It’s been a relatively quiet week if you ignore the news that Jose Mourinho’s leaving for Inter Milan, Frank Lampard’s off to the warmer climes of Barcelona, Arjen Robben to Three Point Lane and Shaun Wright-Phillips to Liverpool. Without a Chelsea match to work themselves into a frenzy over, the hacks have had a field day dismantling the current squad. All in a day’s work I suppose. Hopefully the team will give them something to get their teeth into today — a goalfest similar to the reverse fixture at the Bridge on Boxing Day with any luck.
Mourinho has two minor injury concerns. Eidur Gudjohnsen was reported as having a temperature after training on Thursday, while Claude Makelele received a knock during the same session. Both are expected to recover and be in contention for a starting place. The only player definitely out is Arjen Robben who will be serving the second match of his four-match ban for receiving two red cards this season. Wayne Bridge, who is on loan at Craven Cottage till the end of the season, is not allowed to play under the terms of the deal.
Prediction: We’re unbeaten in nine Premiership matches against Fulham (six wins, three draws). We’ve won six on the trot in all competitions against the Cottagers — five of which were League contests including last season’s 1-4 win in this fixture. Chris Coleman’s side kept up their appalling away record (no wins this season) in midweek when they were thrashed 5-1 by goal-shy Liverpool. Luckily their home form is a deal better: nine wins and two draws, which will surely keep them in the Premiership. A defeat today will have them looking over their shoulder though. 0-2.
Related links:
- Mourinho looks to maintain flawless Fulham record
- Wright-Phillips looking to step-up and score
- Eriksson names Cole as top player
Fulham 1 – 0 Chelsea · Update
Match reports: BBC Sport; Sky Sports; ESPNSoccernet; Official Chelsea FC Website; The Guardian; Daily Telegraph; The Times; The Independent.
Related links:
- Reaction: Mourinho – I had to bring something new
- Ref Dean defends Drogba decision
- Fulham will probe pitch invasion
- Fulham influenced ref – Mourinho
- Reaction: Cech – We wanted this game for the fans
- Jose provides fun fare
- Mourinho in danger of losing friends and alienating people
- Flag is the buzzword as Dean comes under fire
- Chelsea face a second blitz of charges
- Mourinho must move on or he will soon need to move out
- Chelsea face another charge as FA launch investigation
Chelsea charged… again · Update
Chelsea have been charged by the Football Association with failure to control their players during the above match.
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