Chase for the Champions League! Chelsea vs Newcastle United match preview

Posted on May 1st, 2012 | 14 Comments |

Battle of Stamford Bridge.
A previous battle at Stamford Bridge.
Venue: Stamford Bridge, The Big Smoke.
Date: Weds, 2nd May, 2012.
Kick-Off: 7.45pm.
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Well, it couldn’t be much closer now in the race for Europe’s premier international club competition, with Newcastle United currently being the meat in a London sandwich.

In the words of Brian Moore, “It’s all up for grabs now!” with Chelsea a mere point behind us, and only goal difference seperating the Magpies and the fighting cocks of Tottenham Hotspur. In other words, this game is without doubt the most crucial so far after our capitulation to an excellent Wigan side on Saturday. Unless of course, Chelsea go and win this years Champions League final, in which case Chelsea would definitely be the fourth team to go through, making everything else academic. One thing that is for sure is that we should at least find ourselves in the Europa League at least.

Stats, previous matches etc…

In our previous meeting (at St James’ Park last December) Chelsea ran out as 3-0 winners, with Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge doing the honours for the Pensioners.

Despite their below par form (for them) earlier in the season, which has left them in the unusual position of being behind us in the table in the run up to this game (and hopefully, after it too!), it must be said that some of Chelsea’s recent results have looked a little scary. Of course, they knocked the current holders of the Champion’s League, Barcelona, out of that competition, hammering Tottenham 5-1 in the FA Cup semi-final, and also Queen’s Park Rangers 6-1 in the Premiership, with only a 0-0 bore draw against Arsenal and a 1-1 draw against Fulham to give us comfort. Perhaps the scariest thing of all is that even Fernando Torres scored a hat-trick in their last game, the 6-1 trouncing of QPR!

But anyway, as we approach the 150th game between Chelsea and Newcastle United in all competitions (it will be our 134th league game) lets take a look at the last six, starting with Chelsea’s and United’s last six Premiership games.

Chelsea and Newcastle – Last six Premiership games
Team Results P W D L Pts
Chelsea W-D-D-W-W-D 6 3 3 0 12/18
Newcastle United L-W-W-W-W-W 6 5 0 1 15/18

So, we’ve done better, but if you’re only good as you last game, a 6-1 victory certainly trumps a 4-0 defeat! Here’s hoping we return to the perfect form we were enjoying before that. Next comes their home form vs our away form.

Chelsea home form v Newcastle away form in the Premiership
Team Results P W D L Pts
Chelsea W-W-W-D-W-W 6 5 1 0 16/18
Newcastle United L-W-W-L-L-W 6 3 0 3 9/18

So, a victory to Chelsea there then. Overall though, both teams have come out of a bit of dip to eventually sparkle with a good run, our previous Wigan outing notwithstanding. Finally, just for the hell of it, lets look at our last six games at Stamford Bridge, though of course, the earlier games are too far back to be of great relevance.

Chelsea home form v Newcastle away form in the Premiership
Team Results P W D L Pts
Chelsea D-D-W-W-W-W 6 4 2 0 14/18
Newcastle United D-D-L-L-L-L 6 0 2 4 2/18

OOOOOH! It’s painful in black and white, but moneybags Chelsea being moneybags Chelsea with their recent glittering success, and with our recent carryings on, including relegation, it’s hardly surprising. As I wrote though, the older results are hardly relevant now and it’s just for the hell of it. We’re back in the Premiership now, and we meet as rivals for a top four spot, and long may that sort of thing continue!

Team news and squads

Chelsea

Bargain Bolton buy, Gary Cahill, and David Luiz are both definitely knacked with their hamstrings, but the considerable talents of Branislav Ivanovic will be available once more on his return from a suspension.

Squad: Petr Čech (G), Ross Turnbull (G), Branislav Ivanović (D), José Bosingwa (D), John Terry (D), Ashley Cole (D), Ryan Bertrand (D), Mikel John Obi (M), Michael Essien (M), Raul Meireles (M), Frank Lampard (M), Ramires (M), Juan Mata (M), Florent Malouda (M), Salomon Kalou (M,F), Didier Drogba (F), Fernando Torres (F), Daniel Sturridge (F).

Injured: Gary Cahill (hamstring), David Luiz (hamstring).

Doubtful: None.

Newcastle United

For the Magpies, the good news is that Danny Guthrie, Gabriel Obertan and Sylvain Marveaux will al be available after recent injury woes. However, Danny Simpson will be doubtful after picking up a knock against Wigan and will face a late fitness test. Alan Pardew also confirmed in an interview that Yohan Cabaye picked up a knock too, but he should be fine for the game. After a fairly long spell on the sidelines, Sammy Ameobi (kncked knee) has been back in training, but won’t be quite ready yet. Finally Steven Taylor (ruptured achilles), Peter Lovenkrands (thigh) and Haris Vučkić (knacked knee) will remain out.

Squad: Tim Krul, Rob Elliot (G), Steve Harper (G), Fabrico Coloccini (D,C), Mike Williamson (D), James Tavernier (D), Davide Santon (D,M), Ryan Taylor (D,M), Shane Ferguson (D,M), James Perch (D,M), Cheick Tiote (M), Yohan Cabaye (M), Danny Guthrie (M), Hatem Ben Arfa (M,F), Jonas Gutierrez (M), Gabriel Obertan (M), Sylvain Marveaux (M), Mehdi Abeid (M), Dan Gosling (M), Demba Ba (F), Papiss Cisse (F), Shola Ameobi (F), Leon Best (F).

Injured:

Doubtful: Danny Simpson (knock),

What the managers have been saying

Referring to our previous pasting at Wigan, our Silver Supremo tried to put things back into perspective before this game, saying:

“You have to put it into perspective of the season we’ve had. With three games to go – regardless of what fixtures they are – to be a point above Chelsea and level with Spurs is outstanding. We are absolutely delighted really and we will go to Chelsea and give it our best shot.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Roberto Di Matteo acknowledged how close the content was for a place in the top four, with Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea all locked in combat. he said:

“All [four teams] have equal chances of finishing fourth, with the same amount of games left to play. We know how important the game is tomorrow for our club. The players that are going to be playing will be fully committed.”

Which just about wraps things up for this preview, except to say that we will be posting our usual “match banter” post about an hour before kick off. We shall also be posting match highlights soon after the game has finished, along with a full match report, and possibly a video of the whole match if/when one becomes available. Which only leaves it for me to say,

Howay the lads!

NUFCBlog Author: workyticket workyticket has written 1095 articles on this blog.

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14 Responses

  1. Ah ! first is it ?
    Anyway a happy “may day” to all, hope y’all done your marching and dancing around the may pole.
    As for Chewsea the morra, going to be a tough game.
    A recently resurgent Chelsea side, it seems are playing for their places, in next seasons side.
    The present side getting a bit long in the tooth and fearfull of being sold, are certainly looking hard to beat, just ask Barca!
    In which case those who may be on teir way, probably want a bit of silverware to take with them.
    Gonna predict we wont win any of the three, upcomng games, but will be delighted if we do.

  2. One way to look at it is that with Cisse, Ben Arfa and Cabaye all being in good form we have our best chance of getting some goals against them as we have in many years. If we can get the first goal and possibly the second I give us a good chance but if we go one or two behind I dont think we can get a result. We may fight to the end but we rarely seem to affect the result of a game late in the action

  3. chuck says:
    May 1, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    “The present side getting a bit long in the tooth”

    Well their nickname is “The Pensioners” so that’s quite appropriate, Chuck.

  4. I also fear it’s going to be a seriously uphill struggle to get anything out of this match.

    It will be interesting to see what approach we take tomorrow and, even more so, after that. Wait & see time. Gotta play the matches.

  5. Fulham fans at Anfield asking

    “Is there a fire drill going on ?” :)

    and then there were none !!!!

  6. Let’s hope the team are over their woeful Wigan blues and ready to step back up to the Champions League table. A point, given Chelsea’s resurgence, would be good.

  7. Joey Barton’s getting interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight now (on Roy Hodgson’s appointment as England manager). He was very good.

  8. maze202 says:
    May 2, 2012 at 1:11 am

    “Says Wigan all over your charts where it should say Chelsea”

    Well, twice anyway Maze. Thanks for pointing it out, I had to dash off somewhere else as soon as I finished it off. I wish one of the other lazy bastads would get a ****ing blog done for a change!

  9. Can only see another hiding tonight now Torres has his boots on the right feet.A draw would be great but agree with chuck dont think we will pick up another point.However the lads have proven me wrong before.

  10. I’m going to be nervously optimistic. Chelski are beatable & although we were outplayed by Wigan we were still unlucky not to score a few. We were sluggish, which isn’t something our midfield have guilty of on a regular basis. Unfortunately our defensive frailties were all too apparent & I fear for Williamson & Simpson against the blues. If we start brightly & our Frenchmen our on song the game could be very interesting!

  11. Need to score first tonight. A early chelsea goal will kill us and we’ll be on for another hammering. Torres finally knows where goal is with drogba playing well i fear the worst.
    Reading today that pardew says ‘ i know chelsea well, before i got this job (newcastle united)they where the team i visited most’ lets hope this aint another spout of lies coming from with-in newcastle.

    With chelsea’s current form and ‘arry redknapp not woundeing about england job can only see us finishing 6th. Which dont get me wrong is a fanastic acheviement but was really liking the tought of 4th.

    Hopefully scrap through tonight maybe sneak 0-1 or 1-2 win.

    HWTL

  12. No Rashly (Bertrand) no Mata either…that’s got to be good. Perchinio in for Simpson sounds good too!

  13. Wonder how Halsey 3 feet from Mikel never seen the ELBOW into Tiote’s face? He was as always biast against NUFC, 3 yellow for NU (5 fouls), none for CFC (9 fouls), and the blatent ELBOW by Ivanovic into Ba’s spine not seen yet plainly obvious on TV and will the FA take action on the GBH attack? Guess not, it’s not Fergy or one of the FA’s Bum Boys who was badly done by, it’s an honest hard working Pardew who has shown his worth as a man manager and coach. Great win against the FA odds Newcastle.