Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Saturday, 27 March 2010
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
After the downer of going out of the Champions League to Inter and dropping points we couldn’t afford to drop against Blackburn in the league, our game in hand against Pompey midweek saw us finally come away with a pretty convincing win. Mind you, it was Pompey, whereas today’s game sees us up against a Villa side we’ve already lost to once this season. And with Manchester United up next, before we face Villa again in the FA Cup, we could definitely do with something convincing this afternoon.
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
Ahead of this game Carlo Ancelotti seems to be trying the old “being out of the Champions League isn’t so bad” thing, stating “It’s a very important game and a very important test for us. I want to know that our bad moment is finished. We had a very good reaction in the game at Portsmouth. Mentally, it wasn’t good for us to go out of the Champions League. After the victory against Portsmouth. This moment is finished. We have to look at every game. We have this game, then a week to prepare for Manchester United, then a week to prepare for Villa in the cup. That could be an advantage for us. Before, we had midweek games. We are disappointed to be out of the cup, but it could be an advantage. At this moment in the season to have one more point or one less point is not so important. Every team, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, needs to win their games.”
Martin O’Neill certainly isn’t writing us off after our Champions League exit either, stating “It should not surprise me, but it does. Ancelotti has an incredible record. He has proven himself to be a fantastic manager at AC Milan and if I am not mistaken, Chelsea have been out of the top two this season for a total of three days! We are going to Chelsea thinking we can win the game. A couple of years ago if Aston Villa were going to Stamford Bridge it was a case of trying to keep the score down. But Chelsea’s record at Stamford Bridge belies belief and they have done it for a considerable period of time. They are a very fine side and will be hard to beat. Carlo Ancelotti has stepped in there and inherited some really fine players. Less than 10 days ago they were competing on three fronts and suddenly disaster falls. This is today’s story but Ancelotti has proved himself to be a fantastic manager and I think he has been great for the game.”
SQUAD NEWS
For us, Michael Essien, Jose Bosingwa, Branislav Ivanovic (all knee), Ashley Cole and Ricardo Carvalho (both ankle) all miss out. Michael Ballack (Achilles) and Hilario (groin) are fit again and Ancelotti has added Jeffrey Bruma and Patrick Van Aanholt to the squad.
For Villa, Harewood (foot) and Reo-Coker (ankle) miss out, whilst Dunne, Milner, Heskey (all Achilles) and Agbonlahor (foot) are all said to be doubtful.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (from): Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Kalou, Alex, Drogba, Malouda, Terry, Borini, Lampard, Obi, Deco, Anelka, Zhirkov, J Cole, Belletti, Ballack, Kakuta, Sturridge, Ferreira, Bruma, Van Aanholt.
VILLA (from): Friedel, Cuellar, Warnock, Collins, Dunne, Luke Young, Downing, Milner, Petrov, Ashley Young, Heskey, Agbonlahor, Carew, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Albrighton, Salifou, Davies, Delph, Clark, Beye, Guzan.
LAST MEETING
Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea (17 October 2009)
PREDICTION
The fact that we’re looking for successive wins for the first time in two months doesn’t bode well against a Villa side with the potential to do the double over us. Slightly more in our favour is that they haven’t beaten us at Stamford Bridge in their last seven attempts. However, whilst we’re somehow still the league’s top scorers, Villa have the best defensive record alongside United this season. And with 7 of Villa’s 10 unbeaten games this year ending in a draw, I wouldn’t rush to put money on us getting more than a point.
REFEREE
Peter Walton
Blue is the colour
