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Newcastle vs Chelsea team news

Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Belletti, Ferreira, Carvalho, Alex, Ben-Haim, Terry, A Cole, Bridge, J Cole, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba, Shevchenko, Obi, Makelele.

Newcastle (from): Harper, Forster, Beye, Enrique, Taylor, Faye, Edgar, Cacapa, Butt, N’Zogbia, Duff, Barton, Geremi, Milner, Owen, Smith, Martins, Viduka, Carroll.

Full-time Result

Chelsea 8/15 Bet365
Draw 5/2 Betfair
Newcastle 4/1 Totesport

After the euphoria of their Champions League semi-final victory Chelsea get back to business in the league against a resurgent Newcastle on Monday evening.

Last weekends 2-1 win over Manchester United moved Avram Grant’s side level on points with the champions with two games to play, albeit -16 down in the goal difference stakes.

But Kevin Keegan’s team are enjoying their best form of the season and will present a formidable obstacle for the Londoners.

However, Chelsea are flying too and are top of the form table after 6 wins in their last 7. (In fact, this fixture pits 1st against 2nd in the form table!)

The Blues have been relentless in 2008: its now 19 games since their last league defeat and 9 since they were last turned over on the road. Their away record is sensational: P18, W12, D3, L3, F27, A13. In an away league table they would be 6 points ahead of their nearest rivals.

All of those defeats came in 2007 and of their last 9 away games, John Terry and co. have only conceded goals in 3 of them. So they come to St James’ Park expectant of victory.

But beware the Magpies. Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 7 and are second in the form table after 4 wins from their last 6. And they have won their last 3 on Tyneside without conceding a goal, showing a defensive solidity that appeared impossible as recently as February.

They also seem to have the Indian sign over the Blues in home league games: Newcastle haven’t lost a home Premiership fixture to Chelsea since 2001, with 3 wins and 2 draws during that period.

One glaring and perhaps crucial negative for the hosts, however, is their record against the big four this season. P7, W0, D1, L6, F3, A23. They concede over 3 goals a game on average to the superpowers and they have endured 5-1 and 3-0 home batterings by Manchester United and Liverpool already this term.

Its very well and good to beat Sunderland, Reading and Fulham without conceding but when the big boys come to town, its hard to see them keeping clean sheets.

But the Geordies’ recent form and home history cannot be discounted and should be factored into any punts.

Preference is for Chelsea to win by one goal at 5/2. The correct score market is dangerous due to the hosts recent form and the on-fire combination of Owen, Viduka and Martins. 38% of the Blue’s away games (7 in total) have ended in one goal victories and such a result is their bread and butter. Expect them to win a tight game and take the title race to the wire.

Chelsea to win by one goal, 5/2 Bet365

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