West Bromwich Albion vs. Chelsea Preview

Both West Brom and Chelsea go into their March 3 Barclays Premier League fixture on the back of resounding victories but it will be the home side who will feel they have nothing to lose at the Hawthorns - which could prove to be a tough venue for Andre Villas Boas’ Blues.

Albion stormed to a sensational 4-0 home win over Sunderland in their last match – a result which was largely unexpected due to Sunderland’s positive transformation since appointing Martin O’Neill as manager.

But it truth, the Black Cats probably underestimated the Baggies who were brimming with confidence after recently destroying Wolves 1-5 at Molineux.

It has taken boss Roy Hodgson a while to galvanise West Brom however his magic finally appears to be doing the trick and at present, Albion are definitely a team to be feared and a force to be reckoned with.

And the hosts will really fancy their prospects of nailing a third success on the spin against a depleted Chelsea side that, in contrast to West Brom, are lacking in self-belief.

AVB saw his troops stop the rot in comfortable fashion at home to Bolton Wanderers but that win hardly rights all of the wrongs currently surrounding the club – especially as Bolton have been in the bottom three for the duration of the season.

Roman Abramovich is cranking the pressure up on the Portuguese coach who is hardly likely to relish a trip to face an in form Albion, who are enjoying a certain amount of freedom and licence to play attacking football due to their solid, safe league position.

Chelsea are then, quite conceivably, the only team out of the two who will feel that they must win and this may consequently have a detrimental effect on their approach and overall performance.

Hodgson is experienced enough to realise a club which is there for the taking and Albion can claim a significant scalp providing that they can replicate their previous two showings.

One thing of slight concert is West Brom’s general home form and they have indeed recorded just three victories at the Hawthorns this season.

The recent drubbing of Sunderland should, nonetheless, provoke an upturn in home results and if anything the Baggies are likely to raise their game further against the Blues.

The match odds would have heavily favoured Chelsea at the beginning of the campaign - however they are now priced up at around 10/11 to win a fixture which would have been seen as a formality not long ago.

Some may view those odds of inflated considering the form between the two sides which unsurprisingly puts a rather large tick in the Chelsea box.

The Blues have eased to success on their last five visits to face Albion yet it is West Brom who make the greater appeal now and the underdogs can bely their odds of 3/1 to inflict further damage on Chelsea’s aspirations for a top four finish.

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26/02/2012     © Frixo 2024