Premier League previews: Birmingham v Chelsea
Do you think Chelsea fans have got over their shock home defeat to Sunderland last week?
Probably not, considering they were heavy favourites for that match and had been virtually untouchable playing at Stamford Bridge this season, winning all of their previous home games and shutting out the opposition in all of them.
Despite the loss, they head into the weekend’s games two points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, but could find themselves behind if Arsenal win the north London derby in the early kick-off.
Chelsea’s opponents are Birmingham, a side who are short of confidence at the moment and find themselves in the bottom three. Birmingham were involved in a goalless draw with Manchester City last weekend, and it was a great point for them.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is looking to copy Sunderland’s performance and take an important win. “I don't know if Sunderland have done us any favours, put it that way,” he said. “Having said that, we're at home and we think we can be a match for anybody at home. We can [win]. I'm not saying we will, but we can definitely at St Andrews [Birmingham’s home].
While Chelsea suffered on the pitch, and are having something of a defensive crisis, well, sort of. Captain John Terry has been plagued by a nerve problem in his leg, and has revealed he hasn’t been fit for around five years. Terry’s revelation almost puts him in the same league as Didier Drogba, who said at the start of the season he is fully fit for the first time in six years. It’s not quite six, but Terry is nearly there.
Chelsea’s other centre-back Alex has been causing confusion all week. It was believed he would be out for some time with a knee problem, and then he popped up on the bench for Brazil midweek. He requires surgery on his knee, but is going to play at the heart of the Chelsea defence tomorrow.
Confused? You should be, and probably Alex is himself a bit puzzled about the whole situation.
Unbeaten Manchester United are in action against Wigan at Old Trafford, and they welcome back Wayne Rooney. After the U-turn he performed before going to the United States, Rooney will be on the bench, but will he have a clear head?
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will hope so as he was the one who was so kind to give him the time off after he signed a new deal when he threatened to leave. Wigan manager Roberto Martinez fears a Rooney backlash, if he comes on of course. “You don't want Wayne Rooney to come back against you,” said Martinez, who should try and persuade Ferguson not to play him with an early Christmas present perhaps.
Blackpool host Wolves, and this is a fixture where both managers have something in common. Blackpool boss Ian Holloway was asked by the Premier League to explain the 10 changes he made to his side against Aston Villa a few weeks ago, while Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was fined for making changes to his side against United last season.
Holloway likes to deal with things his own way, and instead of explaining his rationale behind the decision, he has challenged the Premier League to prove whether his side was a weakened side. “I can explain every single decision I made and I can show them facts,” said Holloway. “I would like them to try to prove to me now that is a weakened team.”
It’s nice to know that McCarthy is not losing sleep at night about his side’s relegation battle. “I sleep fine,” he said. “I am preoccupied at times, more so when you are not winning, because when you are winning, you can have a happy, normal existence.”
Bolton take on Newcastle, and after they eventually beat Wolves 3-2 last week having been 3-0 up, they will be looking to build on their fifth place in the Premier League. Bolton boss Owen Coyle if he were in charge would reward Newcastle boss Chris Hughton with a new contract immediately, amid speculation that Hughton could be relieved of his duties soon.
“The situation arose where he was given the opportunity, but he has earned everything he has got to this point,” said Coyle. “The sooner that contract situation is sorted out the better because they run the risk of losing him because of the quality he has.”
Luckily for Newcastle their star man Andy Carroll came through unscathed on his England debut. An email was sent to the FA for England not to play Carroll, but after he turned out to be one of England’s better players in the dismal display at Wembley to France, Hughton was pleased for his No.9.
“I'm delighted for him to make his debut. It was a special night for him,” said Hughton. “He worked hard and kept possession and he should be happy.”
West Brom are in 12th at the moment, and they were flying a few weeks ago, occupying one of the Champions League spots, but the wheels seem to have come off. It is five matches in all competitions since they last won, and they must be on their game against a Stoke side who have had the opposite kind of run, winning their last two games, the previous being a well-deserved 2-0 win over Liverpool last weekend. West Brom will also want to end a run that has seen Stoke beat them in six of the last seven meetings as well.
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