Premier League preview: Chelsea v West Brom
West Brom’s long suffering fans know the drill for this season: expect a bitter relegation dogfight and never anything else. It will only end in bitter disappointment.
But even they would have hoped the fixture generator had been slightly kinder to them. An away tie against the champions on the opening day of the season means the supporters’ optimism of casting aside their ‘yo-yo’ tag may have faded before the campaign’s even begun.
However, opening day shocks aren’t a rarity; and after Chelsea’s poor pre-season, can the Baggies really go to Stamford Bridge and get a result? It seems there will be no better time.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were beaten by Manchester United in last Sunday’s FA Community Shield; only a friendly some might say, but it was the manner of the defeat that will have concerned the Chelsea boss. Although they fielded a near full-strength team, the Blues had carried on their pre-season form – in which they lost four of their five matches – and were outclassed by their rival title-challengers.
Despite this, many, including United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, still consider Chelsea as favourites for the league title. A quite brilliant last season saw Ancelotti’s men lift both the FA Cup and the Premier League trophy, and similar success is expected this time around, starting with a home victory on Saturday afternoon against the newly-promoted West Brom.
Brazil midfielder Ramires has not completed his move to the Bridge in time and so will not feature this weekend, but new signing Yossi Benayoun is in line to make his home debut after a brief cameo role at Wembley last Sunday.
As for their opponents, manager Roberto Di Matteo is braced for his first taste of Premier League management. The former Chelsea midfielder will receive a warm reception from the home crowd, but he won’t be planning on doing his former employers any favours on Saturday afternoon.
Di Matteo has strengthened his squad over the summer months to ensure that his side have a fighting chance of avoiding the drop this term. He has also managed to persuade several of his key players to stay at the Hawthorns, including £5 million-rated West Ham target Graham Dorrans, who was instrumental for the West Midlands club last season.
But against the mighty Chelsea at their home fortress, anything less than a Blues win would be a genuine shock. Di Matteo won’t expect miracles from his players, although he will expect them to give a good account of themselves, and they will still fancy their chances of causing an upset despite what the markets might suggest.
It’s little surprise that West Brom are considered rank outsiders to win on Saturday, though. Chelsea haven’t lost to a newly-promoted side for over 50 matches and haven’t been defeated by the Baggies for 31 years.
And the Blues are famously strong on the opening day of every new season, whereas their opponents usually get off to a slower start.
The Baggies will be best off avoiding statistics. With the momentum still flowing from their last season in the Championship and their invaluable experience from past campaigns in the top-flight, West Brom won’t be overawed by these occasions anymore, but will still fall short to this season’s favourites for the Premier League title.
Prediction: Chelsea 2 West Brom 1
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