Where: Bloomfield Road - Blackpool
When: Monday 7th March 2011. Kickoff at 20:00 live on SkySports
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Blackpool Team News:
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has settled on 4-3-3 as his preferred system (with the occasional 4-2-3-1). Crucial to an otherwise pedestrian defence is centre-back Ian Evatt, who is in the 'form of his life' according to his manager. Midfielder David Vaughan must be a close second, alongside the more feted striker Dudley Campbell and playmaker Charlie Adam.
Unfortunately for the Tangerines the latter two will be missing on Monday evening through suspension. As two of the stars of Blackpool's excellent season, their influence will be sorely missed.
Also absent will be Gary Taylor-Fletcher, who is still recovering from a muscle problem. Recent hamstring victim Elliot Grandin may be risked in the midfield/attack link role. The Seasiders suffered a demoralising defeat last weekend to fellow strugglers Wolves by an emphatic four goals to nil, again without Adam. It was only 0-1 when striker DJ Campbell was dismissed for violent conduct.
Chelsea Team News:
Since the disappointment at Wolves the champions have strung together a decent away run, and will expect to extend that on Monday, despite the hosts' wins over Liverpool and Tottenham on the Lancashire coast.
The emphatic penalty against Manchester United on Tuesday made it five goals in the last 12 matches for Frank Lampard since his return from the operating table. Fellow goalscorer David Luíz has missed training but is expected to be available, as is Mikel. Yossi Benayoun is a few weeks away from starting full training.
If he sticks with the successful 4-4-2 formation Carlo Ancelotti has two choices to make in several areas. If Luíz is not fit Jose Bosingwa may make his first domestic start since Bolton at home.
Mikel might have to wait for his return following the performances of Ramires, Lampard and Michael Essien, although Yuri Zhirkov's penalty winning impact could displace out of sorts Florent Malouda.
Upfront, Didier Drogba's delightful one man resistance against Man United at the end and link play with Fernando Torres may mean a rest for Nicolas Anelka. The Frenchman was an unused sub in Chelsea's 4-0 win over the Seasiders at Stamford Bridge earlier this season. However, he thrives on other's grounds and ten of his 16 goals overall this season have come away from Stamford Bridge.
Blackpool Stats and Milestones:
Chelsea's last 10 visits to Bloomfield Road
1963/64 Chelsea won 5-1 - old First Division
1964/65 Blackpool won 3-2 - old First Division
1965/66 Chelsea won 2-1 - old First Division
1966/67 Drew 1-1 - League Cup
1966/67 Chelsea won 2-0 - old First Division
1970/71 Chelsea won 4-3 - old First Division
1971/72 Chelsea won 1-0 - FA Cup
1975/76 Chelsea won 2-0 - old Second Division
1976/77 Chelsea won 1-0 - old Second Division
1996/97 Chelsea won 4-1 - League Cup
Chelsea v Blackpool in all competitions
Games played 82
Chelsea wins 37
Blackpool wins 30
Draws 15
Head-to-head in the League at Bloomfield Road
Games played 38
Chelsea wins 15
Blackpool wins 19
Draws 4
Biggest league win at Bloomfield Road for each team
Blackpool 5-0 Chelsea - 27/03/1959
Blackpool 1-5 Chelsea - 26/12/1963
Days Since:
Chelsea last played at Bloomfield Road in the top flight: 14,742
Blackpool last home win against one of the top five: 10
Arsenal won a trophy: 2,114
Liverpool won a trophy: 1,748
My take on the Game:
After the season we have had its hard to say whether we have "turned a corner". But the win against Utd may just be what we need and we could very well go on a winning run from here on. For me i can only see one outcome, with Blackpool being without DJ Campbell and Charlie Adam i just cant see them creating many opportunities at all.
My Prediction: 3-1 to Chelsea. Goalscorers, Evatt for Blackpool and Torres x2 and Lampard for Chelsea.
When: Monday 7th March 2011. Kickoff at 20:00 live on SkySports
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Blackpool Team News:
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has settled on 4-3-3 as his preferred system (with the occasional 4-2-3-1). Crucial to an otherwise pedestrian defence is centre-back Ian Evatt, who is in the 'form of his life' according to his manager. Midfielder David Vaughan must be a close second, alongside the more feted striker Dudley Campbell and playmaker Charlie Adam.
Unfortunately for the Tangerines the latter two will be missing on Monday evening through suspension. As two of the stars of Blackpool's excellent season, their influence will be sorely missed.
Also absent will be Gary Taylor-Fletcher, who is still recovering from a muscle problem. Recent hamstring victim Elliot Grandin may be risked in the midfield/attack link role. The Seasiders suffered a demoralising defeat last weekend to fellow strugglers Wolves by an emphatic four goals to nil, again without Adam. It was only 0-1 when striker DJ Campbell was dismissed for violent conduct.
Chelsea Team News:
Since the disappointment at Wolves the champions have strung together a decent away run, and will expect to extend that on Monday, despite the hosts' wins over Liverpool and Tottenham on the Lancashire coast.
The emphatic penalty against Manchester United on Tuesday made it five goals in the last 12 matches for Frank Lampard since his return from the operating table. Fellow goalscorer David Luíz has missed training but is expected to be available, as is Mikel. Yossi Benayoun is a few weeks away from starting full training.
If he sticks with the successful 4-4-2 formation Carlo Ancelotti has two choices to make in several areas. If Luíz is not fit Jose Bosingwa may make his first domestic start since Bolton at home.
Mikel might have to wait for his return following the performances of Ramires, Lampard and Michael Essien, although Yuri Zhirkov's penalty winning impact could displace out of sorts Florent Malouda.
Upfront, Didier Drogba's delightful one man resistance against Man United at the end and link play with Fernando Torres may mean a rest for Nicolas Anelka. The Frenchman was an unused sub in Chelsea's 4-0 win over the Seasiders at Stamford Bridge earlier this season. However, he thrives on other's grounds and ten of his 16 goals overall this season have come away from Stamford Bridge.
Blackpool Stats and Milestones:
- Blackpool's last home win against Chelsea was in April 1965, when they beat them 3-2 in a top-flight match.
- Blackpool are yet to keep a clean sheet at Bloomfield Road this season. Their five shutouts have been achieved away - the last of which was on 28 Dec.
- Blackpool hold the record for being the first club in English football to be promoted through all four divisions via the play-offs.
- When Brett Ormerod scored against Tottenham in Blackpool's last home game he became the first player to have scored in all four divisions for the club.
- Blackpool's form since the turn of the year has produced seven points from 11 games. The run included eight defeats and two home wins against Liverpool and Tottenham.
- The Tangerines do have the sixth best attacking record with 42 goals scoring more than Tottenham and Liverpool.
- Blackpool have the worst home record (with Wigan) with 15 points from a possible 39 with wins against West Brom, Wolves, Liverpool and Tottenham draws with Fulham, Everton and Aston Villa and six defeats to Blackburn, Man City, Birmingham, Sunderland, Man Utd and West Ham.
- Ian Evatt has made more defensive clearances in the Premier League than any other player.
- Blackpool's matches have seen 97 goals with an average of 3.4 goals per game, more than any other side.
- Chelsea have won on the road at Bolton and Sunderland and drawn at Fulham since losing at Wolves on 5 January. In all competitions they are undefeated in the last five away matches.
- Chelsea have hit the woodwork 15 times in league matches which is more than any other Premier League team.
- The Blues have fallen behind in 11 of their last 18 league games and have come back to win on three occasions - at Ewood Park against Blackburn in October, Sunderland away and Man Utd on Tuesday.
- Chelsea have not lost a league game this season when opening the scoring.
- Chelsea have the best defensive record, conceding 23 goals in 27 games, in the Barclays Premier League this term and the third best attacking record scoring 48. Only Man Utd (62) and Arsenal (57) have scored more Premier League goals than Chelsea's 48.
- The Blues have the fifth best away record in the division with 19 points out of a possible 42 on their travels with victories at Wigan, West Ham, Blackburn, Bolton and Sunderland, draws at Aston Villa, Newcastle, Tottenham and Fulham and defeats to Man City, Liverpool, Birmingham, Arsenal and Wolves.
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 58 games against newly promoted teams in a run stretching back to April 2001 when Charlton defeated them at Stamford Bridge by the only goal. The 58 games include 50 wins and eight draws.
- Petr Cech is due to make his 300th Chelsea appearance at Blackpool and will become the clubs second overseas player to reach that milestone. Gianfranco Zola was the first and played 312 games.
- Ashley Cole's next game will be his 200th in a blue shirt.
- Salomon Kalou's next appearance from the bench will equal Joe Cole's club record of 93 substitute appearances for the Blues.
- Congratulations to Didier Drogba who celebrates his 33rd birthday next Friday and Nicolas Anelka his 32nd birthday on Monday week (the 14th).
Chelsea's last 10 visits to Bloomfield Road
1963/64 Chelsea won 5-1 - old First Division
1964/65 Blackpool won 3-2 - old First Division
1965/66 Chelsea won 2-1 - old First Division
1966/67 Drew 1-1 - League Cup
1966/67 Chelsea won 2-0 - old First Division
1970/71 Chelsea won 4-3 - old First Division
1971/72 Chelsea won 1-0 - FA Cup
1975/76 Chelsea won 2-0 - old Second Division
1976/77 Chelsea won 1-0 - old Second Division
1996/97 Chelsea won 4-1 - League Cup
Chelsea v Blackpool in all competitions
Games played 82
Chelsea wins 37
Blackpool wins 30
Draws 15
Head-to-head in the League at Bloomfield Road
Games played 38
Chelsea wins 15
Blackpool wins 19
Draws 4
Biggest league win at Bloomfield Road for each team
Blackpool 5-0 Chelsea - 27/03/1959
Blackpool 1-5 Chelsea - 26/12/1963
Days Since:
Chelsea last played at Bloomfield Road in the top flight: 14,742
Blackpool last home win against one of the top five: 10
Arsenal won a trophy: 2,114
Liverpool won a trophy: 1,748
My take on the Game:
After the season we have had its hard to say whether we have "turned a corner". But the win against Utd may just be what we need and we could very well go on a winning run from here on. For me i can only see one outcome, with Blackpool being without DJ Campbell and Charlie Adam i just cant see them creating many opportunities at all.
My Prediction: 3-1 to Chelsea. Goalscorers, Evatt for Blackpool and Torres x2 and Lampard for Chelsea.
going to predict 2-0 chelsea Torres and Lampard to score 
