It certainly wasn’t pretty, but Chelsea managed to scrape past Sunderland last weekend to gain a stronghold on fourth spot, profiteering from Arsenal’s slip-up against Swansea to extend the distance between them and the Gunners to four points. They will be looking to continue their three-game winning streak on Saturday when they travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich, who themselves are on a three-game winning streak as well, holding a respectable 9th place in the Premier League. The two teams faced off at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture in August, when Chelsea came out victorious 3-1.
Norwich City :
Called this season’s Blackpool, Norwich City have been able to sustain a strong top half position in the Premier League table longer than last term’s relegated entertainers, and will be looking to push on from their good showing in the first half of the season to confirm their continued presence in the English top division. It was the second half of the season when the Seasiders’ gung-ho attacking approach started to get found out, and when likened to Ian Holloway’s side, Norwich manager Paul Lambert reiterated that there was still a lot of work to be done if they were to avoid the drop, and a top-half position in January wouldn’t count for much if they lost form in the second half of the term.
Despite scoring freely throughout the term, the Canaries have conceded a goal in each of their 21 games to date, and have not yet kept a clean sheet either this season. They, however, will go into the game against the Blues riding high on confidence, having won their last two in the Premier League along with their FA Cup fourth round fixture against Burnley. A late winner from Steve Morison, his eighth league goal of the campaign, helped them edge out the Baggies last weekend, but the side will be looking for their first points against a top-five side when Chelsea come visiting on Saturday.
Chelsea :
Despite being far from convincing, Chelsea have been getting the wins in the last two weeks to help them upwards in the Premier League ladder. Their manager Andre Villas-Boas’ has in this period insisted that a shot at the title is not beyond them, but in honesty the Blues have not looked like possessing the consistency to come anywhere close to the teams lying above them. A heartening performance has been followed by disappointing displays against teams in the bottom half of the table, with the side’s three losses at their usual fortress Stamford Bridge example of the profligacy that they have shown. Four of their next five games are on the road, and if they are to hold onto that Champions League spot and maybe even trouble the top three, then dropping cheap points will not be an option for the Blues.
Chelsea will know that there are goals to be had when facing Norwich, given the fact that the Canaries have conceded an average of 1.5 goals every game. With the lack of striking options at his disposal, Andre Villas-Boas has persisted with £50 million man Fernando Torres despite his lack of goals, and for all his good overall play the striker will need to make his appearances count for goals. The Blues have not had great success away from home in recent weeks, winning just one of their last three on the road, and in their previous game against Norwich earlier in the season needed two late goals including a penalty to sneak past the newly-promoted side.
Head to Head :
27 Aug ’11 : Chelsea 3 – 1 Norwich City
5 Mar ’05 : Norwich City 1 – 3 Chelsea
Form Guide :
Norwich City (WWWDL)
14 Jan ’11 : West Bromwich Albion 1 – 2 Norwich City
7 Jan ’11 : Norwich City 4 – 1 Burnley
2 Jan ’11 : Queens Park Rangers 1 – 2 Norwich City
31 Dec ’11 : Norwich City 1 – 1 Fulham
27 Dec ’11 : Norwich City 0 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea (WWWLD)
14 Jan ’11 : Chelsea 1 – 0 Sunderland
8 Jan ’11 : Chelsea 4 – 0 Portsmouth
2 Jan ’11 : Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 – 2 Chelsea
31 Dec ’11 : Chelsea 1 – 3 Aston Villa
26 Dec ’11 : Chelsea 1 – 1 Fulham
Probable Line-Ups :
Norwich City (4-4-2) – Ruddy, Whitbread, Ayala, Martin, Naughton, Johnson, Surman, PIlkington, Hoolahan, Morison, Holt
While Steve Morison has become a regular in Paul Lambert’s side, the second striker’s position has been up for grabs throughout the season. Grant Holt came off the bench to devastating effect against West Brom and could be handed a start at the expense of Simeon Jackson. Andrew Surman also found the net against the Baggies and should be handed a start, while Anthony Pilkington is expected to beat Andrew Crofts to left-wing berth. Daniel Ayala has been brilliant in his recent appearances at the back and will partner Russell Martin again, while on-loan Kyle Naughton will continue at right-back.
Chelsea (4-3-3) – Cech, Terry, Cahill, Cole, Bosingwa, Essien/Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Sturridge, Torres
Michael Essien made his long-awaited return from injury last weekend as a second-half substitute, and could be given his first start since August against the Canaries on Saturday. He is expected to be joined by Daniel Sturridge, who was an unused substitute against the Black Cats and has finally returned to full fitness. Fernando Torres is a surety in attack, and the Spaniard will be looking to make his recently improving performances count for goals. Former Bolton center-half Gary Cahill sealed his move to Stamford Bridge earlier this week, and could be given an early chance to impress as well.
Prediction:•Chelsea will be favourites to win the encounter, but the high-flying Canaries looking to jump up to 8th place cannot be discounted on Saturday. Norwich’s home form has not been very solid, but neither have Chelsea’s performances on the road, and the side who defends the better of the two is expected to pull off a win.
Predicted Scoreline : Norwich City 1 – 2 Chelsea
