West Ham
The 3rd of May, 2003: The last time West Ham won a league fixture against London rivals Chelsea at Upton Park in the Premier League. Such is the leaps and bounds Chelsea have made since then that West Ham simply haven’t been able to keep up with their London counterparts, but fans were optimistic that Avram Grant would change all that and with the financial aid from the two David’s, had high hopes of the Israeli converting the club into one with solid Premiership foundations. At the moment, with the new season three games old, West Ham are resting on the foundations after opening with three successive defeats and their hopes of obtaining a first win of the season this weekend don’t look particularly promising.

I never really expected a great deal from the Hammers this season, who’s primary objective for the season was to avoid the drop with anything else a bonus. Right now, a bonus would probably be winning a game of football such is the woeful start to the season Grant’s Hammers have made. They began with a dismal effort at Aston Villa losing 3-0 and have yet still to recover from their opening day battering, following up with two more three goal concessions when losing at home to Bolton 3-1 and 3-0 at Man Utd.

Unlike some teams, the International break most certainly came at the opportunistic time for West Ham as it enabled Avram Grant and his players time to regroup and really go back to basics. The worrying thing is Grant did have money to spend over the summer and even managed a late swoop for Blackburn defender Lars Jacobsen. Victor Obinna could be an interesting addition as he brings an abundance of pace to the table for West Ham, who also have the likes of Luis Boa Morte and Kieron Dyer in similar type moulds but the latter two seem very jaded after spending the last couple of seasons in the treatment room. Carlton Cole hasn’t quite turned his scoring radar on while Robert Green has seen his spot in the England team disappear right before his very eyes after conceding nine goals in the first three league games.

Grant is likely put most of his focus into the midfield in a bid to squeeze a point out of an extremely tricky home fixture. A huge shirt is required from Mark Noble and Scott Parker in the centre of the park as they’ll need to protect a defence which has conceded goals for fun this season. The Hammers did play out a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Upton Park last season and the main reason for their success then was the attitude of their midfielders, who were ever willing to run their socks off and give Chelsea as little time on the ball as possible. They’ll need to do the same on Saturday if they’re to leave Upton Park with something to show for their efforts.


Chelsea
Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea are threatening to run away with the Premier League title, beginning the defence of their crown by setting a blistering pace, with not one single team in the division able to withstand their fierce early pace. Fourteen goals have been scored without reply and it’s a wonder why bookmakers are even taking bets as Chelsea prepare to clash with one of their many London rivals, although this same rival took valuable points off the Blues last term so perhaps bookies are quietly confident of another priceless pay-day at Chelsea’s expense.

While bookies around the country are praying for Chelsea to slip up, as they did last season at Upton Park, the likelihood of that happening appear slim at best. Granted their early fixtures have all been easy ones on paper, but the fact they’ve blasted past West Brom, Wigan and Stoke City without any sort of fuss is frightening, as Chelsea now have their tails up and that’s never a good sign for an opponent. They were six-sational against West Brom and Wigan Athletic, scoring six goals in both encounters, while they displayed the sort of battling qualities and resilience needed to win the Premier League for a second consecutive year when ousting a stubborn Stoke at Stamford Bridge – Leaving Chelsea as the only team in the Premier League boasting maximum points from their opening three games.

There were, though, growing concerns over two of Chelsea’s most influential players in defensive stalwart John Terry and the evergreen Frank Lampard. The English duo both missed two crucial EURO 2012 qualifiers with their country through injury – Although England comfortably beat both Bulgaria and Switzerland without them leaving question makrs over their inclusions in England’s October qualifier with Montenegro – and there were genuine doubts over their participation in Chelsea’s next fixture away at West Ham. However, Ancelotti has thrown cold water over any speculation that neither Lampard nor Terry would make the trip to Upton Park by saying the pair are likely to begin Saturday’s proceedings in the starting eleven. The pair of them both returned to training earlier in the week and will welcome the likes of Didier Drogba, Yossi Benayoun and Ashley Cole, among others, back into camp following the international break.

Should Lampard not be fit enough, Ancelotti could hand Brazilian ace Ramires his first competitive start for the club since joining in the summer from Benfica. However, the England midfielder should start and will look to form that deadly link up with the in the form Didier Drogba, who really has been sensational for Chelsea this season and already boasts four league goals. The Ivorian powerhouse should have no problem competing with the West Ham defence, one which is conceding on average three goals a game this season. Florent Malouda is another in tip-top form right now, scoring in France’s win over Bosnia on Tuesday, and he should be the main source of Chelsea’s chances at Upton Park out on the wing as the Blues look to keep up this winning trend of theirs, having not slipped up in the league since losing at White Hart Lane to Tottenham back in April.

Match

A surprising draw

isn't it 3pm?

chelseabmw:

chelsea 4- westham 0

hope you are not confusing west ham for west brom. everyday no be christmas remember.

so be happy with a 1 - 0 win.

Westham will provide stiff test but i expect our all-round quality to see us through another 3 points in the bag.

chrisical:

Westham will provide stiff test but i expect our all-round quality to see us through another 3 points in the bag.

i have to agree anyway.

The hammers are ready for goaless.

Chelsea or Chelsick to loose to westham or 2-2 draw

^^^^^^

Have you lost your way?


West Ham 1 - Chelsea 3

No away win this weekend,chelski best will be draw

Chelsea will win

Avram. . .for allowing Terry take that PK in Moscow

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

100% record continues

Manu don win and back to top of the table and wil remian der

^^^^you sure?  last time I chk it was Everton 3 - 3 Man U and Chelsea still on top of the table

No Alex, no Lampard, no Malouda.

Ramires, Essien and Mikel in midfield. What a defense minded midfield.
Lots of energy though. Ramires gets first start.
Let's  see what the dude's got.

Goal.

see u guys later. . . .i want to enjoy this match. . . . Remaing 3 goals to come

west ham is a disgrace, worry woves is better

Rob Green is at it again.

Lawd have mercy!!!

Should West Ham be relegated. . .YES!!!