Chelsea vs Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread - December 28th - 5.30pm

[McGraths Dry Cleaning]

We'll lose 2-1, sadly. We never do well there.

Ollie for us, to go on a long scoring run...

Our record at Stamford Bridge was actually quite decent for a few years about a decade back. MON had a couple of draws, Houllier got a 3-3 when we were in bottom 3 in 10/11 and then McLeish fluked a 3-1 on new year's eve 2011, rare game where Nzogbia and Ireland both actually played well and in the same game.

8-0 the next season ended all that and don't think we've claimed a point there since.

Was always a fixture though where we'd give them a good game compared to our annual surrenders every year in Manchester with the same sides so hopefully the same today.

Was at the 3-3 in the posh seats. Went nuts along with 3 or 4 other Villa fans a few seats in front of me when we got the injury time equaliser (Clark??). The tourists around us must have wondered waht was going on......

[VILLA MOLE]

You can definitely get at Chelsea as their defence isn’t the best , but they have some great attacking players all be it misfiring at the moment 2-2

[Mister E]

... it focuses too much on our youthful fitness and ignores the skill and talent our lads have. We may be the hardest working team in the league ...

You're right, and I'd say this is one of the biggest transformations since this time last year - the fitness and energy. Massive kudos to all concerned that we are getting this basic thing right.

[Nev]

Bit of a bad feeling about this, can't put my finger on why...not terrible but struggling to see a win.

2-1

[Brazilian Villain]

Fear we may get our reality check this week like Leeds / Southampton. 3-6 points from the next 2 games would have me happily eating copious amounts of humble pie.

[N'ZMAV]

as much as I don't like losing - this isn't a bad one to lose, certainly one people who don't watch us every week would expect us to lose. We might struggle with fitness for this one, I'd expect Smith to rotate a couple of players.

[cdbearsfan]

No rotation, it is only three games in a week. We can rotate players against Liverpool as they Will likely play the kids. Given our away record we should be aiming to win the next two. Intae these twats.

[PaulTheVillan]

Think we’ll rest Cash & McGinn.

[PaulTheVillan]

I’ve had a bet on Watkins to score in the last 5 games.

Not tonight

[john2710]

I don’t think we’ll have the legs to play another game in 48 hours & our backup players we have aren’t of a similar quality. Chelsea on the other hand can swap like for like.

Other than the obvious games, we’ve often given Chelsea a tough game at the Bridge. Keep it tight, hit them on the counter, take our chances & you never know. But head says a Chelsea win.

[cdbearsfan]

If Man City's next couple of games are postponed that could decrease the chance of Lampard resting players today.  Suspected he might have had one eye on the Man City vs Chelsea game but obviously he won't if it's called off.

[LeeB]

I’ve had a bet on Watkins to score in the last 5 games.

Not tonight

Like a man watching you fail on the fruit machine, I'm now going to jump on and cash in. I'll buy you pint the next time we can go down again if I win.

[TonyD]

He won’t be resting anyone I reckon. 

[cdbearsfan]

Think we’ll rest Cash & McGinn.

Nah. McGinn will get a rest next time he gets booked anyway.

[not3bad]

Chelsea are good enough to come back strongly after the kind of result they had against Arsenal. Don't know if Villa are at the stage that they can maintain the levels of the last couple of matches. Reckon Traore will be sharp so that's good. Am expecting to see a couple of suspensions come out of the next few fixtures which is not so good.