Chelsea travel to take on Reading at Madejski Stadium on Wednesday evening, having the edge over their hosts in previous meetings. The visitors have won 4 of their 9 previous games, with the hosts winning just 3. The last time the two teams met at Reading was back in August 2007, over five years ago, with Chelsea inflicting a narrow 1-2 defeat upon the Royals in a Premier League match. TEAM NEWS Reading striker Noel Hunt faces a fitness test on an unspecified injury he picked up in the FA Cup win over Sheffield United. Fellow forward Jason Roberts is definitely out and new signing Daniel Carrico is unlikely to feature. Chelsea still have doubts over the fitness of goalkeeper Petr Cech and defender David Luiz. Manager Rafael Benitez is without the suspended Eden Hazard, who serves the second of a three-match ban. Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation: 22 Ross Turnbull 28 Cesar Azpilicueta 2 Branislav Ivanovic 24 Gary Cahill 3 Ashley Cole 7 Ramires 8 Frank Lampard (c) 11 Oscar 10 Juan Mata 34 Ryan Bertrand 9 Fernando Torres Substitutes: 40 Hilario, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 26 John Terry, 57 Nathan Ake, 30 Yossi Benayoun, 21 Marko Marin, 29 Demba Ba. Reading are expected to line up in the following 4-1-4-1 formation: Federici; Kelly, Pearce, Mariappa, Harte; Leigertwood; Kébé, Guthrie, Karacan, McAnuff (c); Pogrebnyak. Substitutues: Taylor, Shorey, Morrison, Akpan, Robson-Kanu, McCleary, Le Fondre. The referee is Mark Halsey. Head-to-head Reading's last league win against Chelsea was 3-1 at home in the old Division Two in March 1930. They have lost the five league games played since then - including a 4-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season. In total, the Royals have won just three times against Chelsea in 19 matches in all competitions - in 1926, 1930 and the first leg of a League Cup tie in 1987. Reading This is Reading's 100th Premier League match. They have won 30, drawn 20 and lost 49. They have managed just three clean sheets this season, the lowest in the top-flight along with Wigan. Only the Latics (25) have conceded more goals at home than the Royals (21). Reading have used 26 players in the Premier League this season - only Tottenham, with 27, have used more. Chelsea Rafael Benitez's team have won their last four away matches in the league. The last time they won five in a row was between April and September 2009. They are the only team along with Wigan to have won more points away than they have done at home this season. Frank Lampard is two goals short of becoming the first player in Premier League history to score at least 10 goals in 10 consecutive Premier League seasons.
nice one alpha. Not sure what to predict with us anymore, but we should be winning this by a good few goal!
Cheers for this I think it will be a game with lots and lots of goals... 5-3 to Chelsea. Need to win this to claw the points back from Man City after their draw against the bottom side...
We haven't been consistent enough this season, its been up and down. Hoping for a Chelsea win tonight.
Flip a coin. Depends which Chelsea decide to turn up. Hope Marin starts and starts to show something. Looking a bit of a flop at the moment (injuries granted).
3 points here would be fantastic particularly as the Mancs dropped 2 points at the Queens last night! I like to see Hilarious start in goal and even if they dont start together see Torres and Ba pair up at some point (but not in the last 5 minutes as Rafa is inclined to do)
Why is Bertrand being constantly played out of position? He's a ****ing left back not a winger . Don't even get me started on the ginger tart we have up top. Seriously why isn't Ba starting?!?!
'When Rafa leaves Chelsea, when Rafa leaves Chelsea, we're going to have a party, we're going to have a party, we're going to have a party, when Rafa leaves Chelsea' (to the tune of 'we're gunna win the league... we sung it at Brentford)
Starting Torres is like playing with 10 men. Ba should start a head of him. Bertrand has more game time than Marin and since Hazard is serving a 3 match ban Bertrand is the only option available.
I don't like it when you're nice I'd still have started Marin, a lot more natural in that position and more of an attacking threat, which we're lacking we ladyboy!
Great time to score! 50 secs into the 1 min added time! We have been bad though. Why do we play the long ball when Torres can't win a header? If we are to play that way then why doesn't Ba start!? Anyway 1-0 up and lets push on
