PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: BOLTON WANDERERS V CHELSEA

TALKING POINTS
After such an emphatic win against the same opponents on Wednesday, Carlo Ancelotti's biggest fear may be that his players think another triumph over Bolton will be a formality three days later. The fact that Chelsea are aiming to end a run of two away league defeats on the spin should allow for no complacency whatsoever.

As was reported yesterday, Wednesday night's win recorded an eighth successive home clean sheet in all competitions, a new high in impervious goalkeeping by the Blues while in the top flight.  

KEY STAT Bolton Wanderers are the only side not to have kept a clean sheet in the Barclays Premier League this season.

However, our all-time best was established in 1927 in the old Second Division, when Sam Millington kept the opposition out ten times in succession from Cardiff City in the Cup in March to Notts County in the League in September. Unlike this recent run, though, three of the games were 0-0s.

Which brings us to the lack of draws this season. Ten league games have passed without a stalemate for the Blues, and the last time that happened was 1994/95. The 11th, drawn match was a 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

As we have frequently observed on this page, it is the draws that kill championship challenges. In losing to Villa but beating Liverpool, Chelsea emerged with three points. Two draws would have raised just two points.

Of course, it's better to win everything - as was almost the case away from home last season - but the confidence instilled by scoring 23 goals without reply in home matches this season must surely be reflected in away form soon enough.

The reassuring thing about playing Bolton in the Premier League straight after the cup win is that on six occasions in the last 15 years the Blues have faced back-to-back league and cup games, and four produced the same result in both encounters.

The games were as follows:
2005 Liverpool
Sep 28 Champions League (away) D 0-0
Oct 2 League (away) W 4-1 (pictured below)
2004 Arsenal
Feb 15 FA Cup (away) L 1-2
Feb 21 League (home) L 1-2
2002 Everton
Dec 4 League Cup (home) W 4-1
Dec 7 League (away) W 3-1
2002 Tottenham
Mar 10 FA Cup (away) W 4-0
Mar 13 League (home) W 4-0
1998 Arsenal
Feb 8 League (away) L 0-2
Feb 18 League Cup SF (home) W 3-1
1996 Wimbledon
Mar 2 League (away) D 1-1
Mar 9 FA Cup (home) D 2-2

This game arrives with more than a quarter of the campaign over. Carlo Ancelotti and his squad swap Lancashire for metropolitan Madrid on Tuesday evening - another back-to-back - and providing Professor Allardyce is wrong in his swine flu prediction, the return to fitness of several players is happening just at the right time.

Spurs have a decent track record of taking points off north London neighbours Arsenal in recent seasons, for all their failure to live up to early season hype. Locked together on 19 points, either would go level with Manchester United with a lunchtime win.

United themselves kick off the same time as Chelsea and face Blackburn, who are either rather good or extremely bad. They last won at Old Trafford in 2005.

Liverpool potentially face more capital punishment at Craven Cottage: Fulham have won on two of the Reds' last four visits.

Manchester City, whose matches always seem to lag behind the rest like Corporal Jones's foot, lost 3-1 at Birmingham in 2008, their most recent visit.

Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Arsenal v Tottenham 12.45pm - Sky Sports
Bolton v Chelsea 3pm
Burnley v Hull 3pm
Everton v Aston Villa 3pm
Fulham v Liverpool 3pm
Portsmouth v Wigan 3pm
Stoke v Wolves 3pm
Sunderland v West Ham 3pm
Manchester Utd v Blackburn 5.30pm - Setanta
Sunday
Birmingham v Man City 4pm - Sky Sports

The race for the Premier League Golden Boot
Torres (Liverpool) 9
Bent (Sunderland) 8
Drogba (Chelsea) 8
Defoe (Tottenham) 6
Rooney (Man Utd) 6
Saha (Everton) 6

Nicolas Anelka is returning to his old club where he scored 21 times in 53 Premier League appearances.

Click on tabs above for more briefing.  

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 4 BOLTON WANDERERS 0

The team may have been much changed, but the result remains the same. A tenth successive victory at Stamford Bridge in all competitions has put Chelsea into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.
There was another home clean sheet too, two goalkeepers contributing to that. Ross Turnbull replaced injured Hilario midway through the first half.
At the other end, Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda netted before the break and Deco, with a superb striker, and substitute Drogba after it. A packed Stamford Bridge enjoyed those two goals, and sang the team to the finish with some Shed End favourites given a good airing.
The side was the one made public, in an unprecedented step by Carlo Ancelotti, on the morning of the game.
That meant a full debut for Daniel Sturridge with Salomon Kalou his partner. Didier Drogba was on the bench. Sturridge had his chances to open his account in the second half, but that moment will have to wait for another day.
Bolton's most renowned striker, Kevin Davies, wasn't involved at all.


Joe Cole had his first attempt of the game even earlier than on Saturday, this time knocking a 12^th second shot from the edge of the area straight at the keeper.
Deco then had a 10^th minute pop at goal from further out but with similar result. The Portuguese international was playing as the anchor midfield man, a job he had been given at times during the pre-season US tour. Cole was at the front of the diamond.
They were involved when a good Chelsea move developed into a Belletti cross, nodded down by Ballack to Sturridge. Challenged as he jumped by Ricketts, the 20-year-old went down but the cries for a penalty were brief and turned down.
A minute later a cross by Ferreira from the opposite flank did pay dividends. Collecting a throw, the stand-in left-back's delivery was good and Kalou picked up where he left off a week ago against Atletico Madrid, rising above the defence to head down and in.
The Blues were on our way but Bolton almost hit back straight away through Taylor who found himself in space in the box. Hilario made an excellent and brave block on the shot but as he did, the Chelsea keeper's head hit the turf hard.
He had treatment and continued, but only for another five minutes before he laid down, still troubled.He was able to walk off after more medical attention but his game was over. Ross Turnbull was on for his debut on 22 minutes.


Before the summer signing could touch the ball, Chelsea went 2-0 up. It was Malouda who both started and finished the move, Kalou centring the Frenchman's pass and when it bounced back off Zat Knight, Malouda was there to lash in from close range.
There were 25 minutes on the clock and Chelsea were well on our way to the quarter-finals.
Knight made a better fist of blocking a shot from Sturridge after a good Cole pass soon after and as Chelsea pushed for a third before the interval, Kalou failed to get enough whip on a shot after Ivanovic had joined the attack and caused the visitors problems. Then Al Habsi in the Bolton goal pulled off a very good one-handed save from the Ivorian.


Just before the break, Steinsson went in hard on Malouda but referee Andre Marriner, fresh from the controversies at Anfield on Sunday, ruled he had played the ball, much to Ancelotti's clear annoyance. Malouda raised himself and was able to play on.
For the second half, the teams swapped a player each. Essien came on for Kalou, Deco moving up to play alongside Cole and behind Sturridge as the shape switched to a Christmas tree. Elmander replaced Steinsson for the visitors.
Belletti, taking a Deco pass and surging into the area from the right had the half's first meaningful attempt, but his left-foot shot soared wide.
On 53 minutes Turnbull dropped sharply and smothered Mark Davies's shot after Bolton briefly stretched the Chelsea defence.
If the Blues backline had been open then, it was nothing compared with the cavernous spaces left by Bolton as we counter-attacked on 57 minutes. Cole played Sturridge in but delaying his shot, the new man eventually toe-poked well wide.
Cole gave Sturridge an almost instantaneous opportunity to make amends. In space, the England Under 21 international didn't delay and shot left-footed again. He went closer, but still wide of the Matthew Harding End goal. His chance for memorable full debut had gone. You had to feel for him.


Sturridge's second miss had been on 57 minutes and four minutes later, he was replaced by Drogba.
When Drogba's chance in front of goal came on 67 minutes, he fared little better than Sturridge, missing Joe Cole's centre after a blistering Chelsea counter-attack. No need to worry though, the ball fell to Deco who was unerring as he smashed it into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.
The whole move had begun with Ivanovic blocking a Gardner shot in the Chelsea area. A muscular presence throughout, the Serb defender was a man of the match contender.
Into the final 10 minutes, Deco volleyed an audacious attempt over. With 86 minutes on the clock, Klasnic was able to get a Bolton shot away that rolled onto the post, a combination of Ferreira and Turnbull dealing with the rebound.
With one minute of normal time remaining, Drogba added his name to the scoresheet with a classic centre-forward's far-post header, rising above two defenders to convert Cole's looping cross, the England man's comeback continuing to come along very nicely.
Our quarter-final opponents will be drawn Saturday lunchtime.
Chelsea Hilario (Turnbull 22); Belletti, Alex, Ivanovic; Ferreira; Deco; Ballack (c), Malouda, J Cole; Kalou (Essien h-t), Sturridge (Drogba 61).
Scorers Kalou 14, Malouda 25, Deco 67, Drogba 89.

Bolton (4-1-4-1): Al Habsi; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Samuel; Muamba; Steinsson (Elmander h-t), M Davies, Gardner (c), Taylor (Basham 64); Klasnic.

PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V BOLTON WANDERERS

It may be the third home game in eight days but this Carling Cup match is a sell-out. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton prepare the background for Bolton's visit.

TALKING POINTS
Chelsea and Bolton meet at Stamford Bridge for only the second time ever in this competition. The Blues will naturally be buoyed by the nature of the win over the visitors' Lancastrian rivals as much as the 5-0 - which made it nine goals in four days on the Fulham Road.

The less pressured League Cup gives Carlo Ancelotti the chance to provide more playing minutes for less regular starters in the squad, as well as the likes of defender Jeffrey Bruma, who looked so assured for 17-year-old when he came on as a sub on Saturday. 

KEY STAT The Blues are aiming for a tenth successive victory at Stamford Bridge in all competitions and are chasing our club record 11, set in 2006.

However, there is the fortress reputation of the Bridge to defend, and a nice piece of silverware at the end of February to aspire to. Although Bolton are 13 points and 11 Barclays Premier League places behind Chelsea, in knockout competitions nothing can be taken for granted.

Spice is added to this fixture by the fact that the two sides meet again this weekend on Bolton's patch - with Chelsea aiming to avoid a third away league defeat on the spin.

In the League Cup the Trotters fielded virtually a full-strength team for the previous round's home tie with West Ham, and may well make just a few changes for the trip to SW6 following last Sunday's morale-boosting home win over Everton.

Heavily criticised by his own supporters, manager Gary Megson has repeated his mantra that results are more important than performances. His side have now lost just one in seven in all competitions, and he says he is keen to do well in this tournament.

Last season he steered Bolton to the last 16 of the Uefa Cup, beating Chelsea's recent guests Atlético 1-0 en route (pictured below). However, in a display of his true values, having drawn 1-1 at home with Braga, Megson took a reserve team to Portugal ahead of a vital Premier League match against Wigan - and went out of Europe.

Although some star names may be absent from the team sheets, Chelsea's commendable ticket-pricing policy has guaranteed a full-house - especially during school half-term - and there should be a great atmosphere with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

The last time Chelsea and Bolton locked horns in the League Cup was in October 1996. The match was overshadowed the next day with the news that Matthew Harding had died in a helicopter crash on the way back from the match.

There will definitely be a result tonight. Should the scores be level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes extra time will be played. If there is still no winner the tie will be decided on penalties.

The draw for the fifth round is on Saturday.

The following five teams are already through to the quarter-final having won last night: Man Utd, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Blackburn and Tottenham.

Other Carling Cup fixtures tonight
Arsenal v Liverpool 7.45pm
Man City v Scunthorpe 7.45pm

COLE: NATURAL SELECTION

Joe Cole, speaking to the official Chelsea website prior to the Blackburn game, revealed he is anticipating good days and bad days in the final stage of his return from serious injury. It is safe to say Saturday was a good day.
It was a good day for the team with the 5-0 win that put us back on top of the Barclays Premier League pile, and it was a good day for the player who did enough in 76 minutes to suggest he could make the position at the front of the midfield diamond his own.
'It was fantastic to be back,' Cole said after his first league start in nine months. 'I really enjoyed my game in the Carling Cup against QPR and I enjoyed this one more. It is easy to come back into a team playing as well as we are and I am delighted.
'I enjoyed playing in the midfield with Frank and Bally and Michael. I'll play anywhere but I think my best position is this one where I started my career when I was playing youth team football
'Unfortunately I haven't played in a team that plays that system so I have had to adapt my game and play off the left or the right, but I enjoy it in there in the middle. It is the first time in my [first team] career and it is more natural to me.'
Carlo Ancelotti's preference for diamonds or Christmas trees when it comes to team shape means plenty of places for central midfielders in his selections. Cole can look forward to regular football if he stays fit.
'I am very lucky to play for Chelsea and very lucky to play for England and there is so much to look forward to in the coming months.
'I know all the games won't be like Saturday but I enjoyed in nonetheless and it was a great win for us.
'The manager has helped me at lot. He has had some knee injuries in his career and he has been able to talk to me and been able to understand it which has been helpful and he gave me the captain's armband against QPR which was a great gesture.
'Any footballer will tell you being injured is hard. I have had a lot of injuries over the past few seasons and it is great to have good friends and family to get me through it, but the main thing is to have a steely determination to get back and I feel that I have got that. I was always focused on days like Saturday.
'I was nervous,' the 27-year-old admitted. He also agreed that a chance to score in the first minute came a little too early on his return.
'It was just like starting again, although everybody at this club and most people in the country know what I am capable of. You still feel those little butterflies but it is a great start.
'I am so excited about playing football again. Sometimes it takes something like this when you are out for so long to make you realise it, but every day I go in to training is a blessing and I love it. I really enjoy being back.'
Click to read the latest blogs on the weekend action.

The Top of The Premier League Table

A Gael Givet own goal was all Carlo Ancelotti's side had to show for their first-half efforts, but a blast of four goals in the space of 16 second-half minutes tore Blackburn to shreds.
Chelsea should have been ahead inside the opening minute when Joe Cole headed wide, but the hosts were in front on 20 minutes when the retreating Givet turned Nicolas Anelka's low cross into his own net.
Rovers keeper Paul Robinson then kept his side in the game until half-time as he produced one stunning stop from John Terry before keeping out Didier Drogba's header from the resulting corner.
But the floodgates opened in the second period with Frank Lampard firing home on 48 minutes after Drogba's low pass had been turned into the midfielder's path.
For all his first-half exploits, Robinson will have been disappointed to concede the third goal after appearing to be deceived by Michael Essien's swerving 35-yard shot on 52 minutes.
Lampard scored his second of the night before the hour mark, slamming home a penalty after Drogba had been brought down in the box by Ryan Nelsen.
And Drogba got his name on the scoresheet in the 64th minute as he glanced home Michael Ballack's corner at the near post to complete a dominant performance from Chelsea.

Simplicity

Joe Cole, making his first start since January, should have opened the scoring for Chelsea within the opening minute but he somehow headed a cross from Lampard wide of the target from six yards.
Lampard was inches away from giving Chelsea the lead in the 10th minute when his 20-yard shot just evaded the far post.
But Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 20th minute with a goal of classic simplicity. A Blackburn attack broke down allowing Michael Ballack to collect the ball in midfield.
The Germany captain fed Anelka on the left flank with a superb low pass and when the France international crossed the ball into the six-yard box, it was turned past his own goalkeeper by the unfortunate Givet.
Blackburn had to rely on counter-attacks and in the 25th minute they almost grabbed an equaliser but Morten Gamst Pedersen's 20-yard effort flashed wide of Petr Cech's right-hand post.
Chelsea's players were lining up to shoot and Essien tried his luck from 25 yards in the 29th minute but although the ball dipped violently in the air, it still went over the crossbar.
Lampard wasted another chance to increase Chelsea's lead moments later when Ballack's cross found him unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. But the England midfielder put his header wide of the target.
In the 33rd minute, Rovers goalkeeper Robinson came to their rescue when Lampard fed Anelka inside the penalty area.
A second goal seemed on the cards but Anelka's shot hit Robinson in the chest, much to the frustration of Ancelotti.
It was shooting practice for Chelsea and Robinson did well to punch away a 35-yard blockbuster from Drogba.
Five minutes before the break, Anelka turned and twisted before firing an 18-yard shot into the sidenetting.

Magnificent save

Pedersen was the first player into the notebook on the stroke of half-time for a foul on Branislav Ivanovic. Seconds later Robinson pulled off a magnificent save to deny Terry.
Chelsea, somewhat predictably, went further in front in the 48th minute through Lampard.
The England midfielder scored his first goal in open play in the top flight since last April when he finished off a fine Chelsea move.
Essien sent Drogba racing into the penalty area and his cross was only half cleared by Lars Jacobsen, leaving Lampard to pick his spot from eight yards.
It was 3-0 in the 52nd minute when Essien sent a 35-yard shot thundering beyond the despairing dive of Robinson.
Anelka then tried to repeat the feat in the 54th minute and his 20-yard shot was so fierce that Robinson had to save at the second attempt.
It got worse for Rovers in the 58th minute when Nelsen brought down Drogba inside the penalty area and Lampard converted the spot-kick for his second of the game.
Drogba underlined Chelsea's superiority in the 64th minute when he rose highest to head home a corner by Lampard to make it 5-0. It was the Ivory Coast international's eighth goal of the season.
In the 67th minute Chelsea replaced defender Ricardo Carvalho with youngster Jeffrey Bruma for his Premier League debut.
Cole was then replaced by Daniel Sturridge, making his home league debut, in the 76th minute. Cole received a standing ovation from the fans and a bear hug from Ancelotti.
The England midfielder had shown he was back to his best during an evening when Chelsea returned to top form.

Chelsea	Team Statistics	Blackburn Rovers
5	Goals	0
1	1st Half Goals	0
13	Shots on Target	2
11	Shots off Target	6
4	Blocked Shots	1
8	Corners	0
8	Fouls	12
1	Offsides	5
0	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
88.4	Passing Success	73.5
10	Tackles	21
60	Tackles Success	81
69.2	Possession	30.8
54.9	Territorial Advantage	45.1

TERRY: WHAT WE ASKED FOR

John Terry was satisfied with how the team responded to defeat with a big home win on Wednesday evening.

The captain led his side to a third straight Champions League Group D victory, meaning we are just one win away from securing our place in the last 16, the perfect way to bounce back after losing 2-1 at Aston Villa on Saturday.

'I think it's what we wanted after the disappointment away to Villa, and we got what we asked for,' the captain said.

'I think we started well in the Champions League with three clean sheets and three wins. In other years we have started well and got ourselves in the hat early on, which gives the manager options to bring in other players and try new things but we have a few games to go, we go to Atletico next and if we can start well there and get the fans on their backs it would be a nice win to put ourselves through.'

The 4-0 win against Atletico maintains our perfect home record in 2009/10, a contrast to our stuttering away form where set pieces have cost us against Villa and Wigan in recent weeks.

'Everyone will go through conceding goals from set plays, the percentages are about 55, 60 per cent. We are no different, we have looked at it, adjusted and improved tonight and now we move on,' Terry stated.

'It's strange because last year we threw away too many points at home and our away form was immaculate, so we are on the other foot this time. It is nice for us here and it would be nice to go away and get a win.'

The 28-year-old believes credit must go to Salomon Kalou for his strength of mind after missing early chances, going on to score the first two goals before a Frank Lampard strike and an own goal put the icing on the cake.

'He keeps plugging away and it's refreshing when people like Didier [Drogba]are out we have the likes of Sala to come in and give the manager food for thought for the next game,' Terry said. 'Bella [Juliano Belletti] came in tonight and did well too, because he trains hard and keeps himself fit. I think they proved themselves tonight.'

KALOU: CHANCES TAKEN

After netting twice in last night's 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid, Salomon Kalou admitted he was just pleased to be on the pitch.
The 24-year-old has had to be patient in recent weeks with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka both contributing goals on a regular basis, but with Drogba suspended from Champions League football, he was given the nod to start at Stamford Bridge, and repaid manager Carlo Ancelotti with two important goals.
'It was a very good opportunity for me, I haven't been playing lately and I scored two goals which is very good,' he smiled.
'It is very important to win at home, today we were pleased to win and for me it was a very good team performance.'
It looked like it might be one of those evenings for Kalou after he missed an early opportunity, but he explained afterwards he never lost belief due to the quality of his team-mates.
'I knew that we would have a lot of chances, playing with players like Deco, Ballack, Lampard shows we will always have a lot of opportunities, so even after missing the first one I wasn't worried because I knew I would have a lot more,' he said.
He might have had a hat-trick had he stayed on for the full 90 minutes, but was instead replaced by Yury Zhirkov 18 minutes from time.
'The manager said to keep it for next week, so I'll keep one for Saturday!' the Ivorian joked. 'It's very important for a player to get on the pitch and show what he can do.
'[Ancelotti] has great experience and brings that to Chelsea. The players are settling well and we have to keep working together.'
It is partly the unity of the squad, as well as its quality, that makes Chelsea serious Champions League contenders.
'Of course we are good enough, last year we were in the semi-finals and now the goal is to go all the way to Madrid, we have the players and staff and everyone is doing his best to get there,' Kalou said.
'It is an important competition and we want to do better than last year, to be in Madrid.'

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 4 ATLETICO MADRID 0

The Blues stand on the verge of Champions League qualification thanks to a Salomon Kalou brace, followed by Frank Lampard's first goal in 11 games and a late own-goal.
It was a comfortable win against a side low on morale rather than a classic display, and Petr Cech had to work for his third clean sheet out of three in Group D. But a shut out was most welcome, as was seeing Lampard back on score sheet and pulling the strings. He also had a big hand in the first and third goals.
There were two changes to the Chelsea defence. The enforced one saw Belletti the replacement for injured Bosingwa. In the centre, Ivanovic came in for Carvalho who was on the bench.
Ballack was back in midfield in place of Malouda with Kalou taking over from suspended Drogba as Anelka's partner in attack.
There was an early advance down the flank by the returning Belletti, on to Essien's pass, but the Brazilian's cross lacked direction.
His next effort on two minutes was more promising but the well-marked Kalou headed wide.
Forlan then tried his luck from distance but shot straight at Cech. On eight minutes the former Man United player did test the Chelsea keeper properly, Cech having to react sharply at his near post to stop a header from a Simao cross. Then Aguero was the beneficiary of a suspect offside decision but shot into the side-netting.
For all their defensive problems, we knew Atlético could trouble any team with their attack and they were showing it in the early stages.
The offside flag again benefitted the Spaniards when Lampard drew their 20-year-old keeper into a howler. The Chelsea vice-captain's free-kick from 35 yards looked a simple task but passed over Sergio Asenjo's grasp and in. Kalou, slightly offside when the kick was taken, had closed the keeper enough to be considered 'active'.
The Ivorian's evening became a lot worse when, with time, he inexplicably turned Ballack's square pass wide from 12 yards out, Deco having done well in the build-up. It was one of the Chelsea misses of the season.

Forlan was soon up the other end forcing a diving save from Cech with an angled shot. It was an enthralling, end-to-end affair.
The problem was that meant the Blues were not controlling the game in the manner their manager would have wished, and when we were advancing, passes and crosses were going astray.
Kalou enjoyed a better moment on 35 minutes, pulling wide of the defence inside the area and seeing a shot well saved. He was then just too far ahead of Terry's header from a corner to direct it on target.
The Ivorian had to wait just four minutes more to break the deadlock, this time unerring with his first-time finish from six-yards. The creators were Lampard, with a ball inside the full-back, and Ashley Cole with an overlapping run and ball across

1-0 to the good, Chelsea then survived our first trial by corner kick, to much relief after the events at Villa Park, and a Cleber Santana shot that cleared Cech's crossbar before stock could be taken at the break.
The door had been left open at the back on occasions, but Ancelotti's men finished the half clearly the stronger side.
It took five minutes for the second-half to ignite, one crunching foul by Essien on Paulo Assuncao apart.
That was when Anelka picked up a loose ball and unleashed a stinging drive, brilliantly stopped by Spain's Under 20 international keeper.
The same keeper was soon tipping a bouncing ball over the crossbar, giving away the corner from which Chelsea scored.
It was Kalou who made it two, heading Lampard's inswinger down and in. The early miss was now forgotten.
The goal came on 51 minutes and two minutes later, Atlético made a change, Paulo Assuncao having not recovered from the Essien challenge.
If Chelsea were tempted to relax, there was a big warning against it when Ivanovic missed a header and Aguero ran through. Cech stood up and saved well when the Argentine tried to place it between his legs, but in truth, it was a wasteful attempt at a finish.

Chelsea's third, the goal that put Lampard back in the scoring groove, was on 68 minutes and it was a Lamp's trademark effort of ever there was one. Taking possession outside the area, he hit it sweetly and low, into the bottom corner at the Matthew Harding End. Asenjo's positioning could have been better.
Anelka looked to have set up Kalou for the hat-trick soon after but the striker's slide didn't quite make the ball. Next to deny the striker three goals was his manager who subbed him for Malouda on 72 minutes.
Raul Garcia was the game's first booking a minute later for chopping Essien. Many refs would have collected many names by this stage of this game.
The substitutions began to come thick and fast. Zhirkov for Ashley Cole followed by Sturridge for Anelka, booed by the Atletico fans early on for his Real Madrid past. Former Arsenal striker Reyes received similar treatment from the Chelsea crowd when he entered the game.
Cech was given work to do in the closing minutes and substitute Maxi Rodriguez went close after an Aguero run. He then had an attempt saved with two minutes to go.
Belletti was a late booking for the Blues but the final action was at the other end however when Luis Perea diverted a Malouda free-kick over his own keeper with his head.
With Porto beating APOEL, the lead over the third-placed side is eight points.

Chelsea (4-diamond-2): Cech; Belletti, Ivanovic, Terry (c), A Cole (Zhirkov 74); Essien; Ballack; Lampard; Kalou (Malouda 72), Anelka (Sturridge 77).
Scorers Kalou 40, 51, Lampard 68, Perea o.g. 90.
Booked Belletti 85
Atlético (4-4-2): Sergio Asenjo; Ujfalusi, Perea, Alvaro Dominguez, Antonio Lopez (c); Cleber Santana (Maxi Rodriguez 65), Paulo Assuncao (Jurado 53), Raul Garcia, Simao (Reyes 76); Forlan, Aguero.
Booked Raul Garcia 73, Alvaro Dominguez 89.

PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V ATLETICO MADRID

TALKING POINTS
Top slot in the Barclays Premier League may have been surrendered at the weekend. But the Blues are outright leaders in Group D of the Champions League going into back-to-back matches against the club currently lying 15th in Spain's Primera División.

Atlético have started the season poorly. They travel to London having failed to win in four domestic away trips, and with only one point on the Champions League board from a home draw with APOEL. They were booed off after that, too.

Their showing at Porto on Matchday 2 was poor enough, but their performance last weekend at Osasuna suggested deep-seated problems.

They lost 0-3 at Osasuna, increasing the pressure on Abel Resino eight months into his latest spell with Los Colchoneros (the Mattress-Makers).  

KEY STAT The Blues have suffered just one defeat in our last 17 Champions League matches.

With Chelsea's home record in Europe the Spanish face a difficult task to force their Champions League campaign back on track.

Their countrymen have a poor record in SW6 too. Only one of the 11 Spanish teams to have played at Stamford Bridge has left victorious: the Barcelona of 2006 that capitalised on Asier Del Horno's early dismissal for a foul on Lionel Messi (pictured below). Chelsea have remained unbeaten over 19 matches at the Bridge in this competition since that evening.

Never the less, when the Catalans struck that late equaliser in the semi-final here last season, it was as fatal as the matador's coup de grace.

In terms of results this is Chelsea's best start to the group stage since 2006/07, which began with three victories. Carlo Ancelotti will hope that overcoming an Iberian team we have never met competitively will set his team well on course for the final in their home town, Madrid, next May.

Victories tonight for Chelsea and Porto (at home to APOEL) would leave the Blues needing two points from the remaining three matches to qualify for the Round of 16 in the new year.

Our other opponents in Group D are in better form than the Rojiblancos, Atlético's other nickname.

APOEL returned to winning ways following our important 1-0 win in Cyprus three weeks ago, beating strugglers Ermis Aradippou 2-1 away, despite having a host of injuries. They are sixth in the Marfin Laiki Championship.

Elsewhere, Porto have now won their last three matches without conceding, the most recent being a 3-0 victory at Olhanense before the international break. They currently lie third in the Portuguese Liga, five adrift of leaders Braga.

Other Group D fixture
Wed 7.45pm Porto v APOEL

This season's Champions League features 18 domestic league champions, six runners-up, five third-placed finishers and three fourth-placed teams including Atlético.

Click on the tabs above for more briefing.

ANCELOTTI: TAKING A SPANISH STEP

Carlo Ancelotti will play his strongest team against Atletico Madrid, knowing a win will put the team back on track after the Villa Park pain and well on the way to Champions League progress.
Healthily-placed in Group D after two wins, a third victory on Wednesday night won't guarantee a place in the knockout stages but it will put the Blues very close with a visit to the Spanish capital to come in a fortnight.
Ancelotti will not have Jose Bosingwa available for selection this midweek. The right-back was in line for a return having served a two-match European suspension but now a new obstacle is in his way.
'Bosingwa had a problem with his knee in the game against Aston Villa,' reports Ancelotti. 'He will not play tomorrow but I think it is not a big problem and I hope we can use him on Saturday.'
Branislav Ivanovic replaced the Portuguese defender in the second half of the Villa defeat and was right-back in the Champions League wins over Porto and APOEL.
Michael Ballack, missing at the weekend, returns to the squad but John Mikel Obi remains out with an ankle injury.
With Alex completing 45 minutes in the Reserves' win on Monday, the manager will have a player new to him available soon.
'Alex after his injury played very well. He now has to train and he will be ready on Saturday,' Ancelotti reports.
Chelsea's set-piece defending has been the talk surrounding the club ever since Villa headed in two corners. Training has worked on it but Ancelotti believes that can only go so far. Similar to taking penalties under high pressure, there are elements of match play that are hard to replicate at Cobham.
'But we need to improve,' he adds, 'because you can do a good match but if you don't pay attention over six seconds, you can do a bad result.'
He also defends Petr Cech's performances this season.
'Petr is in good condition. He has a fantastic approach because he takes a lot of risks because he likes to go out and catch the ball. Sometimes he can do a mistake but I want him to go out to catch the ball in the air.'
A win tomorrow will open an eight-point gap between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid who were expected to push us hard for qualification pre-tournament. That is not yet impossible warns the boss.
'At this moment for them it is not easy because also Porto is in a good position, but over four games they can still arrive at the top.
'They didn't start well the season but they have good quality, above all in the forwards. They have [Diego] Forlan and [Sergio] Aguero who are dangerous strikers. We have to pay attention to this because Aguero has fantastic quality and can change a match with it.
'It is a good team but at this moment they didn't find a good disposition tactically on the pitch.
'We must not only beat them to return to winning but also to control the next three games in the group.'

188BET PREVIEW: CHELSEA V ATLETICO MADRID

The weekend's Barclays Premier League action was not kind to Chelsea. Defeat at Aston Villa ended their spell at the top of the table.
Carlo Ancelotti will look to the next fixture as the perfect way to get back to winning ways against a struggling Atletico Madrid team. The Blues' Champions League campaign has been efficient if not scintillating, but they will no doubt be confident going into this match against an Atletico side that has only a solitary win to their name in La Liga this season.
Poor league form coupled with a single point from their first two group games in the Champions League indicates a distinct lack of form for Los Colchoneros compared to last season's attack-oriented team. It's the perfect opponent for Chelsea to kick on in Europe this week.
With an excellent record of seven wins from their first nine matches in the league, coupled with back-to-back wins in Europe, Chelsea have developed a knack of grinding out results and the smart money will no doubt be on them taking three points from Wednesday's game.
Atletico would consider it a job well done if they come away from Stamford Bridge with a point. Ancelotti will be out to ensure that doesn't happen. A dominant performance is required from Chelsea - 188BET think a home win is on the cards.
1.36 Chelsea win
4.60 Draw
9.80 Aston Villa win
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This match also sees a return to the stands for indefatigable Ivorian striker Didier Drogba as he serves another match of his European suspension. The Chelsea hitman, who scored yet another goal against Aston Villa at the weekend to go with his strike that allowed Ivory Coast to seal their World Cup qualification last week, will be sorely missed but there should be more than able deputies in front of goal in the shape of Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard.
Lampard is due a goal any game now. If he manages to break out his goal scoring lull on Wednesday, we could see Chelsea win by an impressive score line.
Correct Score
7.00 Chelsea 1-0
6.50 Chelsea 2-0
8.50 Chelsea 2-1
9.00 Chelsea 3-0
10.00 Chelsea 3-1
21.00 Chelsea 4-0
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Champions League Winners
4.00 Barcelona
5.75 Chelsea
5.80 Real Madrid
9.00 Man Utd
12.00 Arsenal
15.00 Inter Milan
17.00 Liverpool

RESERVE REPORT: CHELSEA 4 WEST HAM UNITED 1

It took Alex a matter of seconds to announce his return to competitive action, the Brazilian beginning the scoring in a well-deserved big win.
In contract to Saturday at Villa Park, this time a set-piece goal was to Chelsea's advantage, Alex scoring directly from a free-kick. Daniel Sturridge made it 2-0 in the second-half, by which time Alex had made a planned departure and then Fabio Borini added two more in the final 13 minutes as Chelsea counter-attacked well.
West Ham's consolation was in stoppage time. Paulo Ferreira was still on the pitch at that stage, the right-back looking energetic as he works his way back up to full match fitness. He had a hand in the second goal.

The senior players grab the headlines but there were also promising contributions in midfield from Conor Clifford and Josh McEachran, 17 and 16 years of age respectively.
The hard-working Clifford was involved in the first attack for Chelsea. When Sturridge fed Borini, the Italian was tackled but Sturridge picked up the pieces before being fouled.
That meant the first free-kick of the game and there was only ever going to be one taker.
From the edge of the area, Alex stepped up and bang - the wall made the fatal mistake of jumping and the ball was in the bottom corner. It hadn't been the Brazilian's cleanest strike but it as enough. 1-0 to Chelsea with less than three minutes on the clock.
The other returning first team defender nearly added his name to the scorers on five minutes, Ferreira advancing and launching a cleanly hit shot towards the top corner. Kurucz reacted just in time to tip over.
The Hammers keeper was in action again two minutes later, saving from Jacopo Sala after Borini had foraged the ball his way.
Sturridge, whose first half contained sporadic moments of quality play, was gifted the ball by Ferrari on 20 minutes. The striker took a first time swing at it and it speared just over.
Chelsea were enjoying the lion's share of possession and Ross Turnbull in the Blues goal was only called upon to make a couple of routine saves in the first 30 minutes.
Poor Borini had the medical staff on twice in two minutes following collisions and then Sala, playing on the right of the diamond, worked himself space on his left foot but shot over on 34 minutes.
Clifford, operating as the anchor midfielder, had a shot spilled by Kurucz but when it was picked up by Borini and eventually worked back to McEachran, the 16-year-old shot over (pictured below).

Stanislas shot powerfully wide for the visitors before the break and Sturridge should have done better when found by a McEachran pass but was well off-target.
On 43 minutes, there was a moment of hope for Frank Nouble, a partner of Borini in last season's Chelsea Youth Cup attack before moving to the Hammers in the summer. Quiet until then, he was put through one-on-one with Turnbull but his touch let him down and the danger was cleared.
Carl Magnay was a half-time sub for Alex, a planned change. The young Geordie was himself just back from injury.
A minute in, Borini raced away down the right and squared low but Sturridge couldn't make contact just a few yards out. Then Borini had a goalbound volley blocked
Clifford saw a shot deflected but into the keeper's grasp and the other man between the posts dived full length to repel a free-kick 10 minutes into the half. That was Turnbull's best save of a game in which he spent long spells watching on. The Blues defence with Bruma at its heart was standing strong.
At the other end, the previously peripheral Nemanja Matic and Sturridge combined to play McEachran in but the ball was cleared off his toes as the England Under 17 international pulled the trigger.
On 64 minutes, Chelsea produced the best move of the game so far, culminating in Sturridge backheeling out to Sala who hit the bar from an angle. That was unlucky but the Hammers were tiring and stretched.
Finally, on 70 minutes, Sturridge got the goal he had threatened. Receiving the ball inside the area from Sala, he was initially challenged but when Ferreira, who had won the ball originally, managed to play it back, the England Under 21 international swivelled and found the poorly guarded net.
On 76 minutes a famous name entered the action. Andrea Zola, 18-year-old son of the watching West Ham manager, came on to play left-back for the visitors.
It was two other Italians on the Griffin Park pitch that made the impact however. Sala advanced with pace and crossed well from the right to pick out Borini for an excellent far-post volleyed finish to make it 3-0 on 77 minutes.
That was a good goal but the fourth was an even better example of simple but deadly attacking. Clifford provided the midfield surge and perfectly-weighted pass down the middle; Borini the no-nonsense 84th minute execution inside the near post.
In stoppage time, Turnbull was denied a deserved clean sheet by a piece of individual quality by Nouble who turned and lashed a shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Chelsea (4-diamond-2) Ross Turnbull; Paulo Ferreira, Jeffrey Bruma (c), Alex (Carl Magnay h-t), Ben Gordon; Conor Clifford, Jacopo Sala, Nemanja Matic, Josh McEachran (Daniel Philliskirk 84); Fabio Borini (Gokhan Tore 86), Daniel Sturridge.
West Ham Kurucz, Brookes, N'Gala, Da Costa (Kearns 73), Ferrari (Zola 76), Quashie, Payne, Stanislas, Jimenez, Montano (Dixon 68), Nouble

CECH OUT CHELSEA ON FACEBOOK

Chelsea Football Club is giving you the chance to pose your questions to Petr Cech as part of the launch of the club's official presence on the social networking site, Facebook.
Cech will do his best to answer your queries in a live-streamed web interview on the official Chelsea website early next month. All you need to do is simply add the Chelsea Football Club fan page to your profile and then post your question on the wall.
Fans watching the live video will also be able to share their thoughts in real time with other users through the social networking site's latest platform, Facebook Connect. Chelsea is the first football club to use this function on our website.
The fan page will offer exclusive content including videos, behind-the-scenes pictures as well as all the latest news from Stamford Bridge. The page will also act as a gateway for our free e-membership scheme which offers fans a series of exclusive competitions and downloadable wallpapers.
The move will see Chelsea further increase our presence in social media and help grow the club's online community and network of supporters throughout the world.
Chelsea's communications and public affairs director, Simon Greenberg said: 'This is another exciting project for the club in social media following the success of our own Twitter account.
'Having an official presence on Facebook will continue to further engage with our global fan base and allow supporters wherever they live, a chance to interact with the club and other like-minded fans.'
Stephen Haines, UK commercial director at Facebook said, 'At Facebook we want to give people the power to connect and share their interests, so we are delighted that Chelsea has decided to actively engage with its fans through the site.
'With over 300 million active users worldwide, using Facebook and Facebook Connect is the ideal way to bring together the loyal and passionate following from around the world that is behind one of the games most popular clubs.'

Chelsea has unveiled a series of innovative new media offerings recently including an official Twitter page, a community platform for user-generated content known as The Shed and live streaming of pre-match press conferences (both found on the club's official website).
Chelsea Digital Media is a joint venture between Chelsea Football Club and Sky and delivers all of Chelsea's digital channels including Chelsea TV, online and mobile.

CECH: CORRECTION MARKS

Petr Cech has discussed the set-piece double that sunk Chelsea at Villa Park and saw a combination of misfortune and errors as the cause of the goals.
Two corners headed in by Aston Villa wiped out our 14^th minute lead and set up a second defeat of the season.
The home side's first goal was converted by Richard Dunne after skimming off the head of Frank Lampard at the near post. The second was headed in by the other centre-back, James Collins, having cleared Cech and reached him directly.
'There was an unlucky deflection for the first one and when this happens it is difficult to control it,' explained Cech. 'The second one we didn't mark well but as well when I went for the ball, I clipped someone in front of me which is why I couldn't reach the ball. Otherwise I would have reached it and then put it into safety.
'It might have even been my team-mate, but just before I wanted to get hold of the ball, I clipped him.
'The last two away games we've conceded three goals from set plays so we need to get our discipline with marking and avoid these goals, because they can be costly,' the keeper continued.
'At the moment we are a little bit unlucky as well, but we know we have to pay more attention and have better concentration next time.'
The match saw Cech return having served a suspension against Liverpool and it began well enough.
'We expected Villa to start strong and to put a lot of pressure on us but then exactly the moment when it was happening we went 1-0 up,' he said.
'That was exactly what we needed so that was a good moment of the game. Then of course they tried to put us under pressure. Unfortunately for us we concede before the end of the half and it was disappointing because it was a set-piece and until then we had defended set-pieces and crosses very well.
'The second half was more or less the same story , we made a mistake at the corner and when they went 2-1 up it was better for them because they could defend, they could wait for the counter attack and they have good players up front.
'We created some chances and it was a pity we didn't take them. We needed just a little bit more luck to score the goal.'
The two away league defeats have been tough to stomach in a season that is otherwise going so well, but there is no panic yet among the playing staff.
'It is a pity we gave Man United the chance to go a point ahead but the most important is always the correction,' points out Cech. 'We have another game on Wednesday and then Blackburn at home and we need to make sure we win those games.
'If you finish the season with two defeats it doesn't matter if they are in the first 10 games or the last 10 games. These two defeats we will judge at the end of the season if they were really costly.'

THREE NOMINATED FOR EURO AWARD

Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and John Terry are the Chelsea players nominated for the Ballon D'Or award, the most prestigious individual accolade in European football.
The three are on a 2009 shortlist of 30 players from around the continent's top clubs.

No-one has won the award as a Chelsea player, but former Blues Andriy Shevchenko (2004), George Weah (1995) and Ruud Gullit (1987) were all winners while with AC Milan.

Lampard has the best showing by a player while at Chelsea. He finished second in 2005. Drogba was fourth in the 2007 awards. Last year's winner was Cristiano Ronaldo.

The award was initiated in 1956 when Stanley Matthews was the first winner, but Michael Owen remains the only player at an English club to scoop the prize since the 1970s.
Nominations are based on votes by journalists working on football titles throughout Europe, and are compiled by France Football magazine. The winner will be announced on 1 December .

The full list of nominations for 2009 is as follows:

Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Iker Casillas
(Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Diego (Juventus), Didier
Drogba (Chelsea), Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg), Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan),
Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Diego Forlan
(Atletico Madrid), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Ryan Giggs (Manchester
United), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Zlatan
Ibrahimovic (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Julio Cesar (Inter
Milan), Kaka (Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Maicon (Inter
Milan), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Luis Fabiano (Seville), Franck Ribery
(Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea),
Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), David Villa (Valencia), Xavi
(Barcelona), Yaya Toure (Barcelona).

REACTION: SET PIECE SETBACK

Carlo Ancelotti pointed to our poor defending of set pieces as the main contributory factor behind our lunchtime defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Both of our opponents' goals came from left-wing corners, each headed home from close range after defensive lapses, ensuring we suffered consecutive away league defeats for the first time in two years.
After the game, Ancelotti could not mask his frustration.
'I am disappointed because we did a good match, but we lost the game on the set plays and I don't like to lose the game on the set plays,' he said. 'If you have to lose a game it is better to lose when the other team played better than us. Aston villa did a very good job but also Chelsea did very well.
'On the set plays for sure we need to do better because we can, we need more pressure and markers in the box. This is the question for this match.
'In Wigan we made the same mistake, the first goal was a set play and we have to improve this situation because it is an important one in the game. We have to pay more attention in the box, the Italian continued.
'In England there are a lot of players [that are] very good with their head, and it is a dangerous situation, but also in Italy. It is not new.
'When we lose a game we are not happy but until this moment the team have played very well, did a very good job, but some things we can improve for sure, set plays is one of these things.'
Villa boss Martin O' Neill was naturally delighted with the win, against what he described as a 'brilliant' Chelsea side, a word he was clearly keen on using.
'I thought we played brilliantly in the first half and obviously had to defend in the second half because Chelsea came at us very strongly, but we saw it through eventually,' he began. 'We conceded a soft goal so to fight back is particularly brilliant.
'I think any team that finishes in front of Chelsea will probably win the Premiership. I think they are brilliant players, and have proved that in the last five or six years,' he added, before discussing the two Chelsea centre-halves.
'Today is a day and I wouldn't try to draw conclusions from this one game. It is a setback for them, and a boost for us, and that is all. Terry has been quality for a long time and Carvalho I know from my Celtic days when Porto beat us in the Uefa Cup Final.
'My own view is that Chelsea are brilliant, they are really strong, they can play and move it, and have great players.'
It is those players that will have to pick themselves up quickly for our midweek Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge, and put this one firmly behind them.