Date: Saturday
26th September 2020
Venue: The
Hawthorns
Kick-off: 17:30
BST
It has been a mixed bag for us over
the last week, with a defeat to Liverpool Sunday, thanks to Christensen and
Kepa taking the phrase ‘charity begins at home’ a bit too literally, followed by
the sort of win we’d expect on paper against Barnsley in the Carabao cup but
not one we’d often get on the pitch. Of course, six goals without conceding was
exactly what we needed to pick us up midweek, especially when three of them
came from Kai Havertz, but what we really need is to get back on track in the
league.
Today’s late game sees us up
against West Brom, who haven’t had a happy return to the Premier League, with
eight goals conceded in 2 defeats so far against Leicester and Everton. We’ve
had a decent run against West Brom in recent times but if we want that to
continue, we’ll need to be a little less benevolent at the back.
MANAGER’S
VIEWS
Going into today’s gamer, West
Brom manager Slaven Bilic, says “The talent that Frank and the club have brought
into Chelsea, it’s great and it gives their fans and their players and
everybody the confidence that they can again become title contenders. They
weren’t last season because obviously they didn’t spend enough money to
strengthen their squad. Nowadays you see
in every transfer that the big ones – but not only the big ones – every team
from the Premier League is trying to improve, is trying to get more players, to
get more quality on the pitch, so they’ve done it. For me it’s only the start of the season and
it’s a matter of how quick they are going to gel. But they are top players and
with Frank I think it will not take them a long time to gel.”
Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard meanwhile, says “Christian Pulisic
isn’t fit, nor is Hakim Ziyech. They’re both training with us, which is good
news, so we’re hoping to have them both in proper match contention in the next
week or two.I
believe Thiago and Ben are fit enough to start but I need to take into
consideration we play again Tuesday and then the Saturday. I’m managing that
one. With Ben I’ll be a little more
cautious as his injury has been a difficult one.”
SQUAD
NEWS
For West Brom, Conor Gallagher is ineligible to play and Kieran Gibbs is suspended. Ahmed Hegazi (hamstring) is back in training but unlikely to feature and Kamil Grosicki is a doubt, Branislav Ivanovic could feature though.
For Chelsea, Billy
Gilmour (knee), Hakim Ziyech (knee) and Christian Pulisic (hamstring) all remain out. Andreas
Christensen is suspended after his red card against Liverpool, but Ben Chilwell
and Thiago Silva are both available. New signing Edouard Mendy is not expected
to play.
TEAMS
WEST Brom (Possible line-up): Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Ivanovic,
O’Shea, Townsend; Pereira, Sawyers, Livermore, Diangana; Robinson
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Caballero; James, Silva, Zouma,
Alonso; Kante, Kovacic; Havertz, Mount, Werner, Abraham
LAST
SEASON
N/A
CURRENT
FORM
WEST
BROM: LL
CHELSEA: WL
OTHER
STUFF
- West Brom are on a
four-game losing streak in this fixture
- Chelsea have won
each of their past three away league games at The Hawthorns.
- West Brom’s most
recent win over Chelsea was May 2015.
- Chelsea have lost
three of their past seven away league matches at newly-promoted sides.
- West Brom are without
a win from the first couple of games.
- Chelsea have not
lost an away game in the month of September since 2016.
- West Brom have won
only three of their past 24 top-flight home fixtures.
- Chelsea have kept
just one clean sheet in their 20 Premier League away fixtures since the start
of last season.
- Both of West Brom’s
league goals this season were scored from outside the penalty area.
- Chelsea won five of
their opening six away league games under Lampard, but have since won only five
of 14.
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: West Brom 0-2 Chelsea
Sportsmole: West Brom 1-3 Chelsea
90min: West Brom 1-3 Chelsea
