Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion: squad sheets

Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion: squad sheets:

West Bromwich Albion have become regular executioners for recent Chelsea managers, defeats inflicted at the Hawthorns having effectively done for André Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo. Now the hat-trick actually appears on if Steve Clarke's return to Stamford Bridge yields a third successive league success. The atmosphere will be poisonous, the venom spat at Rafael Benítez after his midweek criticisms of fans for having "damaging agendas". Those agendas will feel all the more exposed now, particularly if Chelsea fail to secure a win to move them back into third, if potentially only for 24 hours. Dominic Fifield
Venue Stamford Bridge, Saturday 3pm
Tickets Sold out
Last season Chelsea 2 West Brom 1
Referee Kevin Friend
This season's matches 14 Y50, R1, 3.64 cards per game
Odds Chelsea 4-9 West Brom 8-1 Draw 7-2

Chelsea

Subs from Blackman, Hilário, Turnbull, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Bertrand, Ake, Oscar, Moses, Marin, Torres, Nkumu
Doubtful Terry (knee)
Injured Benayoun (ankle 10 Mar), Romeu (knee, Aug)
Suspended None
Form guide LWLDWD
Disciplinary record Y39 R2
Leading scorer Lampard 11

West Bromwich Albion

Subs from Daniels, Myhill, Rosenberg, Thomas, Odemwingie, Jones, Tamas, Fortuné, Allan, Hurst, Roofe, Sawyers
Doubtful Long (ankle), Odemwingie (unsettled)
Injured Thorne (knee, Sep), Gera (knee, Oct)
Suspended Popov (last of three)
Ineligble Lukaku (terms of loan)
Form guide WWLLDL
Disciplinary record Y47 R2
Leading scorer Lukaku 12

Match pointers

• Chelsea have not lost a Premier League home game in March since Sunderland won 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in 2001
• Of the teams to have played 20 or more Premier League games in March, only Ipswich (0.61) average fewer points per game than Albion (0.85)
• Chelsea have been awarded nine penalties so far this term, more than any other side in the division
• Romelu Lukaku is the top-scoring teenager across the leading five leagues in Europe – England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain – but is unable to face his parent club on Saturday
• Frank Lampard has scored 199 goals for Chelsea and is three away from equalling Bobby Tambling's club record of 202

• Chelsea
• West Bromwich Albion
• Premier League

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