West Ham United vs Chelsea Preview
Saturday’s late night kick off means Chelsea travel to Upton Park to take on West Ham United in what would be enthralling cross town derby , which might just live up to greater expectations given the twos sides’ recent performances. While the Hammers sit in the sixteenth place after their previous gameweek’s defeat to Norwich, Chelsea are winless in last two games, both of them they were expected to win. While the Blues from Stamford Bridge were beaten by Newcastle two gameweeks ago, a blatant Ramires dive in injury time ensure Chelsea ‘rob’ a spirited West Brom side at home before the International Break.
The home side would be surely looking to repeat last season’s heroics in the corresponding fixture when they overturn a first half deficit to defeat Rafa Benitez’s outfit by an astonishing 3-1 margin. With Sam Allardyce, as always, struggling for points, frowns on his forehead would grow more clumsier and the ‘bites’ on his chewing gum would be landing far heavily than before. Jose Mourinho on the other hand, or the self proclaimed one, hasn’t head a great start to his ‘Second Homecoming’.
Coming to injuries, the Hammers are perhaps set to miss out Rezvan Rat, who sustained a hamstring strain during the International duty for Romania. However Joey O’Brien and James Collins (both hamstring) are expected to be fit despite withdrawing from duty with the Republic of Ireland and Wales through injury.However both strikers Andy Carroll and Maden Petric are ruled out albeit long term injuries. This means former Chelsea player Carlton Cole will be given the nod to lead the front line in front of the home faithful.
For Chelsea, Spanish striker Fernando Torres is expected to start after recovering from his abductor strain sustained during Chelsea’s Champions League encounter against German opposition Schalke. Moreover as Sky Sports confirms: Also in action at Chelsea’s Surrey training base was left-back Ashley Cole, who went off during England’s friendly defeat by Germany on Tuesday night with a recurrence of a rib injury which first forced him out at Norwich in early October. Cole could return in place of Cesar Azpilicueta or may be held in reserve, with Tuesday’s Champions League contest at Basel in mind.
However the player to watch out for would be Frank Lampard. The former Hammer can expect a frosty reception on his old stomping ground following his move from east to west London in 2001.
Stats:
- So far this season Chelsea have only had a chance conversion rate of 13%, scoring 18 goals out of 142 shots
- West Ham have only scored nine goals this season, the joint lowest in the league outside the bottom three.
- Mourinho has never dropped any points against West Ham whilst being manager of Chelsea
Predictions:
West Ham have only one game so far at home and scoring goals has been their major cause of concern. Chelsea too haven’t been good recently but the plethora and the talented midfield option for the Blues will perhaps see them edge the encounter 2-1 in the thinnest of margins.
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