Match preview - Blackburn vs Chelsea

After losing away at Arsenal last weekend, Chelsea will be keen to get back to winning ways in the Premier League this weekend. However, if they were hoping for an easy game to get back to winning ways then the certainly wouldn`t have picked a clash with Blackburn Rovers, a team who it is probably fair to say of, are robust and difficult to beat.
Vital Quotes:
Speaking ahead of the plethora of festive fixtures, Avram Grant warned his team about getting complacent, reflecting on a period last year where our title hopes hit the rocks,

Christmas is always very important in England, because you play four games in such a short period of time and for every team it`s important to take as many points as you can."

"But the players are all aware of what happened last season and how we must not do it again now."

"Even if they weren`t they want to win all these games because we have to stay in touch with Arsenal and United."
Blackburn Team News:
Blackburn enter the fixture on the back of two successive defeats, losing away to Wigan last weekend and at home to Arsenal in the Carling Cup in midweek.

Mark Hughes will be without the services of Christopher Samba who is suspended, Khizanishvilli or Mokoena will deputise. Brett Emerton should return after serving a one game suspension and off course we have the all too familiar sight of Robbie Savage.

Elsewhere, Chelsea will need to be aware of the threat posed by both David Bentley and Morten Gamst Pedersen from set pieces.

Blackburn may line up as follows - Freidel, Emerton, Khizanishvilli, Nelson, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Savage, Pedersen, McCarthy, Santa Cruz
Player to watch: Roque Santa Cruz
The powerful striker played alongside Pizarro at Bayern Munich and has integrated himself well in the Premier League. He scored at hat trick at Wigan last Saturday and followed that up with a brace against Arsenal the Carling Cup in midweek. He could prove to be a real handful
Chelsea Team News:
Avram Grant takes his squad north without the injured John Terry, Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda. However, the successful return in midweek of Ricardo Carvalho will go some way to boosting confidence.

Indeed, after the 2-0 Carling Cup victory over Liverpool, Avram will probably make several changes. At centre half, he`ll need to decide if Alex (who missed the game due to a fleeting visit to Brazil to become a father again) or Ben Haim should partner Carvlaho.

In midfield, Mikel is struggling to be fit after that crude challenge from Crouch although Grant will be able to call upon Essien who is available for Premier League selection after missing the last three games due to suspension.

Up front, hopefully Andriy Shevchenko will have recovered form the swollen ankle he picked up in midweek.

Once again putting our heads above the parapet we`ll go for the following starting eleven

Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Carvalho, A.Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard, J.Cole, Shevchenko, Kalou
Player to watch: Michael Essien
After being out for three Premier League games the popular Ghanaian international will be keen to make up for lost time. Also, with his imminent departure to play in the African Nations Cup, he`s promised us something special before he departs. Hopefully, it`ll be a goal of similar stature to the one he scored against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last season.
Match Facts & Stats
Chelsea have a decent record at Ewood Park losing just one of their last nine trips.

Memorable moments include the 4-3 fight back whereby Tore Andre Flo, on as a substitute scored two late goals, the Arjen Robben goal whereby we knew our title dreams were not just that and the dramatic occasion when Glen Johnson scored a late, late winner.

In the last two meetings between the sides, Chelsea saw of a brave Blackburn challenge to defeat them in extra time in an FA Cup semi-final whilst Blackburn put up a spirited display to take a 0-0 draw back to the north-west in September of this year.
Ref Watch:
Steve Bennett will take charge of the encounter.