After the international break, the Premier League returns this weekend as Chelsea entertain West Bromwich Albion in a 12.30pm kick-off at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s opponents are the side that was 3-0 up at halftime during the meeting at The Hawthorns earlier this season but conceded three during the second half.
And they were lucky to escape with a point as Chelsea piled on the pressure to find a fourth and winning goal in a game that ended 3-3.
Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham – three Academy players given a regular first-team slot by former manager Frank Lampard – were the Chelsea goal scorers.
It was the game in which Marcus Alonso – who was replaced at halftime – left the stadium to watch the second half on the team bus rather than remain inside the stadium with the coaching staff and, as a result, was dropped permanently by Lampard for showing a clear lack of discipline.
LATEST ODDS: CHELSEA v WEST BROM
However, when the former England midfielder was replaced as manager, Alonso was immediately reinstated by the Englishman’s replacement and since coming back in favour, has played really well.
In December last year, the Baggies hired Sam ‘Houdini’ Allardyce with the hope that he might change their fortunes, the West Midland side having been in the bottom three of the Premier League for the length of the current campaign.
Despite the poor form of Chelsea’s guests, The Blues have had a host of Thomas Tuchel’s regulars out on international duty over the course of the last fortnight.
So it wouldn’t surprise me if any of those who earned a cap look a little lethargic with many of them having played three matches.
Whilst the West Midland side have been struggling, The Blues are currently riding a wave of great form and remain unbeaten in their last 14 matches, 13 of them coming since their German manager arrived.
Although Tuchel is getting the plaudits for steadying Chelsea’s defence – and rightly so – he has been left frustrated at the lack of goals his players have scored.
Timo Werner, the player who was purchased last summer to hit the back of the net, has been suffering an obvious crisis of confidence of late.
A burden that was on display for all to see when he missed a glaring opportunity to score in Germany’s surprise midweek defeat to North Macedonia.
Notwithstanding the paucity of goals, for my Chelsea bet this week, I’ll be placing my money on there being over three goals in the game (hopefully all for Chelsea), the price being 2.95 with our friends at FansBet.
About the Author
Londoner David Johnstone is a home, away and European away Chelsea supporter and has missed just six matches since 2001 (although he’s quick to state there are plenty of other supporters with better attendance records than him).
He has been involved with the fanzine scene at Chelsea since around 1991 and started the ‘cfcuk’ fanzine in 1999 which was, until Mr Abramovich bought the club in 2003, named ‘Matthew Harding’s Blue And White Army’.
David was also responsible for forming both the Chelsea Supporters’ Group and the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust which are the main two bodies that represent the followers of Chelsea FC and take their concerns to those running the club.
A founder of the highly regarded Chelsea FanCast weekly podcast (but is no longer involved) and responsible for the crowd surfing banners and supporter displays that are seen in the Matthew Harding Stand at Stamford Bridge on matchday.
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