BIRMINGHAM CITY
v
CHELSEA
St Andrews Stadium, Birmingham
November 20, 2010, 8:25 PM IST
St. Andrews will play host to defending champions Chelsea on Saturday in a Barclays Premier League match. Alex Mcleish’s side managed to grind out a goalless draw at the City of Manchester Stadium in their last premier league game. The draw did not improve Birmingham’s position in the league table though. They are currently on the 18th place, having not won a single game in the last four outings. Birmingham has developed a notion of being a tough nut to crack at their own backyard, having lost only a solitary game in their last 21 outings at St. Andrews. Last year in this fixture they did manage to hold Chelsea off to a goalless draw, thanks to the heroics of their on-loan goalkeeper, Joe Hart.
Even though Birmingham have failed to score against Chelsea nine times in their last 12 meetings, playing against the depleted Champions in front of the home crowd with Alexander Hleb back in action, Mcleish would want to improve his team’s standing at the expense of inflicting more blows to a punchdrunk Chelsea.
Last week the champions, to the despair of their fans worldwide, not only let go off an opportunity to take a significant lead over the closest rivals, but also suffered their worst defeat in many years, at the hands of Sunderland at Stamford Bridge. Number of fitness concerns has taken its toll on this already aged camp, questioning the depth of the team. This is the first time Chelsea has lost three games so early in the campaign in a decade. In the season of 2000-2001 they lost three games this early and finished the season at sixth spot, losing 11 games in total. This is perhaps the best time for the youth in the Chelsea ranks to step up and put their best effort to minimize Chelsea’s blues. With Essien suspended, it’s time for Ramires and Zhirkov and the youngsters to show their mettle.
Team News and Tactical Brief
Birmingham City
The Brum coach has no new addition to the medical front. James McFadden remains on the sidelines with a long-term knee injury and midfielder Craig Gardner is struggling with an ankle injury. Hleb has scored during the international friendly against Oman and is vying for a spot in the starting lineup. Left winger Jean Beausejour is knocking at the door for another start after missing out on an appearance at Eastlands. Mcleish would like to keep his back four in tact who did a commendable job against the Citizens.
Mcleish has made it clear that they’d keep the pressure against the Chelsea backline and play 4-4-2 just like Sunderland did. Ben Foster would be motivated to keep Drogba and Anelka at bay. Skipper Stephen Carr and Ridgewell will aim to keep the pressure on Chelsea’s wide midfielders. Roger Johnson and Scott Dann have created a formidable pairing in the centre of defence. Hleb and Ferguson will be used to keep the midfield ticking, with Ferguson as the ball winning midfield and Hleb being the distributor. Fahey and Ferguson will be asked to keep the Chelsea full backs busy at the back. The pairing of Jerome and Zigic will be made to stretch the vulnerable heart of Chelsea defense and Beausejour could come off the bench to add to the Brum’s attacking prowess.
Probable Starting Line-up: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Fahey, Hleb, Ferguson, Larson, Zigic, Jerome.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s medical room blues continued since the debacle of last week. Lampard and Terry have already been ruled out of the game and so is Benayoun. Essien will be serving another suspension. Chelsea’s defensive woes became so prominent in the last match that Alex, who was supposed to have a surgery on his troubled knee, was asked to plug the gap.
Welcome back, Tank
“Tomorrow Alex will be available to play, this is good news, he trained well with the Brazilian team but we know that he needs to have surgery,” Ancelotti said. “Now we are in the position that we can [delay] this, but we know he needs to have surgery. It’s not a risk, but his knee needs to be cleaned up.” Though Ferreira is fresh and ready for the game, Ancelotti is set to field Bosingwa who has played 90 minutes against Spain in the midweek. The midweek fixture did take its toll on the champions in the form of tightness on the calf of Zhirkov, the midweek international fixture on the artificial surface doing him in.
Ancelotti will play the game in this season’s traditional 4-3-3 formation. Bosingwa and Cole to start as the full backs and will be asked to roam forward to support their wingers. Ivanovic will partner Alex who has been summoned to bring stability at the back. Ramires and Malouda, who will play in the midfield rather than further upfront, will have to step up to distribute the ball while Mikel will anchor the midfield. Anelka and Kalou will flank Drogba down the wings.
Probable Starting Line-up: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Ivanovic, Cole, Mikel, Malouda, Ramires, Kalou, Drogba, Anelka.
Key Facts
1. Chelsea are looking to extend their unbeaten record against Birmingham to 18 games in over 30 years, with 12 wins and five draws so far.
2. The last time Chelsea lost back to back games in the premier league was 165 matches ago.
3. Petr Cech is hoping for his 150th clean sheet in his 281st game for the club.
TheHardTackle’s PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR
Florent Malouda(Chelsea FC): After a week of dismal performance, the French skipper inspired France to a commanding to victory over England in the midweek. The top scorer of the league (along with Carrol, Tevez and Kevin Nolan) is ready to put Chelsea back on track. With Zhirkov out of the game, Malouda might have to play a different role in the centre of the midfield, to ensure that the midfield is kept in proper order.
The HardTackle’s PREDICTION
Birmingham City 0-1 Chelsea FC
Birmingham has conceded only 5 times at home in this season. They are fresh from a mighty goalless draw against Manchester City. The Brums will be wary of Chelsea backlash which is due for some time now. It is expected to be a scrappy game with Chelsea to just edge past their rivals.
TheHardTackle’s BLAST FROM THE PAST