. Midfielder Cambiasso was allowed two shots from just outside the box; the first hit Ivanovic, the second beat Cech. With the Chelsea ‘keeper already committed after diving for the first effort, he stood no chance of making the eventual goal-bound strike. 2-1, and back to square one.

Mourinho responded to the goal by throwing on another striker, Mario Balotelli. But while Inter showed their hand freely, Chelsea were forced into a change when Cech landed awkwardly after throwing the ball out. Enter Hilario, to take the place of the stricken Cech.

But if Hilario thought he was stepping into a potential onslaught, he was very much mistaken. His evening’s work was restricted to just a couple of scuffed goal-kicks as chances dried up for both sides.

Nicolas Anelka – infuriating and genius at different points tonight – combined with Drogba, with the ball eventually finding a fully-stretched Lampard in the box. The free-scoring midfielder could only poke his effort straight at Julio Cesar however.

Drogba also burst into the box minutes after that chance, but he was outmuscled by Samuel.

With Malouda penned back by Balotelli, who was infrequently threatening at the other end, Chelsea had to work for their chances, but they were often foiled by the near-unbeatable Lucio.

Maicon – who was talked up before the game as a potential tormentor of whoever was to fill in at left-back – blazed a shot over from range, before John Mikel Obi shot from the edge of the box, with the end result very much the same.

A late Chelsea corner came to nothing after a flick-on from Ivanovic caused a mild glimmer of hope, and the whistle blew on a decent evening for Chelsea. A defeat it may have been, but we’re only at half-time.

Why? Because on Sunday, it was Chelsea who were in the big chair, dishing out lessons to a youthful Arsenal side. The first-half was ‘How to Counter-Attack’, and after lunch, ‘How to Defend’. But if The Gunners played their parts as obedient kids at the weekend, Chelsea face a seemingly unruly lot on Wednesday evening. Not quite enfant terrible, and led by 33-year-old Phil Neville, it is Everton who invite us to their place in our next Premier League game.

Still smarting – mentally and physically – from a bruising encounter with near neighbours Liverpool at the weekend, David Moyes’ side will be looking to take points from us to attempt to kick-start their fast-faltering push for European football next season. After Saturday’s defeat at Anfield, Everton currently sit in the area marked ‘mid-table mediocrity’; a healthy ninth but nine points behind their main rivals for Europa League football, Aston Villa and Manchester City – the latter of whom still have a game in hand on the Toffees.

Everton have been the model of inconsistency since their now customary slow start to a Premier League season. After losing their opening game of the season – and shipping six goals in the process – against Arsenal, Everton seem to have been playing catch-up ever since. David Moyes, hands tied by financial concern at the club, will most likely again lead Everton to a top-half finish despite furrowed brows over the balance sheets, but any signs of advancement to the next level seem a long way off yet.

In a sense, it is a shame. Everton have real quality in their side with the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar and the aforementioned Neville – come on, admit it – making up a strong midfield, but with injuries always looming, it’s hard for the talented Moyes to make any kind of headway.

It’s astonishing that he has been able to squeeze 11 goals from Louis Saha – a man who gives Arjen Robben’s injury record a dead leg then sprains a wrist in the process – but the Frenchman stands proudly as Everton’s top scorer this season. He is without a goal since mid-January however, with Pienaar, Osman and loan signing Landon Donavan chipping in to bring Everton four wins and a draw in their last five league games before defeat at Liverpool.

Everton will be without Phil Jagielka and Tony Hibbert for the visit from Chelsea, with Joseph Yobo and Fellaini doubts through injury. Pienaar also has a one-match ban courtesy of a late sending-off at the weekend. The returning Mikel Arteta – another victim of the annual injury-crisis at Goodison Park – should be eager to get back into the side.

Squeaky clean Chelsea – ahem – have no suspensions and almost a full strength side, with John Terry likely to shake off an injury picked up against Arsenal and soldier on before a highly-publicised trip to Dubai at the weekend. Barring any other major ‘sports star scandal’ between now and Wednesday – Tiger Woods, reclaim the baton as this year’s sporting love-rat, please – all eyes will be on him once again. José Bosingwa and Juliano Belletti are reportedly close to full-fitness but are still some way off being risked on Wednesday. Carlo Ancelotti may look to shake up the side before our FA Cup game on Saturday, with Ricardo Carvalho possibly one victim of the rotation system.

As mentioned at the start of the preview, we continued our imperious home form with another win on Sunday, taking this season’s Premier League tally at Stamford Bridge to 12 wins, no defeats, and one draw. Of course, it was Everton who proved too tough to break down back in December, with our defensive frailties and their dogged approach resulting in a 3-3 draw.

We hold the upper hand in terms of total games between the sides, and the last time we lost to Everton was back in November 2000, with Danny Cadamarteri and Kevin Campbell cancelling out a Sam Dalla Bona opener for a 2-1 win. The game itself is a collector’s item, as the team-sheet included Winston Bogarde in the starting XI, one of only two times he managed that feat. He lasted 81 minutes. The last time Everton took all three points at the Bridge was Boxing Day of 1994, with Paul Rideout bagging the only goal of the game.

Alan Wiley is the man in black for the Goodison fixture. He has already overseen three Chelsea games so far this season, the opening weekend win over Hull City and two games – one draw followed by defeat on penalties, and one win – against Blackburn. He has reffed three Everton games also, with the Toffees winning two and losing one under his watch. He was in charge of Chelsea 1-1 Everton two seasons ago. Wiley is somewhat card-happy, so don’t be surprised to see a few yellows dished out on Wednesday.

After Manchester United’s ‘we don’t even need to break a sweat’ win over Pompey on Saturday, they face a far trickier tie on Wednesday with an away game against Aston Villa, who humbled them at Old Trafford earlier in the season. Villa are unbeaten in their last eight games, and haven’t conceded in three, which makes good reading for us.

If results go our way, we could be looking at a five-point lead at the top of the League. Let’s hope Everton are as well-behaved as Arsenal when they are being given a schooling, or they may find themselves on the receiving end of a proper caning.

I say Brian Law’s Burnley, but obviously it was Owen ‘Judas’ Coyle’s Burnley who turned Sir Alex Ferguson’s face a fetching shade of claret – a bit like the Lancashire side’s shirts – back in August with an unexpected but very well-received –this side of the Watford gap anyway – 1-0 win. Coyle recently departed Burnley to head for pastures new at Bolton, with Laws taking the helm at Turf Moor. Since his appointment, Burnley have played three, lost three, including a 3-0 defeat against – who else? – Manchester United.

Frankly however, cracks were emerging before Coyle upped and left, with just one win in the last thirteen games for the newly-promoted side. That victory was in the FA Cup, as they edged past MK Dons 2-1 at the beginning of January, but the last time they bagged three points in a league game was way back on October 31, as they dispatched Hull City 2-0 at home.

Sitting in 18th place in the league, it is Burnley’s home form which has kept them away from Portsmouth-like crisis levels. On their travels they are yet to win in twelve games, and they have lost eleven of those. But in the comfy confines of Turf Moor they have managed an admirable five wins from ten, and only one team has escaped from Burnley with all three points; Wigan winning 3-1 in October.

Burnley have been fairly busy in the January transfer window, snapping up striker Frederic Nimani, goalkeeper Nicky Weaver, and defender Leon Cort. They go into a squad which features top scorer – and one-time Real Madrid target – Steven Fletcher, the ever-dependable Graeme Alexander, the ex-Manchester United winger Chris Eagles, and the sometimes impenetrable Brian Jensen in goal. With only Steven Caldwell a doubt through injury, Laws has a virtually full-strength squad to pick from.

Chelsea will be bolstered by the premature returns of Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba, who return from the African Cup of Nations ahead of schedule after the Ivory Coast – who were amongst the pre-tournament favourites to win the tournament – were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Algeria. Both players should be eligible for selection against Burnley, and with John Obi Mikel still out in Africa, it is only his presence along with Juliano Belletti, Michael Essien and José Bosingwa, who we are missing.

The fine win over Birmingham sets us up nicely for two away games in the space of four days, with Burnley on Saturday swiftly followed by Hull City on Tuesday. With Manchester United and Arsenal squaring off on Sunday, a win over Burnley would put all the pressure on those two sides.

It is the Clarets who have the upper hand historically though, with 36 wins to our 31 from 89 games in all competitions between the two sides. Interestingly – or not as the case may be – all of their 36 victories have been in league games.
While we won 3-0 earlier in the season in the Stamford Bridge, last season saw Burnley triumph on penalties in the League Cup after a 1-1 draw in SW6. The last time we played at Turf Moor was also the last time we lost at Turf Moor, going down 3-0 back in April 1983.

With the chance to extend our lead at the top of the table at stake, another free-flowing performance would be perfect. If we even play half as well as we have against Sunderland and Birmingham in particular, we could be four points clear by Saturday evening.

Only our second game of 2010 sees the Black Cats travel down the treacherous roads to SW6, unless of course it’s been called off by the time you’re reading this.

Taking the optimists view though we’ll assume some grit has been found at the back of the cupboard and the area around the ground is safe enough to walk on without getting impaled by an icicle, beheaded by a snowball, or clattered by an ice-skating police horse.

Sunderland currently sit comfortably in mid-table mediocrity, nestled in between Stoke City and Everton in 11th. Although they have picked up some notable results this season – wins against Arsenal and Liverpool stand out, as well as a draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford where the panicky home side scored an equaliser in injury-time – their away form is not at all eye-catching. They have only recorded one league win on their travels and that came on the opening day of the season against Bolton.

Recent league form has also been stuttering at best, with Steve Bruce’s side not picking up a win since edging past Arsenal at the end of November. Indeed, it is their only win in 12 of their last league games. Confidence would have been boosted by a 3-0 FA Cup win over Barrow before the ‘great freeze of 2010’, but at the moment Sunderland are displaying relegation form.

Sunderland also have their fair share of injuries to contend with, as no less than six players are expected to miss out on Saturday. Andy Reid, Kenwyne Jones and Lee Cattermole are all doubtful, while John Mensah, Anton Ferdinand and ‘keeper Craig Gordon are all definitely out of contention. Michael Turner is also suspended.

We enter the game with two wins on the spin under our belts and a fortuitously timed winter break which has helped us forget a few pre-New Year foibles with the squad/tactics/John Obi Mikel (delete as applicable). The latter option will be shoved to the back of the mind once again on Saturday as he, along with Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Salomon Kalou are on international duty. José Bosingwa is definitely out through injury, but Deco is nearing match fitness following his absence. Florent Malouda also returns to the fray following a one-match ban.

Striker Daniel Sturridge will be looking to keep his place in the starting XI after his goals against Watford in the FA Cup, while the absence of the Africans will give us all chance to speculate on which other youngsters may start the game in their place, only for our expectations to be dashed by the selection of Juliano Belletti instead.

We’ve gone past the half-way stage of the Premier League now so every team we face from now would have already been beaten – or, more realistically, played – by us earlier on in the season. Sunderland are one of the teams who we’ve taken all the points against, with the Stadium of Light fixture taking place back in August. An opener from Darren Bent was cancelled out in the second-half by a Michael Ballack equaliser, and this goal was followed by further efforts from Frank Lampard – from the penalty spot – and Deco to give us a 3-1 win. The 86th minute substitute that day, replacing Deco? One Andriy Shevchenko.

While that seems many moons ago, the last time Sunderland beat us in any competition was just under nine years ago, when they made it three wins from the three last meetings between the two sides with a 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s 70th minute substitute that day, replacing Albert Ferrer? One John Terry.

Thankfully it doesn’t like it’s a scoreline which will be repeated on Saturday. Sunderland have been poor lately and for all our minor problems, we can still do the business at home. Sometimes. With Manchester United at home to Burnley and Arsenal facing a double header with Bolton, they’ll be expected to pick up points. We need to do the same. Unless a snowflake has fallen on the tracks at Fulham Broadway and all games are postponed until March.

Alex McLeish’s Birmingham side have gained plaudits so far this season having started the campaign as a newly-promoted team, and presumably prime candidates for an immediate return to the Championship. They sit pretty in 7th – a place above fallen giants Liverpool – with a resolute record at home, and particularly eye-catching is their ‘goals against’ column in games at St. Andrew’s which currently boasts just five goals conceded, the same number as a certain title-chasing team from Stamford Bridge.

However, while Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Lampard et al have netted 25 times in nine games in front of their own fans, the likes of Cameron Jerome and ‘Chucho’ Benitez are not as free-scoring, as Birmingham have only scored eight times in their nine home matches so far.

While Chelsea struggled to a draw against West Ham, Birmingham failed to win for the first time in six matches as they drew away at Everton. After falling behind, Birmingham showed a lot of resilience to battle back and equalise.

They may be hindered on Boxing Day by the absence of three players however. Garry O’Connor, David Murphy, and ex-Spurs midfielder Teemu Tainio will all miss out, but Birmingham are slightly boosted by the returning pair Stuart Parnaby and Martin Taylor. Defender Roger Johnson is a boyhood Chelsea fan and will apparently face the wrath of the entire Johnson family if he leads his side to victory over the Londoners.

Chelsea have just Michael Essien and José Bosingwa unavailable due to injuries, and Nicolas Anelka is unlikely to return to the side following his absence from the West Ham draw. Deco is also out. Daniel Sturridge – on as a second-half sub in that game – did himself plenty of favours with a lively performance and could be one to watch from the start this time.

Recent results against Birmingham have been solid rather than spectacular for Chelsea, and we haven’t come close to bettering our best result at St. Andrews which occurred in November 1964, when the Londoners ran out as 6-1 winners. Nor thankfully have we come close to shipping six against them, unlike in October 1930, although we did manage a couple of goals then in a 6-2 defeat.

The most recent game between the two sides was in January 2008, at St. Andrews, as a solitary Claudio Pizarro goal settled the match in Chelsea’s favour. In the 2003/04 season we drew 0-0 at both grounds in the league, while the last time we lost to Birmingham was also at Birmingham, and back in March 1980 when the home side trounced us 5-1.

St. Andrews is probably not the best place to visit for a Chelsea side struggling to find form or any rhythm, and we won’t be helped by the added ‘freak’ factor which often comes with Boxing Day matches. It will undoubtedly be a struggle, and this may not be the game when we regain our swagger, but we can hope for three points now and improvement later. It’s not much to ask is it, are you listening Santa?

—————————————————————————————–

CFCnet would like to wish all of its readers a Merry Christmas. Happy holidays to all in Blue.

The most successful manager in the history of Chelsea FC will lead his Inter Milan side out at Chelsea as part of the two-legged knockout round, with the second-leg bringing ‘The Special One’ back to his adopted home at Stamford Bridge where he is sure to get an impeccable reception, before the game at least.

All this is dependant on Mourinho still being in charge of the Nerazzurri by the time the competition restarts in February though. Rumours in and around Italy suggest that Mourinho allegedly wants out – along with the compensation afforded through a sacking – and his recent antics include picking up another touchline ban and – again, allegedly – insulting and attacking an Italian football journalist.

Just another week in the world of Mourinho. Expect more mind games and psychological warfare ahead of the game if the Portuguese legend is still in the hotseat, and plenty of pressure on our boss Carlo Ancelotti. Last year – Mourinho’s first in Italy – saw a large amount of animosity between the two men through the press, with Mourinho once proclaiming: “Ancelotti is no friend of mind.”

Ancelotti also swiped at Mourinho by saying: “If Mourinho is Jesus, I am certainly not one of his apostles.”

Chelsea did meet Inter Milan in a pre-season friendly back in late July, and it was the Blues who took the bragging rights following a 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, who bagged a penalty.

That was just a warm-up for the season ahead, and perhaps it was a gentle pre-cursor to the explosive events we may pray witness to when Chelsea and Inter Milan tussle in the Champions League. The Blues V The Black and Blues, Ancelotti V Mourinho; call it what you like and predict what you will.

What is for sure is that José is coming home.

Firmly departed from his strings, Grant has taken the helm at Portsmouth after a torrid couple of seasons under the combined managerial acumen of Tony Adams and Paul Hart. Pompey are currently rock bottom of the Premier League, though Grant has led them to a 2-0 win over Burnley and a 1-1 draw with Sunderland recently. Allegedly flirting with administration and five points away from safety, the South Coast side have only won one away game so far this season in the league, and have only netted four goals on their travels. Grant has a real job on his hands, but lest we forget that we need a win too.

Yet to taste victory in the month of December, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have gone four games without a win in all competitions. Our perfect home record in the league was smashed to pieces on Saturday with a ridiculous 3-3 draw with Everton, which automatically quadrupled our goals conceded at the Bridge. While Didier Drogba is scoring goals for fun at one end, defensive frailties exist at the other, a problem not helped by the expected absence of Michael Essien, who is definitely out of contention with a hamstring injury. José Bosingwa, Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge are also expected to miss out.

Pompey will be without ex-Spurs defender Younes Kaboul – not the cleverest man in football – who committed the schoolboy error of removing his shirt after he scored a last-minute equaliser on Saturday, thus collecting a second yellow card and a suspension for the trip to Chelsea. Giant midfielder and past scourge of the Blues, Papa Bouba Diop, is doubtful.

Both sides boast Ivorian strikers at the top of their attacks, but Drogba’s 15 goals put Aruna Dindane’s measly five to shame. Dindane has appeared hapless at times, and his occasional strike partner Frédéric Piquionne often looks the deadlier of the two.

Since Portsmouth’s return to the top-flight in 2003/04, our results against them have been near-impeccable, particularly at home. Fifteen scored and one conceded in London paints a stark image of the contrasting fortunes between the two sides. The last meeting was a 4-0 win for Chelsea on the opening day of last season, when Luis Felipe Scolari was still settling into the Blues’ dugout. A free-flowing, attacking performance brought goals for Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard, and a long-range swerver from Deco as Harry Redknapp’s Pompey side were easily dispatched.

Memorable past-meetings include a goal for Wayne Bridge in 2003 followed by a ear-cupping celebration directed towards the travelling Pompey fans who had jeered him throughout for his connections with their arch-rivals Southampton, a brilliant volley from Geremi in the same game, and an audacious ‘chested’ goal from Hernan Crespo at Fratton Park in 2004.

Mark Clattenburg will referee the game, fresh from a 3-3 draw between Bolton and Manchester City at the weekend, where he dished out five yellows and one red, sending-off Craig Bellamy for an alleged dive, although replays have proved that the annoying Welshman was actually kicked. Anyone surprised? Clattenburg has already reffed a Chelsea game this season at the Bridge – the 3-0 win over Burnley back in August – but the North-east based whistle-blower has yet to take charge of a game involving Pompey this season.

With Chelsea’s slight dip in form providing some cause for mild concern – and frustrating some of the more spoilt and vocal fans in the Bridge – bottom of the table Pompey seem to provide the perfect remedy for our recent patchy spell. Manchester United will have played Wolves at home by the time we kick-off on Wednesday evening, and if we assume that they’ll win, we’ll have to follow suit. Maybe Avram Grant could help us out one more time.

Although we are in a bit of a lull in form at the moment following two nasty trips north – drawing against Blackburn before losing on penalties, and then of course losing at Manchester City – we sit four points clear at the top of Group D, safely through as leaders to the next round of the tournament, meaning that the visit from the side propping the rest up is ideal right now.

We are looking a little war-scarred prior to the midweek meeting though, with Daniel Sturridge, José Bosingwa, Alex, Salomon Kalou, and possibly even John Terry out of contention with various knocks. As the game is basically a dead rubber we should see some rotation within the squad, although with the side currently out of sorts it could be a dangerous tactic as it could further disrupt the team. Then again, it’s only APOEL isn’t it?

Youngsters in the squad include Jeffrey Bruma, Nikki Ahamed, Gael Kakuta, Fabio Borini and Daniel Philliskirk. Michael Essien is one yellow card away from a ban.

Having been politely directed to the link that says ‘English’ on APOEL’s website, I can tell you that the Cypriots recently went on an eight game winning streak in the league before drawing against Apollon Limassol, who have Junior Agogo on their books, which means that at one point Agogo was up against Nuno Morais. That’s the level they play at. APOEL will be missing Nectarious Alexandrou and possibly Christos Kontis, if that means anything to you. The Cypriot champions have only scored two goals in the Champions League so far, with Nenad Mirosavljevic netting against Athletico, while Porto’s Alvaro Pereira bagged an own goal to double APOEL’s tally.

The man charged with refereeing this titanic tussle is Italian Matteo Trefoloni, a wine trade whose hobbies include music and theatre. In an idea which the English FA may like to take on board one day, Trefoloni was invited to Russia in 2006 to ref the derby between CSKA Moscow and Lokomotiv Moscow.

As previously mentioned, the corresponding fixture ended in a 1-0 win for Chelsea, with Champions League specialist Nicolas Anelka scoring the only goal of the game, making it three out of six that he has scored in. Don’t expect fireworks in this one; don’t even expect entertainment as you may be disappointed. It will be like a lower league club coming to the Bridge and fighting for their lives while we torment them like a cat with a mouse. Long live the Champions League group stages.

It may be to some fans’ chagrin that our league campaign is again disrupted, but everybody’s second favourite domestic cup tournament (and that’s being generous) has been kind to us in recent years. Since the year 2000, we have reached the quarter-finals stage on no less than seven times, progressed to the last four on four separate occasions, and won it twice.

As Carlo Ancelotti continues the Blues’ assault on all trophies possible, the Carling Cup provides an opportunity for realistic silverware, and victory will further endear the Italian ‘Mister’ to the Stamford Bridge faithful.

With games coming thick and fast from now until the turn of the New Year, squad rotation becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity, and thankfully for Ancelotti we know that when he shows his hand, it is implausibly strong. With only José Bosingwa definitely out of action until January, there is a full squad to choose from for the meeting with Blackburn, and we can expect a few of the bigger names in the ranks to find themselves rested to make way for the supporting cast, particularly with a potentially tricky away game at Manchester City on Saturday evening.

Following a dazzling cameo against Wolverhampton Wanderers recently, many Chelsea fans are calling for the inclusion of Gael Kakuta in this Carling Cup tie, although a winter’s evening up north against the likes of Christopher Samba and Ryan Nelsen may not be the ideal opportunity to blood the 5ft 7in tricky winger. Indeed, it could see him destroyed a la Arjen Robben in 2005. Youngsters Jeffrey Bruma and Daniel Sturridge were given substitute appearances in the league win over Blackburn recently, and could again find themselves in contention this Wednesday.

Sam Allardyce’s Rovers – perhaps not in the same state of post-weekend euphoria as us following what sounded like an excruciatingly boring goalless draw with Stoke City – will be keen to prove their mettle against Chelsea and consequently go as far as they can in the competition. They will also be looking to avoid a repeat of the recent meeting between the two sides, where the Blues ran out 5-0 winners at the Bridge in late October. Between then and the draw with the Potters, Rovers have won three games and lost two, including a 5-2 victory over Peterborough in the last round of the Carling Cup which sealed their place in the last sixteen.

Allardyce – shudderingly once considered a realistic candidate for the post of England manager – has only the two injury concerns, with playmaker David Dunn doubtful with a calf strain, and left-back Martin Olsson suffering with a virus. Franco di Santo is ruled out due to the terms and conditions of his loan agreement from Chelsea.

The aforementioned 5-0 game a few weeks back was obviously the most recent meeting between the two sides, but Blackburn and Chelsea did lock horns in the Carling Cup at Ewood Park just three years ago too. Goals from Joe Cole and Salomon Kalou (no, really) sealed a 2-0 win for the away side in the third round on a freezing October evening. Chelsea also edged past Rovers on their way to League Cup success in the 1997/98 season, winning on penalties again in the third round after a 1-1 draw which also featured a red card for Gianluca Vialli in extra-time.

You have to go back a hefty 25 years to find the last occasion where Blackburn were victorious in a cup competition against Chelsea, as a narrow 1-0 win in an FA Cup game in 1983/84 saw Rovers take the spoils in Lancashire although – and thanks to the ultimate historical artefact of the time ‘Chelsea Here Chelsea There’ for the following stat – after losing that game in January of the latter year, we went unbeaten for the rest of the season.

This weekend in particular has seen the comparisons between Ancelotti and José Mourinho reach a defining point, with many fans believing that the Italian is well on his way to possibly eclipsing the feats of the Special One. It is worth remembering that the Carling Cup was Mourinho’s first Chelsea silverware, and the players have expressed a desire to reclaim the trophy as it provides the earliest chance for serious medal-winning in a season – Community Shield apart. Blackburn should be dispatched – though it won’t be easy – and the road to Wembley will get a little shorter after a detour to Ewood Park.