please log in to view this image Sunday 1st April 4pm Premier League Stamford Bridge The international distraction is over and our FA Cup progress was fairly straightforward. We return to the Premier League with a very important match against another semi-finalist. There's a lot on the line for both clubs, as the gap between us in 4th and them in 5th is only 5 points. A win for them and they're back in business. A win for us and they're pushed to a safer distance. It could also be a dress rehearsal for the cup final, so the pressure's on. It's been a fairly odd season for Chelsea so far, as they've had periods of stability punctuated by the odd crash. Some long unbeaten periods and looked like Conte's title winning side from the last campaign, at times. The unsettled, unmotivated, disinterested squad that saw the back of Mourinho has showed it's face at others. Four league losses and elimination from the league cup by Arsenal since the turn of the year has raised questions. Will the Italian coach go the way of his Portuguese predecessor or will he overcome the dressing room? This match tends to be fairly mean spirited at the best of times and this certainly isn't that. Both sides suffered Champions League defeats to big clubs and will be looking to make a statement. Will this result in an attempt to outplay the other side and show the world that they deserve a return next year? A cagey, angry fight of a match might be a safer bet. Our team would do well to avoid that and stick to football. Will they be disciplined enough to do so? The match at Stamford Bridge in the last campaign was our first loss of the season in the league. Eriksen gave us a deserved lead early on and we dominated virtually the entire first half. Pedro took advantage of a mistake right at the end of it though and we never really recovered. A rattled defence let Moses give them the lead just after the break and we rarely threatened to equalise: Our first loss of this campaign was also to Chelsea, as we started slowly at Wembley in our first home match. Murderous Marcos Alonso opened the scoring with a free-kick about halfway through the first period. It seemed to provoke a reaction from our players though and it was virtually all Spurs after that. A late Batshuayi own-goal seemed to have rescued a point near the end, but it wasn't to be. Hugo Lloris somehow allowed another Alonso shot to pass under his body at the death and they nicked all three: There's little concrete injury news at the moment, but Kane and Winks are expected to miss out. Chelsea have a few doubts and niggles, but everyone's expected to be fit. Neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dembele; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Dier, Sissoko, Lamela, Moura, Llorente. League form: WDWWWW. Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill; Zappacosta, Fabregas, Kante, Alonso; Willian, Hazard; Giroud. Subs: Caballero, Moses, Emerson, Bakayoko, Ampadu, Pedro, Morata. League form: LLWLLW. Referee: Andre Marriner. TV: Sky Sports. Do we need to do anything different for this one or stick with what's worked since Kane's injury? Is there a place in the starting lineup for Moura yet or does he still need to do more and get fitter? Does anyone need to be left out, either for their fitness or form?
Trippier has to start this one, for the simple reason I can see at least four of the Chavs' predicted lineup making the most out of one of Aurier's more agricultural challenges...
Hugo Tripps, Dave, Jan, Davies Wanyama, Dembele Lamela, Eriksen, Dele Son Vorm, Aurier, Toby, Rose, Dier, Moura, Kane (if fit, Sissoko if not).
Decent shout - and certainly a day for cool heads (take a rain check, Eric D!). Dele the only major concern from that point of view, although Coco has his moments and MD has that history with the Chavs......
I think a lot have learned their lesson from that day, Dier's not gone on a one-man wrecking spree since, while it was out of character for Dembele to do what he did. Coco is just a sly little ****er, he's very similar to Dele in how he can wind the opposition up and get away with sly digs, how he got away with that stamp on Fabregas that season I'll never know . Should be a good game, just praying this is finally the year we break our hoodoo at the bridge, been far too long.
Hate this fixture. Hate it more than any others. More than the NLD. Hate it. If anyone needs me, I'll be in an undersea cave.
I'm looking forward to this one. As long as we play our football and refuse to be wound-up, I think the chavs are there for the taking. A draw would be acceptable but a win would be nice. No undersea caves for me CK, I want to see us making April Fools out of the West London Knuckle Draggers.
Agree with @Dier Hard ’s line up. With our history of injuries and players returning, I don’t see Kane being fit for this one. More likely he’ll just about make it back for the final game of the season. A draw in this game will do nicely, and I’d take that right now. A defeat, and it’s going to be squeaky bum time from now until the end of the season. Absolutely dreading Sunday. Sadly I can’t see anything other than a chelsea win to be honest.
Watch the game live, or spend the time in a cave with Deirdre (who will be in hiding lest Chelsky lose) . Decisions, decisions.
Two fixtures - this one and the ManUre semifinal - may well determine the future of this team. Win them or at least and I think that the confidence will take us on up. Lose them and ...... well, I honestly don’t want to contemplate what that looks like.... COYS!!
Playing the Chavs at the Bridge (or at Wembley) is a bit like the (very) occasional decent England tournament performances. Play well, look like a victory is possible then lose to the Germans on penalties! I HATE Chelsea and I hate this game! Can you send me coordinates to the cave please, CK!
No - that one is a bonus. The other two are the crucial ones (Although for the purposes of this season, a draw on Sunday would be ok)
Can’t concentrate enough to write a response to this. And my hands are shaking a bit, anyway. And it’s still only Thursday!
No. It may become must win depending on the results of the Chelsky/Stoke games. Similarly for how Citeh are by then (PL wrapped up, still in CL) .
I'd also go with this team but doubt Wanyama will start. He looked off the pace against B'mouth and only played one international game over the break. Dier will probably be there which fills me with dread as he has had a below-par season. Dembele is the key in this game. Chelsea's CM has been a major weakspot with Kante not replicating his form of last season, Bakayoko struggling to settle in, Drinkwater massively overrated and Fibreglass on the decline. If he brings beast mode, we'll dominate the midfield and the front 4 can wreak havoc.
As usual you miss my point, RBDB I’m more interested in the psychology of the victories in the terms of the development of the current squad and whether they can then go on to win something. If we do well on Sunday and in the semi I have no worries about the end of the season mapping out ok, regardless of the others performance. But there again, I might be wrong - I often am!
