Match preview: Chelsea v West Brom - Premier League

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge

Rafael Benitez steps into the tie looking to guide his team back to winning ways after a 2-0 defeat to defending Premier League champions Manchester City in their last league fixture.

The Spaniard’s job has been under question all week despite their 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, and the pressures of finishing third from the fans looks to be showing after his midweek rant.

Only nine points behind Chelsea, Steve Clarke’s West Brom side have won two games in a row and the former Chelsea player and coach will be delighted if his side can produce the same result as when they met earlier this season.

 

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm 

 

PAST THREE MEETINGS...

West Brom 2 (Shane Long, Peter Odemwingie) Chelsea 1 (Eden Hazard), Premier League, November 2012 

West Brom 1 (Gareth McAuley) Chelsea 0, Premier League, March 2012

Chelsea 2 (Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda) West Brom 1 (Shane Long) Premier League, August 2011

 

STATS...

Both Roberto Di Matteo and Andre Villas-Boas lost their last Premier League games in charge of Chelsea to West Brom before getting sacked.

This will be the first time Steve Clarke has returned to Stamford Bridge as a manager of another club.

Apart from their 2-0 defeat to Man City, Chelsea’s Frank Lampard has scored in every Premier League game since 20 January 2012.

West Brom have failed to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge since 1984 in the League Cup, when they won 1-0. 

 

ODDS...

Chelsea to win: 1.43

West Brom to win: 9.4

Draw: 5

 

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.25pm

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: Look each way for value in The Cote D’Azur Open

With the top nine players in the men’s world tennis rankings all missing this tournament to prepare ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: We could have been on the tour of Siberia over past 72 hours

When cyclists look back on their careers spanning many hundreds (and in some cases possibly thousand...

by Martin Ayres

Nike kit deal puts England at No 2 in the world (but which country is top?)

As England’s new football strip – made by Nike – is revealed today, new research shows the English F...

by Alex Miller

       

Day In a Page

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

Masculinity in crisis?

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
Have US shock jocks gone too far?

Have US shock jocks gone too far?

An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
Heavenly Bodies

Heavenly Bodies

Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell
'He will always be a friend': Jackie Stewart backs Polanski

'He will always be a friend'

Jackie Stewart backs Roman Polanski
The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in