Chelsea could do better at home (results-wise) and Newcastle have not been travelling well. Who will improve most this weekend? Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton look at the pointers.

TALKING POINTS
Freezing weather predicted, a three o'clock kick-off, and the visit of our occasional north-eastern whipping boys.

It's a day of winter football traditions, so wrap up in a Champions League night scarf (Geordies may remove their replica shirts if preferred) and hope that Chelsea's home form begins to resemble the free-scoring performances away from Stamford Bridge.

Joe Kinnear has not been around these parts since Zola, Poyet and Petrescu destroyed the Dons 3-0. That was actually ten years ago this month.

Kinnear's current team are one point above the relegation zone and stand alongside Stoke City and Fulham as the only team not to have won away. Yet the Blues' propensity to struggle against teams that park the bus at the Bridge may prove damaging.

Last season there were seven stalemates here in the league; at Old Trafford, where the title resides, they witnessed only one draw. The question is, will the Newcastle bus make it down the A1?

They have lost to Arsenal (0-3), West Ham (1-3) and Fulham (1-2) on visits to London this season. Chelsea have so far accumulated ten goals against the Geordies' local rivals Middlesbrough (5-0) and Sunderland (5-0). 

KEY STAT Chelsea have conceded four times in 13 Premier League games matches this season - that's just under five hours for every goal let in.

The club is still clouded in rumours of imminent takeovers and the installation of a new management team; Kinnear's short-term contract expires this weekend. Seven matches under 'JFK' have produced two wins, two draws and three defeats. They may look more motivated - especially after the former Crazy Gang boss's half-time tongue-lashings - but the lack of quality across the squad is proving harder to overcome.

It was after Chelsea's win last May at St James' Park that Kevin Keegan announced a different kind of resignation, saying that he saw no way the Toon could make a Champions League place in his time there, at least without a huge investment in players.

Even then there was no guarantee: 'If someone gives you a barrel-load of money you will still not get all the best players,' he said. 'If it is a choice between Chelsea and Newcastle they will go to Chelsea because great players want to go where the honours are.'

It was a far cry from the early days of his return to Tyneside, when he suggested Toon fans might start 'dreaming again.' Instead it is Chelsea who are hoping to maintain the title-winning form under Luiz Felipe Scolari and win the league for the first time since 2006.

Saturday evening in Italy sees the long-awaited top-of-the-table clash between Inter (1st) and Juventus (3rd). The San Siro technical area will bring together José 'the Special One' Mourinho and Claudio 'the Tinker Man' Ranieri for the first time since their successive departures from Stamford Bridge.

Juve have had a sudden resurgence, moving from the bottom half to third with five wins on the spin. Inter are playing like a Mourinho team.

Not to put the dampeners on things (so to speak), but five of Chelsea's most recent seven games in all competitions have been played in the wet; eight over the season as a whole. You may have noticed. Especially at Blackburn. Don't be surprised if the professional game suffers an outbreak of 'trench foot'. As usual in the last few years, however, the Stamford Bridge surface looks fantastic.

With freezing temperatures predicted, we'll give an unseasonably warm greeting to our celebrated old boys Damien Duff and Gérémi, or 'Mash Mash' as he was affectionately known in the Chelsea dressing room.

The two are united by much more than starring in a lewd song on the terraces. Both were back-to-back title-winners here in 2004/5 and 2005/6. Welcome home, immortals!

Chelsea have yet to concede in the second half of any league match. José Bosingwa's goal at West Bromwich was his second of the season. Both have been scored away from the Bridge and, crucially, both have opened the scoring. At the Bridge Joe Cole, leads the way in deadlock-breaking goals, with two.

Florent Malouda is proving effective without scoring too many: he has five goal assists to his credit this campaign.

Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea's top scorer, has already surpassed his tally for the previous two league seasons. His 12 goals have come in just 13 matches and with a successful strike every 85 minutes he's been on the field. He is tackling and being fouled less than before, and taking more shots.

Premier League top scorers
Anelka (Chelsea) 12
Ronaldo (Man Utd) 8
Zaki (Wigan) 8
Bent (Tottenham) 7
Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 7
Robinho (Man City) 7
Defoe (Portsmouth) 6
Geovanni (Hull) 6

Three of the top four kick off at 3pm on Saturday. Liverpool host our west London neighbours, who are on something of a revival run. Struggling Arsenal face a potentially tough trip to Eastlands, where Sparky Hughes will be determined to test his managerial counterpart's definition of a 'physical' game.

Perhaps the hardest task falls to United, who play the evening game away to a young Villa brimming with confidence after blowing apart the Gunners last weekend.

The weekend's Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Chelsea v Newcastle 3pm
Liverpool v Fulham 3pm
Man City v Arsenal 3pm
Middlesbrough v Bolton 3pm
Portsmouth v Hull 3pm
Stoke v WBA 3pm
Aston Villa v Man Utd 5.30pm (Setanta)
Sunday
Tottenham v Blackburn 1.30pm (SkySports)
Sunderland v West Ham 4pm (SkySports)
Monday
Wigan v Everton 8pm (Setanta)

Barclays Premier League table

Top		P	GD	PTS
1	Chelsea	13	28	32
2	Liverpool	13	13	32
3	Man Utd	12	15	24
4	Arsenal	13	10	23
5	Aston Villa	13	6	23
6	Hull	13	-2	21
Bottom
16	Wigan	13	-3	13
17	Newcastle	13	-5	13
18	Blackburn	13	-10	13
19	Tottenham	13	-4	12
20	WBA	13	-14	11

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TALKING TACTICS
In between agreeing a short-term contract to succeed Kevin Keegan and actually taking the reins at St James' Park, Kinnear watched his new team play out the fifth of five successive defeats.

His opening game in charge in early October was at Everton, themselves still looking for their first home win of the season. Inspired by central defender Steven Taylor's goal shortly before the break, the Magpies showed a battling quality missing in recent matches and came back from two down to draw 2-2. Overall, though, when Newcastle go behind, they generally lose.

At Everton Kinnear fielded his team in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Damien Duff tucked in behind Michael Owen, while Gérémi and Charles N'Zogbia provided the width in midfield.

Late on, Shola Ameobi came on to partner Owen. Ameobi kept his place for the Toon's next game at home to Manchester City, this time alongside the more pacy and mobile Obafemi Martins, and that has largely been Kinnear's preferred line-up since.

The duo has responded with seven goals between them since. Martins, in particular, looks deadly from just outside the box, and Chelsea have been vulnerable at that range in some matches. Owen's return to full fitness may mean one of the pair makes way on Saturday.

More problematic for Newcastle has been their defence. Kinnear's settled back four is Habib Beye, Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor and José Enrique. But even with central midfielders Joey Barton and Nicky Butt offering protection, and Shay Given behind them, the unit has shipped two or more goal in nine of their 13 league games, keeping two clean sheets.

Their problems this weekend are compounded by the enforced absences of Barton and, possibly, the talismanic Taylor. Sébastien Bassong, also a left-back, will probably deputise.

Only Chelsea have more injured or returning this weekend than Newcastle's seven. John Terry's appearance for England allayed fears that he might add to our centre-back worries. Didier Drogba is suspended, but the Premier League's hottest shot, Nicolas Anelka, will surely fancy his chances against a defence that often lacks coherence and appears porous.

WE HAVE HISTORY
Newcastle's recent sequence of results at the Bridge was 0-5, 0-4, 0-3, then 0-1 and 1-2. On the basis of that trend it should be 3-1 to the Blues. The Magpies have not won on the Fulham Road since 1986. Earlier in that decade Chelsea had twice beaten the Toon 4-0 and once 6-0.

Joe Kinnear gained the management role at Wimbledon following a Chelsea defeat, and may even lose it at St James' Park this weekend, when his contract is up. Back in mid-January 1992 at Selhurst Park, Peter Withe's 105-day reign ended with a 2-1 Chelsea win, and reserve team coach Kinnear was promoted.

He had a tough time getting the better of Chelsea, drawing four and losing two of the first six meetings before a 2-1 win at the Bridge in 1995. The Blues also ended his FA Cup dreams twice in consecutive seasons, 1995/6 and 1996/7 (pictured below).

 

In fact, although we tend to think of the Dons of Earle, Ekoku, Gayle and Ardley as pesky rag-and-bone men who would arrive at our home, ignore the unwanted fridge and make off instead with our Bentley, under Kinnear the Crazy Gang triumphed just three times against Chelsea in 18 encounters. Two of those were in SW6.

The Dons' reputation for batterings was well-earned in October 1996, however, when Robbie Earle headed Frank Leboeuf as well as the ball into the net, and the resulting bruise on our French centre-back grew to the size of a golf ball.

Kinnear was also a full-back for Spurs in the 1967 FA Cup final, and has made no secret of his dislike for Chelsea since then. Many people mistakenly think Chelsea legend Dennis Wise played under the Toon's short-term manager at Wimbledon. This is not the case: Newcastle's current football director had upgraded to Stamford Bridge before Kinnear stepped in.

Chelsea are hoping to extend our unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge against Newcastle to 21 games in all competitions. The full record is: played 20, won 14, drawn 6, lost 0, goals scored 36, goals against 10.

The last occasion United came away from the Bridge with a win was in November 1986 when the Magpies won 3-1 in the old First Division. Gordon Durie notched for the Blues and Andy Thomas with two and Peter Beardsley scored for Newcastle.

Glenn Roeder captained the Newcastle side that day and Paul Gascoigne was a 19-year-old squad player. The crowd was 14,544.

Newcastle last came away from here with a result on the opening day of season 2001/02. The completed West Stand was used for the first time. Boudewijn Zenden scored after seven minutes when Newcastle's Given allowed his shot to trickle through his legs. Acuna equalised with 14 minutes to go after Ed de Goey spilled a Robert free kick. Chelsea have won the eight meetings since then.

Our Premier League record against the Magpies at Stamford Bridge is as follows
1993/94 Chelsea won 1-0
1994/95 Drew 1-1
1995/96 Chelsea won 1-0
1996/97 Drew 1-1
1997/98 Chelsea won 1-0
1998/99 Drew 1-1
1999/00 Chelsea 1-0
2000/01 Chelsea won 3-1
2001/02 Drew 1-1
2002/03 Chelsea won 3-0
2003/04 Chelsea won 5-0
2004/05 Chelsea won 4-0
2005/06 Chelsea won 3-0
2006/07 Chelsea won 1-0
2007/08 Chelsea won 2-1

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING MATCH
Chelsea 2 Newcastle 1
Premier League, Saturday December 29th 2007 at Stamford Bridge
Referee Mike Riley
Crowd 41,751

Chelsea Manager Avram Grant.  Hilário    Belletti      Alex        Ben-Haim       Bridge      Essien         Mikel         Ballack (c)  Wright-Phillips        Kalou                    J Cole  Substitutes Pizarro for J Cole (65), Sinclair for Ballack (76) Sidwell for Wright-Phillips (90+1)  Scorers Essien 28, Kalou 88 Booked Alex  Martins       Smith (c)  Duff             Faye         Butt          Milner  N'Zogbia          Cacapa         Taylor          Beye  Given  Manager Sam Allardyce  Newcastle  Substitute Rozehnal for Smith (70), Owen for Martins (73), Viduka for Duff (89) Scorer Butt 56 Booked Butt, Faye, Given, N'Zogbia

Michael Ballack captained the side in the absence of injured John Terry and Frank Lampard.

Other match last season
5 May 2008 Premier League
Newcastle.........0 Chelsea..........2
Att: 52,305              Ballack 61
                                 Malouda 82

 Chelsea v Newcastle in all competitions
Games played 144
Chelsea wins 61
Newcastle wins 47
Draws 36

Head-to-head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 64
Chelsea wins 37
Newcastle wins 10
Draws 17

Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
25/10/1980 Chelsea 6-0 Newcastle
12/09/1914 Chelsea 0-3 Newcastle 

CHELSEA STATS
Chelsea are looking for a fifth successive league victory since our defeat against Liverpool.

Chelsea have not lost when scoring first in the Premier League since the 1-2 defeat at Tottenham in November 2006.

Chelsea have failed to score on only two occasions in 2008 (31 Premier League matches), both against Liverpool; in February's goalless draw and last Sunday's 0-1 defeat.

Chelsea's six most recent games

Oct 29	Hull A	W 3-0
Nov 1	Sunderland H	W 5-0
Nov 4	Roma A	L 1-3 Champions League
Nov 9	Blackburn A	W 2-0
Nov 12	Burnley H	D 1-1 League Cup (lost 4-5 on pens aet)
Nov 15	WBA A	W 3-0

2008/09 Premier League scorers
Anelka 12, Lampard 5 (1 pen), Belletti 2, Bosingwa 2, J Cole 2, Deco 2, Kalou 2, Malouda 2, Alex 1, Carvalho 1, own goal 1 (Wheater, Middlesbrough). Total 32.

MILESTONES
If John Terry scores he will become our all-time highest scoring defender with 35.

Alex will make his 50th Chelsea appearance in all competitions if fit and selected.

Nicolas Anelka needs two goals for a century in the Premier League for his English clubs combined.

NEWCASTLE STATS
The Magpies have won eight points from a possible 45 on the road in 2008 including one win, 4-1 at Tottenham in March, and one clean sheet.

Eight penalties have been awarded in Newcastle Premier League games, more than any other this season. Six conceded and two awarded.

Only Fulham (one) have won fewer points on their travels than Newcastle's two from six games and together with Fulham and Stoke are still looking for their first away win on the campaign.

Newcastle have won the Football League four times, the last being in 1926/27. They have been Premier League runners-up twice in 1995/96 and 1996/97. Their last major piece of silverware was the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969 when they beat Hungarian side Ujpest Dozsa 6-2 over two legs.

TOON IN THE PREM

	Pts	Pos
1993/94	77	3rd
1994/95	72	6th
1995/96	78	2nd
1996/97	68	2nd
1997/98	44	13th
1998/99	46	13th
1999/00	52	11th
2000/01	51	11th
2001/02	71	4th
2002/03	69	3rd
2003/04	56	5th
2004/05	44	14th
2005/06	58	7th
2006/07	43	13th
2007/08	43	12th

MOST RECENT PREMIER LEAGUE LINE-UP
Saturday November 15, Wigan (home) D 2-2

Given  Beye       Coloccini          Bassong          José Enrique  Gutiérrez            Barton             Butt (c)                 Duff  Martins             Ameobi  Substitutes Guthrie for Barton (16), N'Zogbia for José Enrique (68), Owen for Gutiérrez (68)

Newcastle's six most recent games

Oct 20	Man City H	D 2-2
Oct 25	Sunderland A	L 1-2
Oct 28	WBA H	W 2-1
Nov 3	Aston Villa H	W 2-0
Nov 9	Fulham A	L 1-2
Nov 15	Wigan H	D 2-2

2008/09 Premier League scorers
Martins 5, Owen 4 (1 pen), Ameobi 3, Barton 1 (pen), Duff 1, Taylor 1, Xisco 1, own goal 1 (Dunne, Man City). Total 17.

United's manager this decade
Bobby Robson - Sep 1999 to Aug 2004
Graeme Souness - Sep 2004 to Feb 2006
Glenn Roeder Feb - 2006 to May 2007
Sam Allardyce - May 2007 to Jan 2008
Kevin Keegan - Jan 2008 to Sep 2008
Joe Kinnear - Sep 2008 to date

NEW BOYS
Newcastle's major summer transfers

Ins Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna, rising to £10.3m), Danny Guthrie (Liverpool, undisclosed), Jonas Gutierrez (Real Mallorca, undisclosed), Ignacio Gonzalez (Valencia, loan), Xisco (Deportivo La Coruna, undisclosed). Outs James Milner (Aston Villa, £12m), David Rozehnal (Lazio, £2.9m), Abdoulaye Faye (Stoke, £2.25m), Emre (Fenerbahce, undisclosed), Peter Ramage (QPR, free).

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The referee is Phil Dowd. The Staffordshire official will be in charge of his second Chelsea game of the season having blown the whistle on our 5-0 win at Middlesbrough. He also refereed Newcastle's 3-1 defeat at West Ham.

OTHERWISE ENGAGED
Didier Drogba starts his three-match ban that will also include Arsenal (h) and Bolton (a). He will be available for the Bordeaux Champions League game. There are no Newcastle suspensions.