Bolton v Chelsea Preview!

After trouncing Bolton Wanderers 4-0 in the Carling Cup, in midweek, a strange quirk of fate pits us against Bolton, this weekend, as our Premier League campaign continues. Whilst most of us would willingly accept another 4-0 victory there`s no doubting that this encounter could be considerably closer. With Manchester United coming to Stamford Bridge the following weekend Chelsea can ill-afford a third consecutive, away, Premier League defeat if they are to keep their title ambitions firmly on track.

Ahead of the clash our French winger / midfielder, Florent Malouda, has emphasised the importance of making sure that our away form gets back to where it should be results wise and also the threat Bolton present, remarking,

We are playing really well at home but we have lost our last two games away and we have to correct that."

"We beat Bolton away I the Carling Cup on Wednesday but this time they will be at home and they will want to show that result was a mistake."

"The first fifteen minutes will be important because Bolton will come at us and we have to be ready."

"It will be a completely different game."

"The physical challenge will be there this time. So we have to think about what happened in our last away game at Villa, when we were leading 1-0 but conceded from two set pieces."

"That is an aspect of our game which we have to concentrate on because our opponents are definitely thinking about it. So we need to be on our guard."

Whereas Gary Megson, still smarting from the performance his team gave at Stamford Bridge, on Wednesday night, has remarked,

"I`m actually pleased to be playing Chelsea again. Our team will be very different - not just in personnel but in approach."

"Having Kevin Davies back will add to our physical presence."

I wonder, will Carlo Ancelotti play Alex to combat the physical presence of Kevin Davies?

Bolton neat Everton 3-2 in their last Premier League outing, seven of that side were in the eleven trounced 4-0 by Chelsea, in the Carling Cup. The four who were rested, Jaaskelainen, Cohen, Davies and Chung Yong are likely to return with Gary Megson implying it`ll be a different Bolton side Chelsea face this weekend, remarking,

"We have got to play at a tempo that suits us because at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea dictated that tempo - they dictated absolutely everything, from minute one to ninety."

That might be harder to do than you think Mr Megson!

Rested in midweek, probably due to a number of stitches in both eyebrows, the influential battering ram looks set to make the 500th performance of his career. Hs power proves unsettling for defenders and our defence will need t be at their best to quell his aerial menace

After making numerous changes in midweek and still emerging triumphant we`re one hundred per cent certain that Carlo Ancelotti will recall the majority of his big guns for this Premier League clash. Likely to return are Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba.

However, definitely missing through injury are Ashley Cole, Yuri Zhirkov and Jose Bosingwa with the game probably coming a little too early for the back-in-training- John Obi Mikel to be considered.

Here at Vital Chelsea we have an inkling Chelsea will start as follows:-

Cech, Belletti, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, J.Cole, Anelka, Drogba

Didier Drogba, with nine goals this season, may be grabbing the majority of the headlines but Nicolas Anelka is showing that there is more to his game than just finishing. Some say the Frenchman is enjoying the happiest spell of his career, I`m just hoping that he can, once again, score against a former club!

Our record at the Reebok is pretty impressive having won on the last six visits and not having conceded a goal. Indeed, in the last eleven fixtures against Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea are unbeaten. Bolton`s last win against Chelsea came in 2003, courtesy of a very late own goal from John Terry!

The man in the middle will be Peter Walton

The Reebok Stadium will always hold marvelous memories for Chelsea fans, memories of two goals from Frank Lampard cementing our first top flight title win in fifty years still bring a tear to many an eye. The Reebok is also a happy hunting ground for Chelsea despite many declaring it a difficult place to visit. Here at Vital Chelsea we`re confident that Chelsea can shake off their recent poor away form, results wise, and emerge with the three points needed to keep them on top of the table ahead of our titanic clash with Manchester United next weekend. Chelsea by two clear goals we say!

Next up for Chelsea is a Champions League fixture away to Atletico Madrid followed by a visit from Manchester United in the Premier League, two very important games.