Stoke v. Chelsea match preview - a pleasant distraction from all the scandal

Chelsea will be looking to equal the club record of ten successive wins when they meet Stoke this weekend, but will be up against capable opposition with a fine home record.

What a fortnight it’s been. Following the impressive 3-0 win over Burnley, Chelsea have been banned from making transfers by FIFA (the guardians of football) and 20 players headed off for international duty. Lampard, Terry and Ashley Cole helped England to confirm their place in the 2010 World Cup with a convincing win over Croatia.

But this weekend, Premiership football is back. And thank god.

As good as it is to see England do will in big tournaments, games outside of the two-yearly affairs usually verge on the painfully dull, and balancing conflicting desires to see Rooney/ Gerrard (delete as appropriate) both break a leg and score a goal can be wearisome.

The senseless negative media coverage about Kakuta-gate has been difficult to handle, too. Where on earth has the term ‘child-trafficking’ come from?

On paper of course – despite Stoke’s strong start – Chelsea should be comfortable favourites for tomorrow’s clash at the Britannia Stadium. Chelsea are top of the league, the second highest scorers and were quite frankly unlucky to have conceded the two goals that have found their way past Petr Cech so far this season.

It might not be quite that simple however.

The vast majority of Chelsea’s squad has been involved in international fixtures (senior or U21 level) over the last week and there will only be two full days of training available to Ancelotti ahead of tomorrow’s 3pm kick-off. It wouldn’t be the first time if, following international matches, Chelsea put in a jaded Premier League performance.

In addition, Carlo’s options aren’t improving either. Joe Cole and Zhirkov seem to be competing with each other to win the award for most protracted recovery from injury, and Deco has himself been ruled out too.

Stoke on the other hand have made a great start to the season and currently lie 5^th in the table. Pullis’ men have a great defensive record and an even better one at home: since Chelsea beat them there last season they’ve only lost two games on their own patch. They are a well-organised side that should be given plaudits for the efficiency of their game – we should all remember that they were unlucky to succumb to a last minute Lampard goal to go down 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season.

Stoke will also be strengthened by the return of James Beattie – surely one of the signings of 2009’s January transfer window, and Robert Huth making his first appearance in red and white on his return to Stamford Bridge.

Of course, despite the potential problems, Chelsea should still have more than enough the quality to see off Stoke – and if I were a betting man that’s where I’d put my hard earned cash. Three points could be very significant this weekend too, with key clashes meaning that at least two of Chelsea’s current rivals Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd and Spurs will drop points (I’m assuming Liverpool will see off Burnley at Anfield). The Eastlands game looks particularly fascinating – well worth recording more than one of Saturday’s games on Sky Match Choice or watching Match of the Day.

With that in mind, a gritty, hard fought one nil will do nicely.

bridgeviews.co.uk predicted score: Stoke 0 Chelsea 1, Lampard to score

Comments

[ph0bolus]

Serioulsy Cech? SERIOUSLY?!