Getting to the second half of the ANC so just that vital couple of games to go. No room to experiment being 4 points behind and a very inferior goal difference.

So I see the same team as v Reading, except A cole in for Bridge and probably Belletti in for Paulo.

Would like to give maka a rest again so he's up for the Liverpool game but don't see how.

I'm very worried about the physical condition of our starting lineup. We looked knackered in the second half against Reading. I just pray we have enough left in the tank to keep winning till our african boys return and JT,Lamps and Sheva are back.

With Pool coming to the Bridge next weekend we need to get as many players back as possible.

Pompey will feature a few ex-Blues...Lassana Diarra and Glen Johnson, and will also feature returning Prem player Milan Baros.

And now that have King Pratt of London - J. Defoe

I'm very worried about the physical condition of our starting lineup. We looked knackered in the second half against Reading. I just pray we have enough left in the tank to keep winning till our african boys return and JT,Lamps and Sheva are back.

With Pool coming to the Bridge next weekend we need to get as many players back as possible.

Well I haven't missed Lamps, JT or Sheva - well I never miss Sheva so the fact we have this team which seems to have ably coped with everything thrown at it over the last few months I'm not too concerned.

Portsmouth have acquired some players but they are missing their ACN stars and unlike us I think that makes them weaker as they don't have the sheer squad depth that we do to compensate.

And I think we do well against Portsmouth generally don't we?

So Avram to break Mourinho's record at Pompey on Saturday 2-0 or 2-1 with a goal from Anelka certainly on the cards or Ballack - he's been doing so well for us I don't even think about Lampard anymore (although I know I should).

Pompey were utterly outclassed by Manure and should be smarting but I don't think that will make any difference as the Grant bandwagon rolls relentlessly onwards and upwards.

isn't Ballack in Germany right now? So we won't have him and Carvahlo for the game

isn't Ballack in Germany right now? So we won't have him and Carvahlo for the game

Why would he be in Germany? I hope he's not!

Carvalho serving one-match ban.

Wonder if Ivanovic is nearing match fitness yet...

Lampard has returned to training. Hopefully he doesn't tear his thigh for the 19th time...

When looking through the Premiership fixtures list a couple of weeks ago I thought this could be the one where Chelsea tighten the gap. Fingers crossed!

ballack isnt in germany, dont think we`ll see ivanovic as i doubt hes anywhere near match fit so alex and ben haim it is. lamps on the bench maybe, i thought our midield faded quite a bit on wednesday. weve bassicaly played with the same 11 or 12 players in the last month. hopefully lamps could take some of the pressure of. also, hopefully grant will have an insider knowledge of pompeys shape, dead ball defending/attacking etc. its less than 12 months since he left. might benefit us.

Cech

Bridge

Ben Haim

Alex

Beletti

Maka

Ballack

SWP

J.Cole

Anelka

Malouda

Subs: Carlo, Paulo, Lampard, Pizarro, Sidwell.

2-1 Chels.

Have to say that the prospect of Ben Haim fills me with dread. We have been sneaking a lot of 1-0 recently and feel much better about Riccie helping us to defend that lead whereas BH is always liable to make a right balls up...

Cech

Bridge

Ben Haim

Alex

Beletti

Maka

Ballack

SWP

J.Cole

Anelka

Malouda

Subs: Carlo, Paulo, Lampard, Pizarro, Sidwell.

2-1 Chels.

It's fairly unlikely that Bridge will play right back and Belletti left back

isn't Ballack in Germany right now? So we won't have him and Carvahlo for the game

no, JT, don't worry about it - you probably saw that Ballack was recalled by Germany for their next friendly match. that game is on Wednesday, 6 February, which is a FIFA international friendly day. you'll see most of our squad in duty for their respective national teams, but they won't leave our club until after our league match Saturday.

The only ones tiring are Ballack and Malouda neither of which look completely match fit. Ballack has looked very good but I think has waned during the second half of games. Malouda can only seem to run for 10 minutes before going off. If Cole is back maybe it's time we saw him or Bridge in midfield? Either could do a good job on the left.

....................................cech

paulo...............alex...................ben haim.............bridge

....................................maka

............................................ballack

...........................swp

............joe...........................................malouda

...................................anelka

subs:

carlo

belletti

lampard

sinclair

pizarro

could be useful to bring lampard's calming presence on when we need it- I think this'll be a tough game.

If Ivanovic is 90% fit i think we should play him.

----------------Cech---------------

Belletti----Ivanovic----Alex----Bridge

----------------Maka---------------

Cole-----SWP-----Ballack-----Sinclair

---------------Anelka---------------

Carlo

BH

Malouda

Lampard

Pizarro

[iframe:x928lffq]http://www.skysports.com/football/match_reaction/0,19764,11065_2848491,00.html[/iframe:x928lffq]

Any news on when exactly JT is back? I miss him

This isn't an easy game. We need to take our chances and not miss them like in our last game.

Ben Haim and Alex together isn't fun to see but hopefully Alex can step up and help Ben Haim have a good day. And then we have Cech behind them to help out.

We will have two huge defenders so any ball coming through the air should not be a problem. I think Bridge and Belletti will use their speed to help out (like Bridge did in our last game).

We are missing some big names but so are Portsmouth. And unlike us they don't have that many to use as replacements. With Essien, Mikel and Lampard gone we can still play with Makelele, Ballack and SWP. That's not bad at all. Our opponents don't have that luxury.

Not and easy game but I think we should take home the three points. 2-1 or 3-1, hopefully the latter so we don't have to worry in the dying minutes

I also hope to see Lampard back (if he's 100% fit) and Ivanovic. He should be ready soon.

Portsmouth were dreadful v Man U but i dont expect them to be that bad today.

Carv i heard is out, thats a huge loss, but i expect us to be solid and hopefully create chances .

Tough game , i'll take a 1-0.

HUGE loss if that is true about Carvalho!!! Wonder if we will go with Haim, or give Ivanovic a run? Personally I doubt it, and we will play ben Haim, however, we could see Ivanovic on the bench

Scott

It amazes me often a team will manage to hit it's seasonal rock bottom at Old Trafford, where they will get whopped out of sight, but will learn a harsh lesson, and so for the very next or next but one game or thereabouts, come to Stamford Bridge (or we'll go to their place) with a new resolve founded on the ashes of humilitation by them up Norf.

Must be a law of nature or something.

Any news on when exactly JT is back? I miss him

2-3 weeks still I think.

The Big 3 are all playing away from home today, cause for an upset? Well Portsmouth, Tottenham and Man City aren't bad sides so the possibility must be quite good.

However Arsenal have just bloody scored 10 minutes in.

The Big 3 are all playing away from home today, cause for an upset? Well Portsmouth, Tottenham and Man City aren't bad sides so the possibility must be quite good.

However Arsenal have just bloody scored 10 minutes in.

2-1 to Arsenal after the first half. Still I thought Man City were playing well during the end. Might get a point there.

from the BBC

'Chelsea make three changes in defence from the team that beat Reading 1-0. Juliano Belletti comes in for Paulo Ferreria, Ashley Cole replaces Wayne Bridge at left-back and Tal Ben-Haim is in for the suspended Ricardo Carvalho.'

i fancy our chances but i also slightly fear we are in for a nervous afternoon.

Someone told me the other day that Defoe has scored on every full-debut he has made. Haven't checked if that is true or not, (anyone?), but he will be the main danger this afternoon.

Someone told me the other day that Defoe has scored on every full-debut he has made. Haven't checked if that is true or not, (anyone?), but he will be the main danger this afternoon.

Scored on his debuts for Hammers and Spuds but not sure about his loan spell at Bournemouth.