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CHELSEA vs Stoke: Preview

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Date: Saturday, 28 August

Kick-off: 1500 BST


Our first two games of this season have seen us bang in 12 goals without conceding and up today is a Stoke side we put 7 past without reply back in April – PlayStation football indeed Mr Ancelotti.

However, there’s an added incentive for Stoke today in the form of Asmir Begovic and whilst unlikely to play a part on the field, the Stoke keeper’s refusal to play for the Potters midweek amid rumours of a bid from Chelsea, will make Tony Pulis even more determined to go away from Stamford Bridge with more than another offer.

MANAGERS’ VIEWS

Despite our free-scoring in our opening games, Carlo Ancelotti isn’t assuming Stoke’s defence will be so easy and appears to be particularly mindful of set-pieces against the Potters, stating “We know Stoke very well, they are a difficult team because they use a lot of power and long balls to create difficulty, and we have to pay attention to set-pieces and maintain the same ability to play in this moment. I think we have to play quickly, they defend well and we don’t have a lot of space to play in front, so it is important to move without the ball and to play quickly in the midfield. We have to play football with intensity and stay concentrated on the set-pieces.”

Tony Pulis, has his own theory on where all the goals are coming from this season, suggesting “I think we have had a problem in this country for quite a few years. Everybody has talked about defenders having to pass the ball, having to do this and do that. But I don’t think we have worked technically enough on defending and I think some of the goals you see today are down to really, really poor defending. As much as it is great goals, I think we have got away from teaching people how to defend properly.”

Whilst on Chelsea’s start to the season and today’s game, Pulis says “They are a top side and they deserve to be a top side with the players they have got. We know how difficult it is going to be and they have started like a house on fire, so we are going into the lion’s den. On the back of getting beaten by Manchester United at Wembley, that might have been the kick up the backside they needed because they have really flown out of the blocks.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Chelsea, Bosingwa (knee), Bruma (hernia) and Kakuta (back) all remain out and Branislav Ivanovic could also miss today’s game after a problem in training. After his brace last weekend, Kalou could replace John Obi Mikel in the starting line-up and new signing Ramires could feature.

For Stoke, Sidibe (Achilles) remains absent although Lawrence (groin) could return and Kenwyne Jones (ankle) is said to have ‘an outside chance’.

TEAMS

CHELSEA (from): Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, A Cole, Kalou, Drogba, Terry, Alex, Malouda, Lampard, Essien, Mikel, Benayoun, Anelka, Zhirkov, Sturridge, Ferreira, Ivanovic.

STOKE (from): Begovic, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington, Lawrence, Jones, Fuller, Tuncay, Soares, Pugh, Faye, Collins, Wilkinson, Sorensen, Walters.

LAST SEASON

Chelsea 7-0 Stoke (April 25th 2010)

REFEREE

Martin Atkinson

PREDICTION

The Potters have won just one of their last 8 games stretching back to April, losing 3 of their last 4 away in the Premier League. We, on the other hand, have scored 12 in our opening two games, making it 29 without reply in our last five. 21 of those have come in our last 3 at home, so we know we can score goals. Stoke will be well aware of that though, with 7 of them goals coming against them in our last meeting at Stamford Bridge. Carlo Ancelotti insists we can’t expect a goal-fest every week, but I suspect our supporters are thinking we could stretch that ‘PlayStation football’ out for one more game.


Listen to Chelsea VS Stoke this Saturday 28th August only on Absolute Radio extra – on DAB Digital Radio, 1215AM and online in the UK. For more click here.

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