Chelsea vs Sunderland (preview)

After a rousing and very welcome 3-0 away win at form-team Hull City, we welcome Roy Keane and his hard working side to the Bridge for yet another league battle.

Vital Quotes:

We had to work hard to defeat Phil Brown's shock troops midweek and will have to work just as hard tomorrow to break down a resolute Sunderland defence.

Chelsea Team News:

Chelsea welcome back Joe Cole after limping off against Hull and he may start, although a substitute's role seems more likely. To everyone's amazement, Didier Drogba is set for an outing on the bench as he recovers from his injury, whilst Ricardo Carvalho misses out at the back. Alex will step in. We expect Chelsea to line up as Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, A Cole, Malouda, Deco, Lampard, Mikel, Kalou and Anelka. The bench will probably be Cudicini, Ivanovic, J Cole, Drogba, Di Santo, Belletti and Bridge.

Player to watch: Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard - absolutely imperious against Hull after a disappointing outing against Liverpool. In fine form and will be looking to stamp his authority on a solid looking Sunderland midfield right from the off.

Sunderland Team News:

Big threat Kenwynne Jones is fit again and start at the Bridge. Gordon is out so Fulop continues in goal, whilst Bardsley has recovered from a dead leg and will play. Chimbinda, Tainio and Nosworthy are pushing for a recall. Team (from): Gordon, Fulop, Colgan, Bardsley, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Tainio, Leadbitter, Miller, Yorke, Richardson, Reid, Diouf, Jones, Cisse, Chopra, Murphy, Healy, Waghorn.

Player to watch: Kenwynne Jones

It goes without saying that Sunderland's main threat is Kenwynne Jones. The big guy has pace to burn, is a huge threat in the air and can hold the ball up, although he is at his most dangerous with the ball at his feet. He must be watched closely tomorrow and again in January when hopefully we'll buy him. Class player.

Match Facts

Games against Sunderland are either easy hammerings or tight draws. We have a terrible record up at theirs, and its probably not unfair to suggest that their record at ours is equally bad. Some memorable hidings have been dished out over the years, but they look an altogether different proposition to the flimsy outfit under Peter Reid, and Keane has them playing good football but remaining hard to beat. This will not be easy.

Ref Watch:

Whoever it is, he cant be as big of a tool as Howard Webb who gave us precisely four-fifths of Feck-all at home to the Golden Scousers. Or can he? Whoever it is, can he please let the game flow and not blow for every tackle please? Is that too much to ask?

Match Prediction:

My heart recalls some joyous hammerings in the past, with 4-0 coming to mind a couple of times, plus that wonderful 6-2 battering in the Zola days. My head says this will be nothing like as easy. They will keep it tight, defend deeply and try to get it out wide as often as possible to push our fullbacks back. Much depends on how much room they give Deco and Lampard. If they close things up like Liverpool did then we will be in for a hard afternoon, but if they defend too deeply then we are very capable to imposing ourselves on them. I'll go for a 1-0 win. Ashley Cole is due one, so i'll go for him as scorer. All we ask is that we dont get any more injuries!!

Next Game:

Roma Away - potentially tricky tie in Rome not as pressured as it might be. We can afford to go there and lose, but we wont. With our style suited to playing away from home i think it will be a more open game than the one at the Bridge. Should be a cracker.