English Premier League: Blackburn vs Chelsea Preview
Blackburn Rovers are having internal troubles as the club is on the verge of being sold to an Indian multinational. As exciting the prospect of new owners is, it promises to bring with it unexpected change, from transfer policy to player’s pay checks to
the managerial tactics.
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce would like nothing more than for his team to defeat the Champions on home ground and welcome the new owners with style. However, the Rovers have been on a poor run, claiming only a single point from a possible nine.
The last time Blackburn won was at the end of September, over a lowly Blackpool. Since then they have not managed a single win and are currently just one place above the relegation zone. A win would the stuff dreams are made off, but a draw against the mighty
Blues won’t be too bad either.
Chelsea on the other hand are in the driving seat as they take on yet another team in the bottom half of the Premier League. Their main objective today will be to maintain the five point gap at the top of the table, preferably by scoring an obscene amount
of goals.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have had a good start to the season, beating every team they have come up against so far, except for Manchester City and Aston Villa. They lost to City and drew with Villa, both away so they maintain a perfect record at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were not too convincing last week against Wolves, where they won 2-0 and will be hoping to enforce their dominance once again. They will be boosted by the news of the return of many first team players like Alex and Frank Lampard, even though they
might start on the bench.
Match Facts
Blackburn have only scored once in their last eight meetings against Chelsea in the English Premier League.
French striker Nicolas Anelka has scored 10 goals in 14 games against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League, more than he has against any other top flight team.
So far Blackburn have the fewest number of shots from open play, while Chelsea have the most, 41 and 96 respectively.
The Blues have gone 301 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premier League.
Blackburn have a poor record against Chelsea, the Rovers have only won one of their last 11 matches against the Blues in all competitions. Their win came in last season’s Carling Cup semi final, the match was decided on penalties.
Possible Starting XI
Blackburn: Robinson; Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Salgado; Jones, Pederson, EH Diouf, Emerton; Kalinic, Dunn.
Substitutes: Brown, Bunn, Olsson, Doran, Benjani, Roberts, MB Diouf, Chimbonda, Hoilett, Morris, Linganzi.
Chelsea: Cech; Terry, Alex, Bosingwa, Cole; Mikel, Essien, Malouda; Anelka, Kalou; Drogba.
Substitutes: Hilário, Turnbull, Zhirkov, Ferreira, Sturridge, Bruma, Borini, Kakuta, McEachran, Van Aanholt.
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