The two sides obtained differing results the weekend before in their Matchday 13 fixtures. Sunderland played out an uneventful 0-0 draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park, while Chelsea triumphed 3-1 over high-flying Premier League surprise-package Southampton at Stamford Bridge. The Blues bizarrely went behind after just 14 seconds after a bemusing and careless backpass from Michael Essien towards Petr Cech was capitalised on by Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez to put the Saints ahead. The Blues took control of the match soon after, but failed to break through before the interval. The second half, however, saw a rally from the Blues as Gary Cahill's equaliser after 55 minutes was followed up 7 minutes later by captain John Terry's header to put José Mourinho's men deservedly in front. Demba Ba's effort in the 90th minute gave Chelsea their third, and sewed up the 3 points in a weekend the Blues could ill afford to lose them, with the opportunity to capitalise on several title rivals all dropping points of their own opening up.



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The corresponding fixture last season saw a struggling Chelsea under newly-appointed manager Rafa Benitez travel and just hours away from jetting off half-way around the world to face off in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, travel to a Sunderland side who were in free-fall under Martin O'Neill. The Blues took the lead after just over 10 minutes through Fernando Torres. Half an hour later, the Spaniard doubled his and Chelsea's account on the night through a penalty deep into first-half stoppage time. Juan Mata all but wrapped up the 3 points for Chelsea when he scored their 3rd just a few minutes after the interval, and the Blues' first league win under Rafa Benitez had finally been procured.










Newly-appointed Black Cats boss Gus Poyet, of course, played for Chelsea for 4 years from 1997-2001, winning the '99 FA Cup, the 2000 Charity Shield, the 1998 UEFA Cup Winners Cup, and the '98 UEFA Super Cup, which his late goal against European champions Real Madrid in won the Blues the trophy.










Samuel Eto'o will be missing for the visitors following the Cameroonian's injury in the Blues' 1-0 loss to Basel in Switzerland the week before, and Oscar appears to be alright despite going down injured in Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Southampton in Matchday 13 on Sunday, saying on his instagram, [/img]

I'd like to see Oscar rested for this game. We need to win this and I honestly think it's going to be difficult but very possible.



Maybe even play DL4 and Cole.

Oh good! Another games for Lamps!

How we need a CM

Coming thick and fast now. 9 games in the next 30 days. My match thread-making is in now full-steam mode. Already started on the Stoke one

Drop Ghostzard please.

Abramovich wrote:Drop Ghostzard please.

It's unfair to call Hazard a 'ghost' after the last match.

Ghostzard is ghostzard if he strings good performances consistently for at least 3 months, I'll call him Hazard.

Abramovich wrote:Ghostzard is ghostzard if he strings good performances consistently for at least 3 months, I'll call him Hazard.

He's had good performances for a while now. He just doesn't get into enough goalscoring opportunities.

Stat wise hazard is doing tremendous, but still

'I'd watch Chelsea every week': Sunderland boss Poyet looking forward to facing his old club as he expresses love for the Blues:
Poyet was 29 when he was persuaded to leave Spain for Stamford Bridge and such is his love for the club to this day that he admits he would be a season ticket holder if he was not sitting in the opposition dug-out this evening
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2517722/Id-watch-Chelsea-week-Sunderland-Athletic-boss-Gus-Poyet-looking-forward-facing-old-club-expresses-love-Blues.html

"If I was without a job and living in London I would be going to watch Chelsea every weekend."

"There is no doubt I would be there because I am a fan. I will always love the club."

"The year before I came Zola, Vialli, and Gullit were and at that stage people were asking what is going on there."

"They offered me the chance to go. And I did but it was the biggest decision of my career to come to England."

"I was 29 and it was not easy. It was a change of life for me and my family."

"After thinking about it for a long time, we decided to come and it was a good decision. Probably my best."

"Chelsea was more of a family back them. It was still an old fashioned family club. We knew everybody. People from many, many years."

"This is one of the fixtures I have been looking forward to, because it is Chelsea and I am looking to beat Chelsea if it's possible."

"The three points is the most important thing. It will feel quite special. I don't know if the Chelsea supporters will support me."

"It would be nice to get support from everyone on the pitch - the home and the away fans. It will be a great experience."

Chelsea pair David Luiz and Oscar both ruled out of Sunderland clash:
The Brazilian duo are struggling with knee and ankle problems respectively as Samuel Eto'o returns to the squad for Stadium of Light trip
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/give-zlatan-ibrahimovic-didier-drogba-2879387

CHELSEA XI: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Ramires, Lampard; Willian, Mata, Hazard; Torres

SUBS: Schwarzer, Cole, Essien, Mikel, Schurrle, De Bruyne, Ba

SUNDERLAND XI: Mannone, Bardsley, Dossena, O'Shea (C), Brown, Ki, Colback, Gardner, Borini, Giaccherini, Altidore

Predict Ghostards performance  

Sunderland 1-0


Altidore

Why do we perpetually start games so, so shit?

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!


Sir Frank equalises minutes later!!

Ramires

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLL!!!


F-ing brilliant goal from Hazard

Hazard has been superb tonight.

Abramovich wrote:Predict Ghostards performance  

My fantasy league captain

Dat jinx working

Hazard on fire

7 Dribbles won already
42 Touches
96% passing

2-2