As we prepare for the visit of Utd, it’s a relief to know that even if the outcome of the game ultimately decides the title, they can’t actually win it at Stamford Bridge. But they can get themselves in the history books yet again at the expense of our unbeaten home record. Our run of 100 domestic home games unbeaten: 80 in the league; 12 FA Cup and 8 League Cup, might impress some, but clearly Fergie would be much more impressed to see it broken next weekend. It’s a run that started on Saturday 20^th March 2004 with Claudio Ranieri overseeing a 2-1 win at home to Fulham and whilst some might feel a sense of pride in such an achievement, the Utd boss has no such sentiment. “Records are there to be broken” he says – and we all know how much he loves breaking them.

But, take the title out of the equation for a minute and how important is that record now? Yes, it’s a nice record to have, but if we were actually winning these games it’d be a lot nicer. As it is, we seem to be increasingly benevolent when it comes to sharing points with the opposition at home and in a similar vein to Arsenal’s title-winning unbeaten season, the record hides a multitude of sins, scrape-throughs and bloody good fortune. Whereas, back in December 2006 of the 51 unbeaten league games then, 42 were wins and only 9 were draws, the story since then hasn’t been one of such supremacy, with 17 wins and 12 draws from the 29 subsequent games. Whilst Utd haven’t got that unbeaten record at Old Trafford, what they have got in the same 29 games is 25 wins and only two draws – work the points out for yourselves.

So, with our draws increasing at a much higher rate than our points at home, this record clearly ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. Certainly, it’s fair to say we haven’t shown much killer instinct when it comes to finishing teams off under Grant’s management, but with the rot apparently showing signs of setting in under Mourinho, this isn’t one we can lay at Avram’s door (for a change). Be it the opposition more intent on breaking down the ‘Fortress’ myth or increasing nerves from the home team though, this is one record that seems to be fast becoming a millstone around the players necks that they clearly haven’t got the legs to carry much longer.

Filed under: Rants