Alan Irvine says West Bromwich Albion’s recent good record against Chelsea will count for nothing when they take on the leaders of the Barclays Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

West Brom have lost only one of their past five encounters with Chelsea and came very close to inflicting upon Jose Mourinho, his first league defeat at Stamford Bridge. The Baggies led 2-1 last season until a penalty in stoppage time from Eden Hazard earned Chelsea a point.

Irvine says past good results will not harm his side but they will need to be at their best to take on a Chelsea team, which, he believes, have improved over the summer and which have a 100 percent record at home in the Barclays Premier League this season.

"Some players will get confidence from previous results as they will have played in those games, but it is a completely different game,” Irvine said. "I would probably argue that Chelsea have strengthened a very good squad from last year by adding some exceptionally good players.

"They are stronger but it doesn't mean we can't get something from there. We have a chance - there is absolutely no question of that - but we will need to play extremely well.

"They are very effective from free play and every effective from set-pieces. We need to take the opportunities that we get to attack them. It's important that our players aren't passive - we have to be organised, but also positive and aggressive when we have the ball. We have to be ready for the threats they've got, but be good with the ball ourselves too."

Chelsea striker Diego Costa should be firing on all cylinders having been omitted from international duty with Spain after being troubled by a hamstring problem since arriving at Stamford Bridge. Cesc Fabregas also pulled out of the Spain squad due to a hamstring injury, so Mourinho will check on the midfielder's fitness ahead of the clash with Albion and the same applies to Ramires (groin). Andre Schurrle stayed in London during the international break in order to recover from an infection and it remains to be seen if the Germany forward plays any part.

The visitors welcome Craig Gardner back from suspension, but Jonas Olsson (Achilles) is ruled out and Sebastian Pocognoli (hamstring) faces a battle to prove his fitness.

festwiz:
I hope Chelsea loses though [color=#990000][/color]

festwiz:
I hope Chelsea loses though [color=#990000][/color]

radiorebel:
let's wait for lost












#teamlosschelsea