Venue: Reebok Stadium
Date: Monday, 24 January
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
I really hate these games where there’s some sort of ‘record’ at stake. Tonight, it’s an away game to Bolton, a ground where we haven’t been beaten for 13 years – and as we know to our cost, these records seem to be there to be broken this season.
We may well have had a win against Blackburn last week but that was only our second win in ten and with just 13 points from a possible 36, we desperately need more. So, let’s hope that’s what we get tonight.
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
Owen Coyle seems to be going into this game with revenge on his mind if the grudge he holds is anything to go by. The Bolton manager suggests “We have had two close-run games with them and lost both 1-0. We came out on the wrong side of some major decisions in those games. We should have had two stonewall penalties last year – one of them after Didier Drogba was playing volleyball. So margins are minimal. We know that. We have been in terrific form at the Reebok and we have to make sure on Monday we are on the right side of these margins.I have no doubts that with the quality Chelsea have and the strength of their squad they will sustain a challenge for the title again. Despite what has been said they are very much in the race and they have picked up points in the last few games. They will be coming here to try to get three points. But equally so are we.”
Carlo Ancelotti meanwhile, just wants to show the ‘bad moment’ has gone, saying “I said after the Blackburn game that it was an important win, but the important test will come against Bolton.
It’s away and we’ve not won away since October. It will be difficult and it’s important we come back to win. We have to show the bad moment has gone. When you win the desire after the victory is to come back to win again. This is very clear in my mind and also very clear in the older players’ minds. We haven’t played at our best or at the same level as the other top four teams in the last period but I am sure we will come back to play our football like last year.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Bolton, S Davis, J O’Brien (both knee), Gardner (thigh) and Samuel (calf) all miss out through injury, whilst Chung-Yong Lee is on international duty. Klasnic (groin) remains doubtful although Holden and Steinsson hope to make it back and new signing David Wheater goes straight into the side.
For Chelsea, Alex (knee), Zhirkov (calf) and Yossi Benayoun (Achilles) all remain out, Terry (back) should make it back and we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed he’s joined by Lampard (calf).
TEAMS
BOLTON: (from): Jaaskelainen, Robinson, Cahill, Knight, Wheater, Muamba, Petrov, K Davies, Elmander, Klasnic, Blake, Taylor, Ricketts, Alonso, Moreno, M Davies, Cohen, Holden, Steinsson, Bogdan.
CHELSEA (from): Cech, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Bruma, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Kalou, Essien, Lampard, Anelka, Sturridge, Drogba, Malouda, Turnbull, Van Aanholt, McEachran, Mellis.
LAST SEASON
Bolton 0-4 Chelsea (31 October 2009)
REFEREE
Chris Foy
PREDICTION
We’re unbeaten in our last 14 league gaimes against Bolton, winning the last five. But whilst the Trotters have taken just one point from the last 12 available, we haven’t exactly been racking them up ourselves and our win against Blackburn last weekend was only our second from ten in the league. So, will we make it our third tonight? Who knows?!
Blue is the colour
