PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V SUNDERLAND

Sunderland was the venue for our first away win of the season. Now at home we aim to make it three victories from three games in 2012. Club historian Rick Glanvill, club statistician Paul Dutton and former Blue Clive Walker consider the challenge set by Martin O'Neill's latest charges…

TALKING POINTS
A glance at the current league table and Tottenham's elevated position might prompt thoughts similar to those of 1930s music hall artiste Norman Long, who penned a jokey song about what the surreal events that might ensue should Chelsea ever win the FA Cup.

Cats would give birth to dogs, he predicted, lawyers would waive their fees and cabbies would have change of a tenner.

The Cockerels' catch-up match win in midweek put them eight points clear of the Blues, and they are at home to Wolves this weekend. All the more reason why Chelsea, the team that has been London's top dogs for the last eight seasons, need to chase the Black Cats back to Wearside pointless the same day.

Last season this fixture helped herald a dismal run of form that lasted from November to February. Sunderland's shock 3-0 success ended Chelsea's eight-month unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge.

Carlo Ancelotti was forced to field a depleted side, Paulo Ferreira playing in an unfamiliar centre-back role alongside Branislav Ivanovic, and the Mackems deployed two frontmen - a rarity on the Fulham Road.

It is unlikely the game serves any lesson for Sunderland's new man Martin O'Neill, who has never been victorious as a manager at the Bridge. In all 21 meetings with the Blues since 1996 he has lost 11, drawn seven and won three.

Two of his victories came at Villa Park, the other being a Heskey-driven 2-0 at Filbert Street in February 1998. His most recently encounter was with Villa, on 10 April 2010 in the FA Cup semi-final, a 3-0 victory for the Londoners.

One of his predecessors in the Black Cats hot seat, Peter Reid, actually enjoys a 46% success rate against the Blues. Previous incumbent Steve Bruce has managed two wins in 20 encounters, including with Sunderland.

Since in December arriving at the club that was his boyhood favourite, however, O'Neill has lifted the Wearsiders into the top half of the table with four league wins from six. His sole defeat came away to Spurs; he won in west London at QPR just before Christmas. Sunderland had managed two wins in the previous 14.

Chelsea will seek revenge without Africa Cup of Nations participants Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, with Florent Malouda doubtful and Mikel, Branislav Ivanovic and the recovering Michael Essien all ruled out. Any loan move for young Josh McEachran will only happen after this weekend's game.

There is good news in that John Terry, following his traumatic post collision last week, and Daniel Sturridge, ruled out of the last two games with a hip injury, should be available.

Wolves have managed a win and a draw on their last three visits to White Hart Lane. Wigan, without a victory in six matches, host an embattled Man City side with one win in five. Man United welcome Bolton, a side they thrashed 5-0 away earlier this season.

Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Aston Villa v Everton 3pm
Blackburn v Fulham 3pm
Chelsea v Sunderland 3pm
Liverpool v Stoke 3pm
Manchester United v Bolton 3pm
Tottenham v Wolverhampton 3pm
West Brom v Norwich 3pm
Sunday
Newcastle v QPR 1.30pm - Sky Sports
Swansea v Arsenal 4pm - Sky Sports
Monday
Wigan v Manchester City 8pm - Sky Sports

The race for the Premier League Golden Boot
Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 17
Demba Ba (Newcastle) 15
Sergio Agüero (Man City) 14
Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 13
Yakubu (Blackburn) 12
Edin Džeko (Man City) 10
Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea) 9
Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham) 9
Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 8
Mario Balotelli (Man City) 8
Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 8

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Hospitality packages for the game are still available.

Chelsea v Sunderland