Venue: Stamford Bridge, Fulham, London
Kickoff: 13:00 - Live on SkySports 1 and HD1
Competition: Barclays Premier League round 20
Chelsea News:
The relief at finally winning a game on Wednesday must have been tempered somewhat for those who were aware of the consequences of the yellow card shown to Branislav Ivanovic who has been outstanding in the heart of Chelsea's defence in recent games. The card was his fifth of the season, bringing a single match suspension - just two days before the punishment threshold was raised to ten cautions.
Who will partner JT on Sunday? Back in November when the missing Serb was Chelsea's only senior centre-half available, Paulo Ferreira moved into the middle, with Jose Bosingwa at right-back. The game was Sunderland at the Bridge, and we all know how that turned out. Young Jeffrey Bruma was not considered ready for that match but has played in two Champions League games since. Another possibility would be to deploy Michael Essien in an occasional role which has been quite successful. The Double winners' options elsewhere in the team will depend on whether the likes of Jon Obi Mikel, Daniel Sturridge or Yuri Zhirkov are available again following injury.
Villa News:
Gerard Houllier can welcome back Emile Heskey though his movement is more restricted these days, the former England international has often caused even John Terry problems in the air. At set plays the Frenchman would expect his more powerful players such as centre-back James Collins, wide forward Gabriel Agbonlahor, and big John Carew, who is usually on the bench and does not always come on. The Norwegian missed the Christmas games having been stuck in his homeland due to snow.
Another threat from the bench is veteran former Arsenal wideman Robert Pires, although Villa have lost all five league matches in which the onetime France international has been involved since his arrival.
Chelsea Stats and Milestones:
Chelsea's Premier League record against the Villans at Stamford Bridge is:
1992/93 Villa won 1-0
1993/94 Drew 1-1
1994/95 Chelsea won 1-0
1995/96 Villa won 2-1
1996/97 Drew 1-1
1997/98 Villa won 1-0
1998/99 Chelsea won 2-1
1999/00 Chelsea won 1-0
2000/01 Chelsea won 1-0
2001/02 Villa won 3-1
2002/03 Chelsea won 2-0
2003/04 Chelsea won 1-0
2004/05 Chelsea won 1-0
2005/06 Chelsea won 2-1
2006/07 Drew 1-1
2007/08 Drew 4-4
2008/09 Chelsea won 2-0
2009/10 Chelsea won 7-1
Chelsea v Aston Villa in all competitions
Games played 141
Chelsea wins 53
Villa wins 55
Draws 33
Head to head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 63
Chelsea wins 33
Villa wins 18
Draws 12
Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
27/03/2010 Chelsea 7-1 Aston Villa
19/09/1931 Chelsea 3-6 Aston Villa
Kickoff: 13:00 - Live on SkySports 1 and HD1
Competition: Barclays Premier League round 20
Chelsea News:
The relief at finally winning a game on Wednesday must have been tempered somewhat for those who were aware of the consequences of the yellow card shown to Branislav Ivanovic who has been outstanding in the heart of Chelsea's defence in recent games. The card was his fifth of the season, bringing a single match suspension - just two days before the punishment threshold was raised to ten cautions.
Who will partner JT on Sunday? Back in November when the missing Serb was Chelsea's only senior centre-half available, Paulo Ferreira moved into the middle, with Jose Bosingwa at right-back. The game was Sunderland at the Bridge, and we all know how that turned out. Young Jeffrey Bruma was not considered ready for that match but has played in two Champions League games since. Another possibility would be to deploy Michael Essien in an occasional role which has been quite successful. The Double winners' options elsewhere in the team will depend on whether the likes of Jon Obi Mikel, Daniel Sturridge or Yuri Zhirkov are available again following injury.
Villa News:
Gerard Houllier can welcome back Emile Heskey though his movement is more restricted these days, the former England international has often caused even John Terry problems in the air. At set plays the Frenchman would expect his more powerful players such as centre-back James Collins, wide forward Gabriel Agbonlahor, and big John Carew, who is usually on the bench and does not always come on. The Norwegian missed the Christmas games having been stuck in his homeland due to snow.
Another threat from the bench is veteran former Arsenal wideman Robert Pires, although Villa have lost all five league matches in which the onetime France international has been involved since his arrival.
Chelsea Stats and Milestones:
- Chelsea's home record in the league this season is seven wins against West Brom, Stoke, Blackpool, Arsenal, Wolves, Fulham and Bolton, one draw with Everton and a defeat to Sunderland.
- The Blues have fallen behind seven times in our last 10 league games.
- Chelsea have scored six goals in the last nine league games and won nine points from the last possible 27.
- Chelsea have conceded the fewest goals, 15 from 19 games, in the Barclays Premier League this term.
- Frank Lampard has scored more goals for Chelsea against Aston Villa than any other team - 10.
- Didier Drogba is due to make his 150th Premier League start in a blue shirt.
- Salomon Kalou's next strike will be his 50th Chelsea goal
- Happy Birthday to Ross Turnbull who celebrates his 26th birthday on Tuesday.
- Villa's 20 points is their lowest total at the turn of the year since the Premier League began in 1992.
- Villa have lost five of their last six in the Barclays Premier League and won only one of their last seven. They have lost all seven matches in which they have conceded the opening goal.
- Villa have the worst away record in the Premier League having won four points from a possible 27 with a -17 goal difference. They have won at Wolves, drawn with Fulham and lost at Newcastle, Stoke, Tottenham, Sunderland, Blackburn, Liverpool and Man City. They have won one point from their last six away games as well as a defeat to Birmingham in the League Cup.
- The Villans have conceded 20 goals in their last eight Premier League outings and have not kept a clean sheet since 31 October.
- No club have let in more league goals than Villa's 34, nine of which have been conceded in the final 10 minutes.
- The Villans are one of seven clubs to have appeared in every season in the Premier League.
Chelsea's Premier League record against the Villans at Stamford Bridge is:
1992/93 Villa won 1-0
1993/94 Drew 1-1
1994/95 Chelsea won 1-0
1995/96 Villa won 2-1
1996/97 Drew 1-1
1997/98 Villa won 1-0
1998/99 Chelsea won 2-1
1999/00 Chelsea won 1-0
2000/01 Chelsea won 1-0
2001/02 Villa won 3-1
2002/03 Chelsea won 2-0
2003/04 Chelsea won 1-0
2004/05 Chelsea won 1-0
2005/06 Chelsea won 2-1
2006/07 Drew 1-1
2007/08 Drew 4-4
2008/09 Chelsea won 2-0
2009/10 Chelsea won 7-1
Chelsea v Aston Villa in all competitions
Games played 141
Chelsea wins 53
Villa wins 55
Draws 33
Head to head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 63
Chelsea wins 33
Villa wins 18
Draws 12
Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
27/03/2010 Chelsea 7-1 Aston Villa
19/09/1931 Chelsea 3-6 Aston Villa