As the team takes its annual league trip to the south coast, club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton look forward to visiting a ground accustomed to Chelsea success.

Rick chimes in with an assessment of two reduced squads.


So, a Pompey player takes a free kick and a Chelsea player slots it home coolly, then a little later the Chelsea man surges through midfield, waits till a defender commits before setting up the Portsmouth midfielder for a decisive finish. That's Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations for you.

Former colleagues Avram Grant and Harry Redknapp may look proudly at Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari displaying virtuoso midfield skills on the long grass and rutted fields of Accra, but that won't stop them hoping a little that they are back from this fascinating competition as soon as possible.

Sunday evening stages a win/win game: as Ghana's opponents are neighbours Nigeria, if it's not 'the Bison' on his way back in time for the Blues to face Liverpool next weekend, it will be fellow middleman John Mikel Obi. Portsmouth's Nigeria contingent is John Utaka and Kanu. Pape Bouba Diop's Senegal have already bowed out.

Ivory Coast face Guinea the same night. The Guineans (33rd) are placed higher than Didier Drogba and co (38th) in the FIFA world rankings, and if they prevail Salomon Kalou and Drogba, both showing fine form, will also be on a plane home. But it's harsh to begrudge the players' participation in an important tournament, especially when they are performing so well.

All four Chelsea boys have scored important goals for their country, and the confidence imbued by personal and national success must benefit their club in a complicated run-in to the season's close.

Once again it is worth dwelling on the extraordinary job done by the players left behind and ready to play over the last month. January brought eight straight wins for Avram Grant's team. Wednesday's 1-0, far more comfortable than the scoreline suggested, was the ninth on the trot, equalling the record set in August/September 2005 by José Mourinho. (It's been five league victories in a row too - our record is ten.)

So a victory at Fratton Park on Saturday would establish a new club high of ten. And that has been achieved without the Ghana-bound players and, at various times, Petr Cech, Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Florent Malouda, Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho, Andriy Shevchenko and Juliano Belletti. Not many pundits (and, perhaps, fans) thought Chelsea would be in a cup final and just four points off the top going into February.

What a testament to the likes of Alex, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steve Sidwell and Joe Cole - the four players who have so far played in every game of the winning run.

Of course it has helped in more recent games that Nicolas Anelka has taken to Chelsea like the proverbial duck to water. Redknapp - who sat down and discussed a move to Newcastle a few weeks back - will be hoping that his deadline-beating acquisition, Jermain Defoe, adapts as swiftly and effectively as the Frenchman. Benjani's move to Manchester City failed to go through in time, even though Pompey had already strengthened their forward line with the loan move for Milan Baros, formerly of Liverpool and Aston Villa. They also bought perennially unsettled Lassana Diarra, formerly of this parish, from Arsenal.

Loud though their fans are, it has failed to inspire Pompey to their customary home form. Their tally of three league victories on the south coast is equalled by Boro (13th) and Birmingham (17th); even Liverpool have one more notch on their bow, as do Wigan.

The 3-1 defeat of doomed Derby two weeks ago (with a Benjani hat-trick) was actually the first time they have taken all three points at Fratton Park since the 7-4 game against Reading last September. They have stayed higher up the table on the back of their excellent away performances - although Chelsea now boast the best record in the Premier League.

On Wednesday evening at Old Trafford Portsmouth were virtually bypassed and their defence persistently opened up in a 0-2 loss. It is not so much at the back that the African contingent's absence is most keenly felt, but in midfield, where the drive and power, not to mention goalscoring of Muntari and Utaka have been vital. Without them in front, veteran centre-backs Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin (subbed early at United) are more easily exposed.

The middle four in their 4-4-2 formation at Old Trafford were Lauren, Sean Davis, Diarra and Niko Kranjcar, with Baros partnering Benjani upfront. Defoe is far shorter than the Zimbabwean, and with Ricardo Carvalho suspended for Chelsea, Redknapp may be looking for height in the challenge as well as quality in the delivery on his side's set-pieces. The Blues' own dead-ball specialist Juliano Belletti is available again.

Michael Ballack returned with his third goal in eight games against Reading, and will again have an important role to play. Alongside him, Claude Makelele has been back to his very best form and would have another two or three wonderful assists to his credit had the chances been taken on Wednesday.

A fortnight shy of his 35th birthday, though, he could be excused for looking forward to the return an Essien or a Mikel - and a short breather - more than most.


PORTSMOUTH V CHELSEA - Paul Dutton reviews the records and other related numbers.

Chelsea are looking for a tenth successive victory in all competitions which will break the club record originally set in August and September 2005 and equalled on Wednesday against Reading.

We are unbeaten in 12 (11 wins and a draw) since our defeat at the Emirates before Christmas.

Avram Grant's record at Chelsea is identical to José Mourinho's at the same stage. Played 30, won 23, drawn five and lost two.

In the last 14 away games we have kept 10 clean sheets and conceded only four goals.

Chelsea on the road have won more points than any other Barclays Premier League team - 25 with wins at Reading, Bolton, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Derby, Blackburn, Fulham and Birmingham, draws at Liverpool and defeats at Arsenal, Aston Villa and Man Unitetd.

Chelsea are looking to extend our unbeaten run against Portsmouth to 24 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.

We have won our last six league games at Fratton Park and eight in all competitions and haven't lost a league game there since Boxing Day 1957. Portsmouth won 3-0 a day after Chelsea won the reverse fixture 7-4 at Stamford Bridge.

The last occasion Portsmouth avoided a home defeat was in April 1984 on our way to the old Second Division Championship. The score ended Portsmouth 2 (Kevin Dillon, Alan Biley), Chelsea 2 (Pat Nevin pen, Mickey Thomas).

Pompey have failed to score in seven of their 11 home league games this term.

Their league record at Fratton Park this season is won three (Bolton 3-1, Reading 7-4, Derby 3-1), drawn six (Man Utd 1-1, Liverpool 0-0, West Ham 0-0, Man City 0-0, Everton 0-0, Arsenal 0-0) and lost two (Tottenham 0-1, Middlesbrough 0-1).

Our Premier League record against Portsmouth at Fratton Park is as follows:
2003/04 Chelsea won 2-0
2004/05 Chelsea won 2-0
2005/06 Chelsea won 2-0
2006/07 Chelsea won 2-0

We are unbeaten in the last 50 games in all competitions when scoring the opening goal - 47 wins, three draws. The last occasion was at Tottenham in November 2006.

Chelsea have played 38 games in all competitions. We have won 26, drawn nine and lost three. We have scored 63 goals, conceded 24 and have kept 22 clean sheets. We have failed to score against Blackburn, Fulham and Valencia at home and away to Arsenal, Aston Villa, Man Utd and Schalke.

Pompey's last six games
Jan 1 Reading (a) W 2-0
Jan 5 Ipswich (FA Cup a) W 1-0
Jan 13 Sunderland (a) L 0-2
Jan 19 Derby (h) W 3-1
Jan 26 Plymouth (FA Cup h) W 2-1
Jan 30 Man Utd (a) L 0-2

Portsmouth have played 29 games in all competitions winning 14, losing eight and drawing seven. They have scored 42 goals, conceded 28, have kept 13 clean sheets and failed to score 10 times.

They are the only club holding a 100 per cent record in Premier League matches in which they have opened the scoring (won all eight).

Pompey were beaten by two first half Ronaldo goals at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Team (4-4-2): James; Johnson, Campbell (c), Distin (Hreidarsson h/t), Pamarot; Lauren (Mvuemba 46), Davis, Diarra, Kranjcar; Baros (Hughes 78), Benjani.

Premier League scorers:
Portsmouth (34): Benjani 12, Muntari 4 (1 pen), Utaka 4, Kanu 3, Kranjcar 3, Hreidarsson 2, Campbell 1, Johnson 1, Pamarot 1, Taylor (now Bolton) 1 (pen), own goals 2 (Ingimarsson, Reading, Gardner, Aston Villa).
Chelsea (37): Drogba 5, Kalou 5, Lampard 5 (2 pens), Shevchenko 4 (1 pen), Ballack 3 (1 pen), J Cole 3, Essien 3, Alex 2, Belletti 2, Pizarro 2, Wright-Phillips 2, Malouda 1.

Sylvain Distin and David James have played all of Pompey's 24 league games. No Chelsea player has appeared in every match. Shaun Wright-Phillips has made most appearances with 21.

Chelsea inflicted Portsmouth's first defeat of the season in August with a Frank Lampard goal on 31 minutes.

Manchester United are top of the Premier League on goal difference to Arsenal with 57 points. Chelsea, four points behind have 53, Everton have 43, Aston Villa and Man City 41 and Liverpool are seventh on 40 points. Liverpool have a game in hand (Mar 5 West Ham h). Portsmouth are ninth with 37 points.

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.

The weekend's other games featuring the top clubs are: Man City v Arsenal (Sat 12.45pm), Blackburn v Everton (Sat 3pm), Tottenham v Man Utd (Sat 3pm), Liverpool v Sunderland (Sat 5.15pm) and Fulham v Aston Villa (Sun 4pm).

Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Mikel Obi and for Portsmouth Pape Bouba Diop, Sulley Muntari, John Utaka and Kanu are all away at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.

Ricardo Carvalho is suspended (one match) for reaching five yellow cards this season. Juliano Belletti is available again following his one match ban.

Chelsea have Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry one yellow card away from a one match ban for reaching five bookings. They will miss the Liverpool game at Stamford Bridge on February 10th if they receive a caution against Portsmouth.

We say hello to two Chelsea old boys, Glen Johnson and Lassana Diarra. Diarra is playing for his third club this season having played in the Community Shield for Chelsea, 13 games for Arsenal and three for Pompey.

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

The referee is Howard Webb, who last handled our 1-0 win over West Ham in early December.

Chelsea's overall record against Portsmouth in all competitions is: played 76, won 32, drawn 23, lost 21.

Head-to-head in the league at Fratton Park: played 34, won 12, drawn 9, lost 13.

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 2
Premiership, Saturday March 3rd 2007 at Fratton Park
Portsmouth (4-4-2): James; Pamarot, Primus, Campbell, Traore (Kranjcar 67); O'Neil (c), Davis, Hughes, Taylor; Kanu, LuaLua (Cole 72).
Manager Harry Redknapp
Booked None
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Diarra, Essien, Carvalho, A Cole; Ballack, Makelele, Lampard (c); Shevchenko (Wright-Phillips 75), Drogba (Bridge 84), Robben (Kalou 75).
Manager José Mourinho
Booked Ballack, Makelele
Scorers Drogba (33), Kalou (81)
Referee Mark Halsey.
Crowd 20,219.