Portsmouth vs Chelsea

Chelsea travel to the south coast where their present coach once was a football director before he moved to Stamford Bridge the previous summer. Pompeys, like us are badly reduced in strength due to the African Cup. And they don’t have an Anelka or Alex or Ballack to step in for their missing players. So a victory at Fratton Park today would establish a new club high of ten successive wins in the team. Its good to see such records being created when half the side is away due to injury or international duty. Speaking frankly, I never believed Chelsea would win 3 in a row without the trio of Lampard, terry and Drogba, forget 9.

Portsmouth also have strengthened their side with the introduction of Diarra, Baros and Defoe. Baros and Defoe are capable of unsettling any defense, and the absence of Carvalho due to suspension will be a major concern for us. It will be interesting to see if Grant decides to play his fellow Israeli Ben Haim or will it be the Chelsea debut of Branislav Ivanovic, recently brought to London from Lokomotiv Moscow. Grant may also play Bridge instead of Ashley Cole. The rest of the playing squad picks themselves. Lets hope Makelele and Ballack continue their impressive form and cause problems for veteran centre-backs Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin. Belleti will be back from suspension and will be dangerous on dead balls as always.

Portsmouth would certainly miss Utaka and Muntari in midfield. Diarra would play in midfield and Defoe would be keen to score goals again, now far away from the shadows of Berbatov and Keane. Chelsea are defending a 100% record against Portsmouth in the Premier League of nine wins out of nine, in which 19 goals were scored and just one conceded. All four previous Premier League visits to Fratton Park have been won by 0-2 margins. Cech has a perfect record against the Pompeys. Lets hope its another victory for the blues in the yellow jersey.

Guess at the team:
Cech
Belleti, Alex, BenHaim, Bridge
Wright-Phillips, Ballack, Makelele
J.Cole, Anelka, Malouda
Subs: Cudicini, Sidwell, Ivanovic, Pizzaro, A.Cole

Referee: Howard Webb

Scoreline Prediction: 0-2