PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V PORTSMOUTH

As we enter our second home game in second place, club historian Rick Glanvill and statistician Paul Dutton are ready for the first Saturday kick-off this season.

It won't by easy against a new-look Pompey reckons Rick.

'Seven points from nine and they haven't started playing yet.' Match of the Day's Alan Hansen was pointing out the fundamentals of Chelsea's start to the season as a warning to our rivals. Last week's draw echoed way beyond Anfield.

The dramatic penalty was part of it. As long as there are synapses in our heads to remember Steven Gerrard's dying swan at Bramall Lane salvaging a draw at the same stage last season, we'll take no lectures from Liverpool about dubious decisions.

Never the less, poached salmon always tastes better than farmed, and several Blues players have talked about the boost they got from a valuable point handed to them on a plate by the referee. The high-pitched whining from the adjacent dressing room only made it taste sweeter.

Of course, when you're not playing well but getting results, there are two ways that can change: either you start playing well and continue collecting points, or you keep playing badly but the wins and draws dry up.

Since valuable squad members have been missing in three games so far, we'd obviously hope it's the more positive scenario that comes about. It's certainly been a far better start for Chelsea than at our chief rivals in recent years, Manchester Utd, who have endured their worst start since the first ever Premier Leeague campaign in 1992/3.

A note of caution, though: that season, against feeble contenders and eventually inspired by Eric Cantona, they recovered to win the league by 10 clear points.

United's next few games until we meet at Old Trafford on 23 September are eminently winnable, starting with troubled Tottenham's visit on Sunday. Remember the immutable law of football: a man who banks on Spurs is eventually going to lose his house.

Chelsea's upcoming fixtures look a little trickier. Villa (on 2 September) held us to a depressing draw at Villa Park in the 2006/7 festive season, leaving us six points behind the leaders. Ever-improving Blackburn will want to test our mettle at the Bridge two weeks later.

As we have become used to, both defences will require lock-picking that has seemed in short supply in the performances to date. Frank Lampard's penalty was our only shot on target last weekend. The loss of key players has meant that the blend is not quite right.

That can change at any time, and this home game after two aways, along with the arrival of a team probably lacking influential figures such as the injured Sol Campbell, could be handy. It won't be easy, and the new spirit of the Shed will be required again.

Keeper David James, already bucked up by talk of him displacing Paul Robinson as England's numero uno, must know the eyes of the nation will be looking for one of famous calamities and will be out to do his best to avoid one. He has regularly been man of the match when facing the Blues.

Still, Harry Redknapp seems to believe his side's problems lie at the other end of the field, and has been linked with former striker Yakubu and Nicolas Anelka. This despite the bright starts for Nigeria international John Utaka and former Preston goalscorer David Nugent.

The newly-capped England man has yet to get off the mark for his new team, but the free-running Utaka has grabbed two in three games - the latest against Bolton like a spear through the mist of Wanderers' midfield and defence. Utaka's goals tend to come in flurries; while at Rennes he scored hat-tricks in successive matches.

Another player having a good season is Richard Hughes, though it has to be said that is founded almost entirely on his impressive ability to prompt a headbutt from Ronaldo and the Portguese being banned for three games as a result.

That win over United showed the veteran Redknapp's capacity still to outwit opponents, cutting supply lines and isolating key opponents. The bell that rings at Fratton Park must have driven the frustrated Carlos Tevez mad that night.

Pompey, though, are yet to register a win on their travels this calendar year, and have an unenviable record against Chelsea. The goal in-form Benjani scored at the Bridge in our 2-1 win last season was their first against us in nine years. Home and away, five of our last seven meetings have ended in a 2-0 win for the Blues. They haven't beaten Chelsea in any competition for nearly 37 years.

Having made history by surpassing Liverpool's 26-year record (of which there was no mention in the Anfield match programme), we are now looking to extend our unbeaten league run at Stamford Bridge to 65 games. We have won 49, drawn 15, scored 134 goals and conceded 31 in that sequence since our defeat against Arsenal in February 2004.

A total of 2,669,552 supporters have witnessed the three-and-a-half year run. Congratulations to the 57 players who have figured in the 64 games - and thanks to the two Southampton players who assisted us with own goals.

CHELSEA V PORTSMOUTH - Paul Dutton surveys a traditionally fruitful fixture.

The unbeaten home league record players roll-call:
Appearances (64 matches)
Lampard 62+1, Terry 58, Cech 45, Carvalho 39+2, Drogba 34+15, Gallas 34+1, Makelele 32+3, Ferreira 31+4, Essien 31+3, J Cole 30+12, Gudjohnsen 28+9, Robben 25+10, Duff 23+9, Bridge 21+3, Gérémi 17+9, Melchiot 17+3, Wright-Phillips 16+14, Crespo 14+4, Del Horno 14, Shevchenko 13+3, Kalou 11+5, A Cole 11+2, Johnson 10+4, Ballack 10+2, Tiago 9+8, Cudicini 9+1, Huth 8+3, Hilário 6, Mikel 5+6, Smertin 5+3, Boulahrouz 4+2, Diarra 4+2, Grønkjær 4+1, Ambrosio 4, Hasselbaink 3+1, Babayaro 3, Desailly 3, Kezman 2+13, Parker 2+4, Jarosik 1+5, Maniche 1+3, Ben-Haim 1, Malouda 1, Mutu 1, Pizarro 1, Sinclair 1, C Cole 0+3, Sahar 0+3, N Morais 0+2, Verón 0+2, Forssell 0+1, Hutchinson 0+1, Nicolas 0+1, Oliveira 0+1, Pidgeley 0+1, Sidwell 0+1, Stanic 0+1.

Goals (134)
Drogba 34, Lampard 22 (3 pens), Gudjohnsen 8 (1 pen), Robben 7, J Cole 6, Duff 6, Crespo 5, Gallas 5, Terry 4, Carvalho 3, Essien 4, Hasselbaink 3, Kalou 3, Kezman 3 (1 pen), Shevchenko 3, Ballack 2, Gérémi 2, Grønkjær 1, Johnson 1, Makelele 1, Malouda 1, Melchiot 1, Pizarro 1, Tiago 1.

There were seven own goals, scored by Beattie and Crainie (Southampton), Zhizanishvili (Blackburn), Rosenior (Fulham), Kirkland (Wigan), Xavier (Middlesbrough) and Jaaskelainen (Bolton).

Portsmouth are still searching for an away win in 2007. They have drawn five and lost six scoring nine goals and conceding 20 in all competitions since their last win away from Fratton Park against West Ham on Boxing Day.

Chelsea are unbeaten in the last 17 Barclays Premier League games, winning 11 and drawing six since our last defeat at Anfield in January.

Chelsea are looking to extend our unbeaten run against Portsmouth to 23 games. Our last defeat came before any of our current squad were born in December 1960, in the League Cup when a 19-year-old Peter Bonetti was playing his 25th game for the club.

Portsmouth's last victory at Stamford Bridge was in fact their biggest win against us. They won 5-1 just over four months after Chelsea had won the League in September 1955. Since then, Chelsea have remained unbeaten at home for 14 games in all competitions.

Pompey's last major piece of silverware was in 1950 when they completed back-to-back league titles. In those two seasons they convincingly beat Chelsea on all four occasions in the First Division with an aggregate score of 15-4! Chelsea were 13th in both seasons.

Our last five league meetings at Stamford Bridge:
Dec 10 1988 Chelsea 3 (Dixon, Durie, K Wilson) Portsmouth 3(Kuhl, Ball, Quinn)
Dec 28 2003 Chelsea 3 (Bridge, Lampard, Gérémi) Portsmouth 0
Jan 22 2005 Chelsea 3 (Drogba 2, Robben) Portsmouth 0
Feb 26 2006 Chelsea 2 (Lampard, Robben) Portsmouth 0
Oct 21 2006 Chelsea 2 (Shevchenko, Ballack) Portsmouth 1 (Benjani)

Chelsea have won all four home Premiership meetings since Portsmouth's promotion back to the top flight.

Last season Portsmouth achieved their highest position in the Premier League finishing ninth, and best in the top flight since 1954/55 when they ended the season four points behind champions Chelsea! Their other seasons in the Premier League have been 13th in 2003/04, 16th in 2004/05 and 17th in 2005/06.

Pompey's away record last term was won three, drawn seven, lost nine. Their three away wins came at Middlesbrough, Charlton and West Ham before the turn of the year.

Pompey's top Premier League scorers last season were Kanu 10, Matt Taylor eight and Benjani six.

Portsmouth's last six games
Apr 28 Liverpool (h) W 2-1
May 5 Everton (a) L 0-3
May 13 Arsenal (h) D 0-0
Aug 11 Derby (a) D 2-2
Aug 15 Man Utd (h) D 1-1
Aug 18 Bolton (h) W 3-1

Portsmouth's team for their game against Bolton at Fratton Park last Saturday was: (4-4-2) James; Traore, Hreidarsson, Distin (c), Taylor; O'Neil (Cranie 82), Davis, Hughes, Utaka; Benjani (Nugent 73), Kanu (Mvuemba 90). Kanu, Utaka, and Taylor (penalty) were their scorers.

Pompey's scorers this season are: Benjani 2, Utaka 2, Kanu 1 and Taylor 1 (penalty).

Although the League table is pretty meaningless this early, Chelsea lie second behind leaders Man City and Portsmouth are a creditable fifth with two draws and a win.

Glen Johnson, if selected, will play against his team mates of last season where he was on a year long loan. In all he played in 28 games for Portsmouth in all competitions.

David James was Pompey's only ever present in the Premier League last season

Sulley Muntari picked up 12 yellows and three red cards at Udinese last season. He was sent off on his home debut for Portsmouth against Man Utd last week.

Harry Redknapp has spent over £20million, including the club record signing of John Utaka and England international David Nugent.
Ins: David Nugent (Preston, £6m), John Utaka (Rennes, £7m), Sulley Muntari (Udinese, £7m), Arnold Mvuemba (Rennes, undisclosed), Sylvain Distin (Manchester City, free), Hermann Hreidarsson (Charlton, free), Martin Cranie (Southampton, £150,000).
Outs: Svetoslav Todorov (Charlton, free), Andy Griffin (Derby, £500,000), Collins Mbesuma (Bursaspor, undisclosed), Lomana LuaLua (Olympiakos, undisclosed), Andy O'Brien (Bolton, undisclosed), Andy Cole (released).

John Terry is due to make his 300th start for the club on Saturday.

There are no suspensions on either side.

The match referee is Alan Wiley. So far this season he has officiated over dropped points for our London neighbours Spurs (Sunderland) and Arsenal (Blackburn).

Chelsea's overall record against Portsmouth in all competitions is: played 75, won 31, drawn 23, lost 21.

Head-to-head in the League at Stamford Bridge: played 34, won 16, drawn 12, lost 6.

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 1
Barclays Premiership, Saturday October 21, 2006, Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (4-3-3) Hilário; Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack (Boulahrouz 89), Essien, Lampard; Shevchenko (Makelele 76), Drogba, Robben (J Cole 66).
Booked Shevchenko, Ballack, J Cole
Scorers Shevchenko (54), Ballack (56)
Portsmouth (4-1-2-1-2) James; Pamarot, Primus, Campbell, Taylor; Mendes (Thompson 83); O'Neil (c), Kranjcar; Fernandes (Cole 56); Benjani, Kanu (Davis h-t).
Booked Pamarot, Mendes
Scorer Benjani (68)
Referee Mark Clattenburg.
Crowd 41,838.
Second versus fourth. Shevchenko gets his first Stamford Bridge goal, Ballack his first Premiership goal. Makelele is rested. Mikel is suspended. Chelsea go top by three points.