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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 16:08:54 GMT
Antonio Conte has said that winning the title with Chelsea would rank as his biggest managerial achievement yet. The Blues' (4/9) visitors Southampton (15/2) have their own sights on a Europa League spot having amassed 40 points in 31 games. Chelsea should start with Costa and Hazard, both cunningly benched at Wembley while Saints are likely to welcome back defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu after a two match ban.
However, the game of the (mid) week for me is not this one, nor is it the Manchester derby on Thursday (yes, Thursday) No, I'm looking forward to the London derby on Wednesday at Selhurst Park where a resurgent Crystal Palace (9/2 - six wins, one draw in last eight) take on a Spurs side (13/20) coming off the back of that Wembley defeat on Saturday. It has the makings of a belting encounter. There are two other games on Wednesday. Arsenal (6/10) host Leicester (4/1) and at the bottom it's Boro (5/4) versus Sunderland (5/2) You might want to consider United's price for a win at the Ethiad (a hefty 9/2) whilst wilting Gladioli's lads go off as strong 10/11 faves. The Utd Not To Lose goes at 10/11 while Utd to win with a money back draw result is on offer for 2/1. Personally I think Maureen's Boy's will collect something here in the way of a point (11/4 the straight draw) or even a cheeky three.
CFC/Saints team news later.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2017 16:22:00 GMT
I'm looking forward to the London derby on Wednesday at Selhurst Park where a resurgent Crystal Palace (9/2 - six wins, one draw in last eight) take on a Spurs side (13/20) coming off the back of that Wembley defeat on Saturday.
Just to urge caution on anyone thinking that is a generous look price for Palace. Big Sam says he is probably going to rest a few players and bring in some fresh legs, as he doesn't feel the same XI will have the legs to pull off another shock, especially with Spurs having an extra days rest. |
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 16:26:38 GMT
Just to urge caution on anyone thinking that is a generous look price for Palace. Big Sam says he is probably going to rest a few players and bring in some fresh legs, as he doesn't feel the same XI will have the legs to pull off another shock, especially with Spurs having an extra days rest. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2017 16:33:24 GMT
Just to urge caution on anyone thinking that is a generous look price for Palace. Big Sam says he is probably going to rest a few players and bring in some fresh legs, as he doesn't feel the same XI will have the legs to pull off another shock, especially with Spurs having an extra days rest. Of course I'm not saying Palace wont win, just repeating Big Sam's words in his post match press conference on Sunday, I'm a bit of a nerd for watching these press conferences. Except for Pochettino's press conferences. Some things are just too boring to watch! |
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 18:00:35 GMT
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kanté, Matic, Alonso; Fabregas, Diego Costa, Hazard.
Subs: Begovic, Ake, Terry, Chalobah, Willian, Pedro, Batshuayi
Southampton: Forster, Cédric, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand, Romeu, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Tadić, Boufal, Gabbiadini.
Subs: Hassen, Caceres, Clasie, Hojbjerg, Long, Redmond, Rodriguez
Referee: L Mason ( 58 Yellows and 2 Reds in 17 PL outings, that's 3.5 cards per match on average including one clean sheet)
CFC 4/9
Saints 7
Draw 4
Preamble by Paul Doyle :
"Hello. Chelsea ruined Spurs’ FA Cup hopes on Saturday and now want to crush their Premier League dreams too, the bounders. Victory today would go a fair way to doing that, extending Chelsea’s lead at the top of the table from four to seven points. And with Antonio Conte’s men due to play Everton early on Sunday afternoon, the gap at the top could be a daunting 10 points before kick-off in the north London derby, when Spurs will begin trying to claw their way back into contention all over again. This match, then, has pivotal look to it even if, mathematically speaking, a win wouldn’t even guarantee a Champions League spot for Chelsea, let alone the title.
The chances of Southampton keeping the season interesting for the rest of us are not as remote as you might think. They won at Stamford Bridge last season, after all. Granted, that was when Virgil Van Dijk was fit and they had Sadio Mané, Victor Wanyama and Graziano Pelle in their ranks but, on the flip side, they had Martin Stekelenburg in goal. What is more, Claude Puel’s side won’t lack motivation as they could do with at least a point from today’s game to boost their hopes of maintaining a respectable top-half position in the table, as opposed to tumbling down towards the relegation zone, from which they are, at present, misleadingly distant: they are nine places above Swansea, but only nine points. And Southampton do still have some fine players, at least until another round of sales in the summer. Dusan Tadic and Nathan Redmond, for instance, are capable of giving Chelsea’s wing-back plenty to think about; Manolo Gabbiadini can exploit any slackness in central defence; and Oriol Romeu will return to Stamford Bridge hellbent on proving Puel is not deluded for suggesting he’s almost as good as Ngolo Kanté. That, like the match itself, promises to be an intriguing duel."
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Post by Carl LaFong on Apr 25, 2017 18:08:41 GMT
5-1
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Post by MrFurious on Apr 25, 2017 18:48:18 GMT
Bit of a scare there but should be an easy home win.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 18:55:23 GMT
Costa collected a fine ball driven in from midfield and caressed it low towards Hazard who screwed it wide of Forster from twelve yards out. '5 gone and it's one-nothing. He may have potted only two in ten but that was a neat assist from the big man. But before we get carried away, let's remember what happened when Chelsea took that very early lead against Palace not so long ago.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 19:12:37 GMT
From the corner on '25, Gabbiadini is left unmarked at the far post and attempts to poke it home. He's denied by a flailing Courtois but ex-CFC boy Romeu is there to stab home the parry. One-all.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 19:20:19 GMT
As the half hour mark comes and goes, Southampton are knocking it about with increasing confidence. Azpilicueta just cleared from the six yard box and if he hadn't it was a clear-cut chance for 1-2 Saints. The pints are flowing in Tottenham and the landlords will be happy as long as the Saints have a sniff of getting something out of this. Those Spurs drinkers aren't going home just yet.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 19:34:56 GMT
It's 2-1 at the interval, and it was Cahill's head that rifled the ball home in stoppage time that gives CFC the lead here. There were chances at both ends as the half drew to a close, with Saints nearly potting at point blank range on '40 and Costa in the box fluffing the ball in from Hazard a minute later, before Cahill popped up to net. Chelsea a bit ragged defending the set-pieces and Southampton more than doing their bit towards an entertaining first half.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 19:58:40 GMT
Fabregas picks out Costa with a delightfully flighted chip into the area where it bounces off Costa's head and past Forster for 3-1 on '54. It might now be time for those Spurs drinkers to think about getting home and putting the dinner on.
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Post by mangekyoalleluia on Apr 25, 2017 20:00:55 GMT
Just give Chelsea the title already.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 20:15:22 GMT
Assuming CFC win this, with 17 mins to go, it bodes well for Palace who would jump to 8th spot should they outwit Spurs tomorrow.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 20:17:54 GMT
Let's have a look at what Paul Doyle is saying :
2m ago
21:14
72 min: Fabregas charges down a Romeu shot with his arse.
Textbook.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 20:27:23 GMT
John Terry comes off the bench just as he did nearly 20 years ago when he made his debut for CFC against the Saints.
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Post by MrFurious on Apr 25, 2017 20:30:46 GMT
Well done Stags 4-1. All over to Selhurst tomorrow night.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 20:32:42 GMT
Costa plays a charming one-two with Hazard in the area and finishes it off for 4-1. One more pot for Chelsea and LaFong will have pulled off a stunning pre-match correct score forecast.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 20:37:07 GMT
Ex-CFC boy Bertrand nets with a dinking header moments before Lee Mason blows up for full time.
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Post by staggerstag on Apr 25, 2017 20:40:49 GMT
Postamble by Paul Doyle :
"Chelsea wobbled for a bit in the first half, when Romeu equalised and Southampton threatened an upset. But Cahill’s goal just before the break put the league leaders back in front and they pulled further away in the second half with a couple of excellent goals. They are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League. Do your best, Tottenham, but it’s probably not going to be enough."
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