Visit To Ewood Park

Will Santa Cruz celebrate his Christmas with a win or will Lampard hit the net 100th time for the blues....

Another defeat would leave Mark Hughes even more frustrated with the Rovers. They haven't lived up to the potential they showed at the beginning of the season, and their own dream to break into the elite group of the Premier League seems unrealistic now. With Wigan netting five goals in the previous match against them, their confidence seems to have sunk to new depths. The only good thing for them is the form of Paraguay international Roque Santa Cruz.

Chelsea will also be eying nothing less than victory, to keep their title challenges alive and remain close to the top at Christmas. We are coming back from a victory against Liverpool in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup, and though Drogba and Shevchenko will be missed, I think Chelsea would win this match comfortably. I'm not sure whether Ballack will start the match, but the return of Carvalho and Essien will be a boost to us. The outcome of the game will depend upon how Chelsea will take their chances and how the defense will cope against McCarthy and Santa Cruz in the absence of Terry.

Ryan Nelsen, the New Zealand defender, has confessed he is having sleepless nights with the recent form of his team. So it remains to be seen if his woes continue or if its Grant's turn to have sleepless nights. With the El Classico from NouCamp and the Milan derby, tonight is going to be a treat-to-eyes for football fans. Lets hope Lampard and Co. will make it even more memorable for us

My guess at the team:
Cech
Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Ashley
Essien
Lampard, Ballack
Joe Cole, kalou, SWP

Subs: Cudicini, BenHaim, Bridge, Mikel, Pizzaro

Scoreline prediction: 1-2

Terry, Drogba....Get well soon.