- May 20, 2005
- 51,646
- 58,072
- Staff
- #1
Banner by Evolution
Capital rivals Chelsea and Tottenham go head-to-head at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
2[ar]
[/ar]
Both sides have made bright starts to the current campaign and will be keen to maintain that momentum in their latest outing.
The Blues have won all five of their Premier League fixtures so far, and sit top of the table, while Spurs' 3-1 defeat to Manchester United last time out was their first setback of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti certainly seems to have eased into his role at Chelsea, with the Italian yet to taste anything other than success this term - with a 1-0 victory over Porto in the UEFA Champions League in midweek prolonging his record.
He has helped to build on the solid foundations laid by interim coach Guus Hiddink last term and has the Blues well placed for a title push.
The men from West London also continue to be an awesome proposition on home soil, going 13 games unbeaten in front of their own supporters since Arsenal took three points in November 2008.
The omens do not look good for Spurs, as they have failed to win any of their last 19 games at Stamford Bridge.
They have also failed to beat any of the 'Big Four' away from home since overcoming Liverpool at Anfield way back in 1993.
Tottenham have also kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League trips out on the road.
Harry Redknapp does, however, have a striker in Jermain Defoe who is in red-hot form, with the diminutive frontman bagging eight goals in 11 starts for Spurs since making his return to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth.
Creative blow
Chelsea could be without Portuguese playmaker Deco for the derby date this weekend.
The former Barcelona man is struggling to shake off a calf injury in time to make Ancelotti's starting XI.
Brazilian centre-half Alex is also facing a race against time to prove his fitness and he could miss out with a groin strain.
Yuri Zhirkov is the only other notable absentee, with a niggling knee problem preventing the Russian from making his full debut for the Blues.
Joe Cole is pushing for a first start of the season after returning to the bench in midweek.
Depleted defence
Tottenham continue to be depleted at the back, with a number of players yet to regain match sharpness.
Michael Dawson (Achilles) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) have both shaken off their respective problems, but remain major doubts for Sunday.
Gareth Bale is also expected to be given more time to recover from a knee problem which has laid him low of late.
Luka Modric will also be unavailable to Redknapp after breaking his leg against Birmingham last month, but Heurelho Gomes is pushing for a starting berth after coming through a reserve outing in midweek.
PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: 1-1
SKY BET odds: Chelsea 1/2, Draw 3/1, Spurs 6/1
One to Watch: Jermain Defoe
BBC Preview
Chelsea's Joe Cole will not be involved as boss Carlo Ancelotti is saving him for the Carling Cup match with QPR.
Didier Drogba and Jose Bowsingwa will both return to the side after their Champions League suspensions.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has a dilemma in goal as he has to decide between fit again Heurelho Gomes or current number one Carlo Cudicini.
Gareth Bale played 90 minutes in a friendly against QPR and is in contention for a place on the bench.
Chelsea
Suspended: None Doubtful: Alex (groin), Deco (calf)
Injured: Cole (knee), Ferreira (knee), Zhirkov (knee)
Tottenham
Suspended: None Doubtful: Bale (foot)
Injured: Dawson (Achilles), Modric (broken leg), Woodgate (groin)
MATCH PREVIEW
2[ar]
[/ar]
Hull, Sunderland, Fulham, Burnley and Stoke - the fixture computer was certainly smiling on Chelsea when their opening matches of the season were generated this summer.
The Blues have quietly and efficiently gone about taking maximum points from those five fixtures and are just one win away from setting a new club record of 11 successive victories.
And who better to face next than Tottenham Hotspur, the team that they have more wins, more points and scored more goals against than any other in the Premier League.
However, Harry Redknapp's men are undefeated against Chelsea in their last four meetings and were the last team to beat them in the league, but that cannot cloud what a truly awful record Spurs have had against their west London rivals over the last 19 years.
That, allied with the fact they have not won away against any of the big four since 1993, means Tottenham fans are virtually resigned to missing out on three points before they even head across London.
They will be keen to lay down a marker against the Blues, after a first defeat of the season at the hands of Manchester United led to talk in the press of the Lilywhites suffering a 'reality check'. We will discover on Sunday afternoon just how strong their credentials of challenging the top four actually are.
2[ar]
[/ar]
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Chelsea are unbeaten in the last 19 home games against Spurs in the league (W13, D6)
• Chelsea have gained more wins (20), scored more goals (63) and accumulated more points (72) against Tottenham in the Premier League than any other club.
• Tottenham went an English record 32 league games without a win against Chelsea until beating them 2-1 at White Hart Lane in November 2006.
Chelsea
• Chelsea have won 10 straight Premier League matches, equalling their club record.
• Beating Spurs would surpass the previous mark set by José Mourinho's side from November 2005 to January 2006. That run was ended by a 1-1 draw with Charlton at Stamford Bridge.
• If the Blues win it would also become the joint-fourth longest winning run in Premier League history.
• Chelsea have already won three games from losing positions this season.
• The Blues are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League matches - their last league defeat was against Tottenham Hotspur on 21 March, 1-0 at White Hart Lane.
• Chelsea could become the third team in Premier League history to win their first six matches of the season after Newcastle United in 1994-95 and themselves who won their first nine matches under Jose Mourinho in 2005-06.
Tottenham
• Spurs last won a league game at Chelsea in February 1990, when Gary Lineker scored the winner and they haven't won away at a top four side since 1993.
• Tottenham have failed to score in 15 of their 34 Premier League matches against Chelsea.
• Spurs have kept only one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League away matches.
• The Lilywhites have not won three league games in a row away from home since December 2004.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
2[ar]
[/ar]
Chelsea
Drogba: 4 goals (4 league); Anelka: 3 goals (2 league)
2[ar]
[/ar]
Tottenham Hotspur
Defoe: 5 goals (5 league); Lennon: 2 goals (2 league)
Referee: Howard Webb
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Peter Kirkup
Fourth official: Simon Bennett
Tottenham 1-0 Chelsea (21 March, 2009)
Tottenham scorer: Modric 50
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Chelsea v Tottenham
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Sunday 20 September Kick-off: 1600 BST
Coverage: Full commentary BBC London 94.9, DAB & online, Live on Sky Sports, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio & highlights on Match of the Day 2
_______________________________________
Chelsea v Tottenham
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Sunday 20 September Kick-off: 1600 BST
Coverage: Full commentary BBC London 94.9, DAB & online, Live on Sky Sports, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio & highlights on Match of the Day 2
_______________________________________
Capital rivals Chelsea and Tottenham go head-to-head at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
2[ar]
Both sides have made bright starts to the current campaign and will be keen to maintain that momentum in their latest outing.
The Blues have won all five of their Premier League fixtures so far, and sit top of the table, while Spurs' 3-1 defeat to Manchester United last time out was their first setback of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti certainly seems to have eased into his role at Chelsea, with the Italian yet to taste anything other than success this term - with a 1-0 victory over Porto in the UEFA Champions League in midweek prolonging his record.
He has helped to build on the solid foundations laid by interim coach Guus Hiddink last term and has the Blues well placed for a title push.
The men from West London also continue to be an awesome proposition on home soil, going 13 games unbeaten in front of their own supporters since Arsenal took three points in November 2008.
The omens do not look good for Spurs, as they have failed to win any of their last 19 games at Stamford Bridge.
They have also failed to beat any of the 'Big Four' away from home since overcoming Liverpool at Anfield way back in 1993.
Tottenham have also kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League trips out on the road.
Harry Redknapp does, however, have a striker in Jermain Defoe who is in red-hot form, with the diminutive frontman bagging eight goals in 11 starts for Spurs since making his return to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth.
Creative blow
Chelsea could be without Portuguese playmaker Deco for the derby date this weekend.
The former Barcelona man is struggling to shake off a calf injury in time to make Ancelotti's starting XI.
Brazilian centre-half Alex is also facing a race against time to prove his fitness and he could miss out with a groin strain.
Yuri Zhirkov is the only other notable absentee, with a niggling knee problem preventing the Russian from making his full debut for the Blues.
Joe Cole is pushing for a first start of the season after returning to the bench in midweek.
Depleted defence
Tottenham continue to be depleted at the back, with a number of players yet to regain match sharpness.
Michael Dawson (Achilles) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) have both shaken off their respective problems, but remain major doubts for Sunday.
Gareth Bale is also expected to be given more time to recover from a knee problem which has laid him low of late.
Luka Modric will also be unavailable to Redknapp after breaking his leg against Birmingham last month, but Heurelho Gomes is pushing for a starting berth after coming through a reserve outing in midweek.
PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: 1-1
SKY BET odds: Chelsea 1/2, Draw 3/1, Spurs 6/1
One to Watch: Jermain Defoe
[yt]FxJ_mI7O1-I[/yt]
__________________________________________________
BBC Preview
Chelsea's Joe Cole will not be involved as boss Carlo Ancelotti is saving him for the Carling Cup match with QPR.
Didier Drogba and Jose Bowsingwa will both return to the side after their Champions League suspensions.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has a dilemma in goal as he has to decide between fit again Heurelho Gomes or current number one Carlo Cudicini.
Gareth Bale played 90 minutes in a friendly against QPR and is in contention for a place on the bench.
Chelsea
Suspended: None Doubtful: Alex (groin), Deco (calf)
Injured: Cole (knee), Ferreira (knee), Zhirkov (knee)
Tottenham
Suspended: None Doubtful: Bale (foot)
Injured: Dawson (Achilles), Modric (broken leg), Woodgate (groin)
MATCH PREVIEW
2[ar]
Hull, Sunderland, Fulham, Burnley and Stoke - the fixture computer was certainly smiling on Chelsea when their opening matches of the season were generated this summer.
The Blues have quietly and efficiently gone about taking maximum points from those five fixtures and are just one win away from setting a new club record of 11 successive victories.
And who better to face next than Tottenham Hotspur, the team that they have more wins, more points and scored more goals against than any other in the Premier League.
However, Harry Redknapp's men are undefeated against Chelsea in their last four meetings and were the last team to beat them in the league, but that cannot cloud what a truly awful record Spurs have had against their west London rivals over the last 19 years.
That, allied with the fact they have not won away against any of the big four since 1993, means Tottenham fans are virtually resigned to missing out on three points before they even head across London.
They will be keen to lay down a marker against the Blues, after a first defeat of the season at the hands of Manchester United led to talk in the press of the Lilywhites suffering a 'reality check'. We will discover on Sunday afternoon just how strong their credentials of challenging the top four actually are.
[yt]7DjmDMVr7EA[/yt]
2[ar]
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Chelsea are unbeaten in the last 19 home games against Spurs in the league (W13, D6)
• Chelsea have gained more wins (20), scored more goals (63) and accumulated more points (72) against Tottenham in the Premier League than any other club.
• Tottenham went an English record 32 league games without a win against Chelsea until beating them 2-1 at White Hart Lane in November 2006.
Chelsea
• Chelsea have won 10 straight Premier League matches, equalling their club record.
• Beating Spurs would surpass the previous mark set by José Mourinho's side from November 2005 to January 2006. That run was ended by a 1-1 draw with Charlton at Stamford Bridge.
• If the Blues win it would also become the joint-fourth longest winning run in Premier League history.
• Chelsea have already won three games from losing positions this season.
• The Blues are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League matches - their last league defeat was against Tottenham Hotspur on 21 March, 1-0 at White Hart Lane.
• Chelsea could become the third team in Premier League history to win their first six matches of the season after Newcastle United in 1994-95 and themselves who won their first nine matches under Jose Mourinho in 2005-06.
Tottenham
• Spurs last won a league game at Chelsea in February 1990, when Gary Lineker scored the winner and they haven't won away at a top four side since 1993.
• Tottenham have failed to score in 15 of their 34 Premier League matches against Chelsea.
• Spurs have kept only one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League away matches.
• The Lilywhites have not won three league games in a row away from home since December 2004.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
2[ar]
Chelsea
Drogba: 4 goals (4 league); Anelka: 3 goals (2 league)
2[ar]
Tottenham Hotspur
Defoe: 5 goals (5 league); Lennon: 2 goals (2 league)
Referee: Howard Webb
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Peter Kirkup
Fourth official: Simon Bennett
Tottenham 1-0 Chelsea (21 March, 2009)
Tottenham scorer: Modric 50
[yt]_HPdqZZt0kc[/yt]
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________________
__________________