Match Day Thread Chelsea v. Swansea City

Chelsea v. Swansea City

Barclays Premier League
Date - Saturday, 25 February 2017
Kick off - 15:00
Venue - Stamford Bridge

Following their 2-0 victory at home over reigning Champions, Leicester City, Swansea's next fixture is a trip to this season's Champions-elect, Chelsea.

Whilst Swansea were beating Leicester, Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor where home side, Burnley, has collected all but one of their PL points earned so far this season.

The visit to Stamford Bridge will represent a return visit to one of Swansea Manager Paul Clement's old haunting grounds - Clement joined the Chelsea staff in 2007, initially working with their Under 16s team. He progressed through the coaching ranks and began working with the Chelsea first team when Guys Hiddink was appointed Manager in 2009. Clement eventually became assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti during his two seasons in charge at Chelsea - winning the Premier League during their first season in charge.

When the teams met in September at the Liberty, Chelsea dropped their first points of the Premier League season as Diego Costa struck twice to rescue a draw in a feisty encounter. After Costa had given Chelsea the lead, Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty and Leroy Fer's bundled goal two minutes later turned the game on its head.

However, Costa scored an acrobatic late second to salvage a point for Antonio Conte's team.

Swansea and Chelsea have played each other on 32 occasions, with the Swans winning 7, Chelsea 14 and 11 draws.

In the corresponding fixture last season, which was the opening fixture of the season - and which is largely remembered for the Eva Carneiro "incident" - Chelsea had Thibaut Courtois sent off as they started their Premier League title defence with a draw against Swansea at Stamford Bridge.

Oscar's free-kick put the Blues ahead before Andre Ayew stabbed a close-range equaliser after keeper Courtois had kept out Bafetimbi Gomis's header.

Federico Fernandez put Willian's cross past his own keeper before Courtois was sent off after bringing down Gomis.

New signing Asmir Begovic came on but failed to stop Gomis's spot-kick.

Turning to Saturday's forthcoming fixture, my heart says that the Swans will repeat last season's 2-2 draw, but my head says that Chelsea will run out 2-0 winners.

 

Looking for another good performance to give us confidence leading into the massive month of March. Important for us too that Leicester and Boro both lose this weekend because that would mean we hold our position even if we lose.

 

Highly unlikely we will get anything from this game so it will be a lovely surprise if we do... Our performance is very important that if we do lose we will still come out of the game with confidence boosted even further than it is to go into much more winnable games over the next month and beyond to cement our survival....

 

Sian Massey is running the line so it's got to be a Swans win for me!!

 

We will line up to frustrate them so don't expect us to get many chances. Have some Chelsea fans at work who are a little concerned about this one but realistically 2-0 to Chelsea.

 

We wont get anything here, but if we give them a game with another improved performance then we will gain more confidence from the performance even in defeat and will keep us moving forward.

 

Ditto really, not expecting anything, but a decent performance and a defeat by no more than 2 goals wouldn't be too damaging. A hammering could destroy the recent confidence that's built up.

 

Agree with others here. Can't see anything but a defeat. Hopefully not a morale-sapping drubbing.

 

I have us down for a draw , we've normally put on a fighting display up there and this game will be no exception , a bit of self belief and confidence can do wonders

 

I fancy a draw as well but other teams can pull off a surprise win so why not us ?

 

Never say never that's bad for moral and a defeatist attitude....

 

Everything to gain for us , all to lose for Chelsea 2 - 1 Swans

 

Bang on! We are no longer playing like a relegation type team. We are now playing like a side challenging 8-10 positions.

Play well and we can get something from the game.

 

I fancy us to get at least a draw, we are very organised now, and we have kept their little upstart Costa quiet before now, remember we have been their bogey team before, just need to infiltrate their 'Ball boy' ranks, should be enough!.............

 

Good news in my opinion, mind you I wouldn't have said that a few months ago. Seems PC is able to get the best out of players..
http://www.swanseacity.net/news/art...utm_campaign=SocialSignIn&utm_source=Facebook

 

Usual 2-1 Swans @ 33/1.
Head bet 3-1 Chelsea @ 10/1
Also im going to put the mockers on Alfie by taking 12/1 on him to score anytime.

 

A tough encounter with Chelsea sneaking it.They're top of the table for a reason.

 

And they don't drop many points at home. We have to be realistic, for me all about the performance and not getting battered. show some resilience and run them close will be good for moral and confidence and put us in a great place to then push on.

 

If Chelsea play to their potential then they will win quite easily even if we play the best football of our season so far....But should they be too complacent and assume its in the bag then we can get something out of the game.......It will all depend on which Chelsea team turns up I reckon....

 

Chelsea will be sweating after not taking 3 from Burnley and facing a relegation battling team, in us , that's won 4 of it last 6 games ..including us beating Liverpool .
We keep improving , Chelsea keep sweating , I like our chances at turning them over .