Back Blues to beat Royals in a drab derby

A rescheduled fixture provides Chelsea with the opportunity to scoot clear at the top of the English Premier League but, if the Blues do manage to make it two wins from two matches, it may be as a result of a victory in a low-scoring game.

Last season`s English Championship title winner, Reading, is the visitor to Stamford Bridge for an English Premier League match that has been brought forward by a couple of weeks because of Chelsea`s involvement in European affairs.

The Blues, who will represent the UEFA Champions League in the UEFA Super Cup at the end of this month, raced into an early 2-0 lead over Wigan on Sunday and did not let it go.

Branislav Ivanovic put Chelsea ahead inside the first two minutes and fewer than seven minutes had elapsed when Frank Lampard scored the London club`s second goal from the penalty spot after Eden Hazard was upended crudely.

But scratch beneath the surface and there are worrying signs for Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo. Chelsea mustered only five shots during the game - just three of them on target - and forced only one corner kick. The away side spent most of the match fending off Wigan raids and, while it did so very well, its attacking statistics were anything but great.

Twenty-four hours before Chelsea beat Wigan, Reading drew its first English Premier League game since May 2008, fighting back to earn a 1-1 home draw versus Stoke.

Royals coach Brian McDermott said that he was happy with his team`s first-round point against a side hard to tackle but, until he introduced Garath McCleary midway through the second period, there was only going to be one winner.

While the manner in which Reading fell behind was unlucky - Australia international goalkeeper Adam Federici dropped a clanger - the home team was off the pace until McCleary replaced Hal Robson-Kanu with 67 minutes on the watch.

According to official English Premier League statistics, the Royals made Potters custodian Asmir Begovic work only three times throughout the match, which does not augur well for their short trip east to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

The Blues ought to have too much class for their guests but, with bookmakers quoting them at around 1-4, there are sure to be better long odds-on favourites to support between now and the end of the 380-game English Premier League campaign.

Making more appeal are a couple of exotic bets. First, under 2.5 goals is trading at odds against, with punters able to get around 11-8. Expecting Reading to adopt a safety-first approach, one that may result in a quiet night for Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, one could be getting 11-8 about the home side not scoring more than two goals in the game.

Following on from that, betting a low-scoring Chelsea win at odds-against prices merits consideration. Bookmakers are offering around 7-1 about a 1-0 Blues victory and around 11-2 about a 2-0 Blues victory. Combined, the two prices equal better than 5-2 about a Blues 1-0 or 2-0 win. That makes more appeal than the 1-4 about a Blues victory.

Go To bet365

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21/08/2012     © Frixo 2024