26 of 38 - Chelski (home)

And now for the Difficult Ones! After two away games and four points that nobody said we were going to get, its time to face the best two teams in the country. Once again nobody gives a chance, least of all Lawrenson with his usual 0-2 at thebbc.

But for those mathematicians amongst you there's a wonderful symmetry to the game as the bbc points out - "the game brings together the second bottom and second top clubs in the Premiership. It pits the south Londoners, who have conceded 44 League goals this season, against the west Londoners, who have scored 44. It matches the joint most frequent losers with the joint most infrequent losers. The Addicks have been beaten 15 times, the Blues just three.
It's parity for Pardew. The new Charlton boss has won two, drawn two and lost two of his six Premiership matches in charge. But this is the first of a double-header against the top two. Charlton are away to Manchester United next Saturday."

So game over then, what else could you possibly want to know against a team that has beaten us in 5 of our last 6 Premiership games? Well, the really bad news of course, if you ever harboured the slightist element of hope is that after 6 weeks out with injury, John Terry is due to return. If ever anyone enjoys playing against us its him. He always scores and always wins, as far as I can see.

But you need picking up, I can see that, and we only need to look at the "last six Form Guide" to do it. We're got 8 points from the last six games and Chelski after 2 away games without a win have only claimed 9. ( Bottom 3 teams are the three W's - Watford, Wigan and West Ham in no particular order).

There's also the little question of Mourinho's dissatisfaction with life at Stamford Bridge and the reported riff between him and Roman with no talking going on between them. Chelski appear to have taken their foot off the pedal and have now slipped 6 points behind manure. Perhap we'll see the Great Ones last visit to the Valley?

History
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Remember Boxing Day 2003?

It's really only recently, after Roman arrived that we're slipped behind to Chelski. Home and away, its Charlton 22 wins, Chelsea 27, Draws 16 and at the Valley it stands at us 12 wins them 11 with 9 drawn games.

And if you want to talk symmetry, we can point to our wonderful display at Christmas 2003 when we hammered them in a truly symmetrical 4-2.

The Opponents
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No wins in last three away

Forgetting their home form which has been good, Chelski's last 3 away games have been a 2-0 defeat at Anfield last time out and before that a draw at Wycombe 1-1 in the Carling thing and before that a 0-0 at Aston Villa. Their last away win was at Wigan on 23rd December by 3-2 with a last minute winner out of the blue from Robben.

There was no Terry there, of course. He always scores against us. None in the Premiership last year but he did manage their goal in our 1-1 League Cup win at Stamford Bridge. The year before that he got 2 of their 4 goals in a 0-4 defeat at the Valley. And he even got one in our 4-2 the year before.

The Addicks
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Still No Darren

With nobody ready to come back from injury, ie Darren, Young and Reid, its likely to be the same eleven that has gained 4 points from the last 6, thats: Carson; Sankofa, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Thatcher; Rommedahl, Faye, Holland, Hughes, Thomas; M Bent.

Sat on the bench on Tuesday against Bolton were Randolph, Diawara, Ambrose, Hasselbaink and little old Kevin Lisbie and they all saw a bit of the action except for Randolph and Darren Ambrose. Will Ambrose keep his place with ZZ pressing for a game? Yes, probably. ZZ will be saved until an easier game comes along.

But its odds on that Pardew will include Jimmy F in there somewhere as he can only score against his old clubs, his two Premiership goals coming against Chelski and Middlesbrough.

Predictions
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Draw...

Continuing the symmetry theme, its another draw 1-1, as long as we can keep Terry down to his customary goal.