[las7]

Eastlands
Kick-off: 1500 BST

Chelsea face Manchester City for the first time since annihilating them 6-0 in the reverse fixture in October. Maximum points from Eastlands will take Avram Grant's side to within two points of leaders Manchester United, who play away to Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Manchester City have gone completely off the boil, with one win in six outings. They started 2008 in fourth place with a win at Newcastle, but are now sliding towards the bottom half.

Chelsea may have lost to Fenerbahce in Turkey in the Champions League on Wednesday, but they are the only club not to have tasted defeat in the top-flight in 2008. However a loss would be their 100th away from home all-time in the Premier League.

Chelsea have won the last five Premier League matches against Manchester City, without conceding a single goal. City have only scored one goal in 11 meetings, and have claimed four points from a last possible 39 against them.

Cech might be fit for this one.

I prefer

------------Cudicini---------
Belletti--Alex--Carvalho--Bridge
--------Mikel-----Essien------
------------Ballack-----------
J.Cole-------------------Kalou
------------Anelka------------

Man City are going to have Petrov and Johnson back for this game.
Should be an interesting match, and must win if we want to put pressure on Merchindise United.

 

[iceman]

I hope we don't F*** this one up

 

[Madman]

I wana see how the players respond to this match after Wed. night.

 

[iceman]

Whats the team

 

[A10]

PEtrov just had a Birlliant Curler.... and Cudicini equals.

 

[A10]

nice work Anelka.... Kalou over the bar.

 

[A10]

Drogba seen with a wired ear-piece... not bluetooth.... mp3 music, it must be.

 

[A10]

Kalou tackles Corluka in a clumsy manner... freekick at the edge.

 

[football48]

the team is...

Cud
Bell-Alex-Terry-Cole
Mikel
SWP-Lamp-Ess-Kalou
Anelka

 

[football48]

so after the first, it appears we are once again on the ropes as City have had the more numerous and better chances, if not for the Dunne (OG) i'd be feeling a little more anxious. CC makes me nervous and we need PC back ASAP. JB made one really serious error by heading a City cross back in for the taking. Alex has been quite good, JT so-so, AC made a goal-line clear, JOM has been virtually invisible as too FL(although he has been complaining over ever little thing), SK hasn't done much nor has SWP and much could be said about NA as well.

might need to sub in MB for JOM, JC for SWP and personally would like to see AS for SK.

 

[football48]

players back on pitch for the 2nd

 

[football48]

51' JC on for SWP

 

[football48]

good give-and-go, give-and-go between ME and SK for an SK goal (53')

 

[football48]

City keep Hart does extremely well keeping an NA header out

 

[football48]

big blow to City, Onuoha carried off on stretcher (arm injury?) writhing in pain

 

[iceman]

Belletti Suckzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[iceman]

Anelka is so unlucky...

 

[Madman]

I'm happy we won, but feel that Anelka deserved a goal, very unlucky from him, nevertheless he was solid throughout the match.

 

[KHALID]

excellent result for us, keeping the momentum while resting key players, superb!