Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Saturday, 28 February
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
We go into today’s game against Wigan ten points behind the league leaders and if we’re going to continue to push Liverpool for second place, then nothing less than 3 points will do at Stamford Bridge today.
Hiddink seems to be going on about something a little more than second place, however unrealistic that might appear to the rest of us, and prior to the game says “If we are focusing on the title then we have to win everything that is true. But Manchester United have to drop points as well and they are a very stable squad. It is difficult. But, yes, we have to win everything.”
Steve Bruce, who for me, just comes across as a proper sound bloke, suggests “I have the highest regard for Chelsea’s boss Guus Hiddink and, when I watched them in the Champions League, they are a very good team with very good players. I saw them pulverise Juventus in the first half of their Champions League tie, so there is not an awful lot wrong. A new manager has brought another intensity, they are going to be rolling up their sleeves and giving it a go – that is normal in the short term. That means we are going to have to work really hard on Saturday.”
On the squad front, Joe Cole remains out long term and Michael Essien is still not ready for a return. A hamstring injury continues to keep Ricardo Carvalho out and likewise, Deco is a doubt with the same injury, whilst Jose Bosingwa misses out through suspension.
For Wigan, Antonio Valencia (hamstring) and Mido (groin) miss out, whilst Daniel de Ridder and Jason Koumas are doubtful. Ben Watson also misses out through suspension.
KEY PLAYERS
CHELSEA
Nicolas Anelka narrowly missed out on another goal against Juventus midweek although remains the Premier League’s top scoring player with 21 in all competitions. With Didier Drogba finding the back of the net in Europe this week, Anelka should be looking to remind everyone why he’s our top scorer today.
WIGAN
Amr Zaki might not have scored in open play for what seems an eternity, but he’s still Wigan’s top scorer in the league with ten goals and could be looking to up that tally against a slightly weakened Chelsea defence.
CLUB FORM
CHELSEA
We might have won our last three games in all competitions but have only managed one win from our last three in the Premier League. We’ve lost four games so far this season although are unbeaten in seven at home in the league. Of the 15 games in which we’ve scored first, we’ve won 13, drawn one and lost one. We sit 3rd in the league going into this game and with 52 points, are three down on this time last season.
WIGAN
Wigan come into this game looking for their first win in 7. Under Steve Bruce, they’ve won 17 and lost 17, averaging a goal a game at present (26 in 26). In 10 top-flight games where Wigan have scored first, they’ve lost just the one. Having said that though, they haven’t scored a goal in the first-half of a game since December. They currently lie 7th in the league and 12 points better off than this time last season.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Latics have never beaten us in a league game, scoring only three goals against us in seven Premier League games. Their only point against us came at Stamford Bridge in a 1-1 draw last April. They have had a couple of cup wins against us though, albeit back in the early 80’s.
Home and Away
League (inc PL): Chelsea 6 wins, Wigan 0, Draws 1
Prem: Chelsea 6 wins, Wigan 0, Draws 1
At Chelsea only:
League (inc PL): Chelsea 2 wins, Wigan 0, Draws 1
Prem: Chelsea 2 wins, Wigan 0, Draws 1
LAST SEASON’S GAME
Chelsea 1-1 Wigan
Chelsea scorer: Essien 55
Wigan scorer: Heskey 90
14 April 2008 – Ref: Andre Marriner
THIS SEASON’S REVERSE
Wigan 0-1 Chelsea
Chelsea scorer: Deco 4
24 August 2008 – Ref: Alan Wiley
PREDICTION
I don’t know about this one really. I mean, we’ve won the last two under Hiddink and there’s always the chance that the honeymoon period could continue but then again our home form isn’t our strongest point this season and come to that, neither is our defence today. Mind you, Steve Bruce’s Wigan aren’t exactly prolific in front of goal and their last three goalless draws could mean one of two things – either they’ll come looking for the same and at least a point from the Bridge, or they’ll go for it and try to break that run. Either way, I can see this being a hard fought game.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (From): Cech, Hilario, Taylor, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Mancienne, Ivanovic, A Cole, Belletti, Stoch, Lampard, Mikel, Ballack, Deco, Kalou, Drogba, Anelka, Malouda, Di Santo.
WIGAN (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa, Cattermole, N’Zogbia, Sibierski, Kapo, Zaki, Kingson, Pollitt, Edman, Brown, Boyce, Rodallega.
REFEREE
Lee Probert (Gloucestershire)