As Elvis once said, we'll have a blue, blue Christmas as Birmingham's Blues host London's Blues on Boxing Day. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton are stuffed full of facts and figures.

TALKING POINTS
Chelsea top the league table on Christmas Day for the first time in three years, but how much of a harbinger is that of winning the title?

Last season Liverpool were the mid-point leaders, but United, who had played two games fewer at that stage, hauled in their seven point lead to win the title in May. And in 2007 Arsenal led the way over the festive season but United overcame a one-point deficit over the second half of the campaign.

The last time the team heading the Premier League on 25 December was still there in May was 2006/7. The Mancs were two points clear at the halfway stage and had extended that to six by the season's close.

A happier omen is that Chelsea were top of the Christmas tree during both our back-to-back title wins in 2004/5 and 2005/6 - the last time the Blues were ahead at this stage.

Even the longest journey starts with a single step, and the recent history of 26th December games provides a mixed message. Over the course of the Premier League our record on Boxing Day is played 17, won 6, drawn 6, lost 5.

The last team to beat the Blues were Charlton in 2003, the last time we travelled on Boxing Day. Two of the five home games since were drawn, most damagingly against Reading in 2006 and Birmingham's arch-rivals Villa a year later with that notorious 4-4 (pictured below).

Maximum points against in-form Brum would be a fillip. Chelsea led the way during the three matches of November with a win treble, eight goals scored and none conceded and pulled away from United, Arsenal and Liverpool. December has so far proved far more troublesome. If there was a league table for the 12th month, so far the league leaders would be 10th, with Aston Villa first, Arsenal second and our Boxing Day opponents third.

Carlo Ancelotti's December teams won one, lost one, and drew two (the first of the league campaign to date), conceding as many - seven - as they scored. Despite losing twice over the same period Manchester United have actually gained a point over Chelsea this month.

Birmingham have earned ten points, double the Pensioners' haul this month. Under Carson Yeung's new regime City looks a happier and more concerted club than before. The impression is that most of the tension and some of the financial concerns are things of the past, and that a squad comprising few household names but plenty of hard-working and hungry teammates is cohering brilliantly under Alex McLeish's careful management.

Their draw at Goodison Park on Sunday took them seventh above Liverpool, though that might be construed as damning them with faint praise.

Although Chelsea's away performance has not, so far, approached the extraordinary form of 2008/09, Ancelotti's side are still the league's best travellers with a return of 16 points from nine matches. United, Villa and Spurs are joint-second with 15.

Chelsea have the finest home record too while Birmingham, with 17 points from nine games, are 11th best. And, by quirk of the fixtures 'computer', the two sides play again at the Bridge at the end of January.

West Ham's penalty on Sunday made it 15 league goals conceded by the Blues this season. Only three have come from open play.

Chelsea kick off a day before United travel to Hull, opening up the possibility of an overnight seven-point lead. United's visits to the Tigers have been infrequent and they last lost there more than 35 years ago.

History slightly favours Aston Villa in their match-up with Arsenal, and the same fixture last Boxing Day produced a 2-2 draw. Recently appointed City manager Roberto Mancini's first taste of the Premier League will be a full-blooded one against a Stoke side that has won once away all season.

Boxing Day's Barclays Premier League fixtures
Birmingham v Chelsea 12.45pm - ESPN
Fulham v Tottenham 1pm
West Ham v Portsmouth 1pm
Burnley v Bolton 3pm
Man City v Stoke 3pm
Sunderland v Everton 3pm
Wigan v Blackburn 3pm
Liverpool v Wolverhampton 5.30 - ESPN
Sunday
Arsenal v Aston Villa 1.30 - Sky Sports
Hull v Man Utd 4pm - Sky Sports

The race for the Premier League Golden Boot
Defoe (Tottenham) 13
Drogba (Chelsea) 13
Rooney (Man Utd) 12
Torres (Liverpool) 11
Bent (Sunderland) 10
Saha (Everton) 10
Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 8

TACTICAL BRIEF
It is 36 years since Birmingham City last strung together five straight top-flight wins, as they did by beating Blackburn recently. That was in 1972/73, the days of manager Freddie Goodwin and centre-forward Bob Hatton.

Their current ascent up the table has coincided with a formation switch by the otherwise steadfast Alex McLeish. Everything clicked in late October when the manager fielded two strikers - club record signing Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome - in a 4-4-2 system rather than his more regular and cautious 4-5-1.

He also benefited from being able to field the same starting 11 for the last six matches, while being sparing with the number of substitutes brought on.

McLeish's resolve to keep that unit so tight will be tested over the busy Christmas schedule, and there were signs of tiredness in their fortunate 1-1 draw at Everton last weekend. Since Brum's game is grounded in hard running the boss may feel he needs to freshen things up a little. He will be aware that in the period Birmingham are at their most vulnerable - the last 15 minutes - Chelsea have scored eight times.

He also has a concern over the fitness of influential centre-back Roger Johnson. The former Cardiff City defender has played on despite a knee injury, John Terry-style, aware of how vital his tenacity is to the City spine alongside Scott Dann. He must be a doubt for this match, however. If he is unavailable McLeish may draft in onetime Liverpool left-back Gregory Vignal and move Liam Ridgewell to the centre.

Joe Hart (pictured below) has had to make more saves than any Barclays Premier League goalkeeper, and has responded well to suggestions earlier in the season that he should make way for Maik Taylor.

Nicolas Anelka's injury problem meant that had Didier Drogba been cautioned at the Boleyn, Chelsea would have travelled to St Andrew's with neither senior striker available.

However, Carlo Ancelotti's attacking options appeared to grow during that game with the performances of subs Yury Zhirkov in left-midfield and, especially, Danny Sturridge upfront. Both injected pace into the game and Sturridge's role in the penalty, and the move down the right flank that led to it, was vital. This could be a fruitful area if Vignal is selected for City.

Against City's lung-busting grafters Chelsea will have to perform with a lot more drive and determination, never mind quality. The same applies to the match following, Fulham.

Too often recently Carlo Ancelotti has lamented extended periods during which his side's tempo has been slow, possession was too easily surrendered, free kicks conceded and personal battles lost all over the pitch.

Having been encouraged by the way West Ham, Everton and Blackburn have overcome the supposed gulf in class, the next two opponents will aim to outcompete Chelsea and capitalise on set-plays.

WE HAVE HISTORY
Chelsea have only once played Birmingham City over the festive season, at St Andrew's on 28 December 1957. Even though the score was 3-3 the major talking point was how Brum's right-half Bunny Larkin escaped a sending-off after rugby tackling and wrestling with Chelsea's Tony Nicholas. Instead of an early bath the referee ordered the scrapping pair to shake hands.

City were 3-1 to the good at that stage, but seemed to lose their concentration following the incident. Jimmy Greaves capitalised to put the Blues within touching distance, and goalscoring right-back Peter Sillett (pictured below right) completed the comeback with four minutes remaining.

Back to the present and Chelsea are looking to extend our unbeaten record against Birmingham to 16 games over 29 years (11 wins, four draws).

Birmingham's last win was in March 1980 when Alan Curbishley, Colin Todd, Frank Worthington and Archie Gemmill helped them to a 5-1 win at St Andrew's in the old Second Division and leapfrog Chelsea into first position on goal difference. Geoff Hurst was manager of a side containing Clive Walker and scorer Tommy Langley.

Birmingham's last top-flight victory against us at St Andrew's was in November 1974 when Bob Hatton and skipper Howard Kendall scored for the home team. Chelsea were relegated at the end of the season.

Our away Premier League record against Birmingham is as follows:
2002/03 Chelsea won 3-1
2003/04 Drew 0-0
2004/05 Chelsea won 1-0
2005/06 Drew 0-0
2007/08 Chelsea won 1-0

Chelsea v Birmingham in all competitions
Games played 89
Chelsea wins 41
Birmingham wins 24
Draws 24

Head-to-head in the League at St Andrew's
Games played 39
Chelsea wins 15
Birmingham wins 13
Draws 11

Biggest league win at St Andrew's for each team
25/10/1930 Birmingham 6-2 Chelsea
21/11/1964 Birmingham 1-6 Chelsea

CHELSEA STATS
Chelsea are looking to extend our consecutive scoring club record to 35 games. Barcelona was the last team to stop us scoring in the goalless draw at Camp Nou in April. The Blues are the only top-flight team to have scored in every game this term.

Chelsea have kept the most Barclays Premier League clean sheets - nine, and still have the best away record in the division winning 16 points from a possible 27.

Didier Drogba is the Premier League's top scorer in all competitions with 18 goals, four ahead of Jermaine Defoe.

2009/10 Premier League scorers
Drogba 13, Lampard 6 (5 pens), Anelka 5, Ballack 3, Essien 3, Malouda 3, A Cole 2, Deco 2, J Cole 1, Ivanovic 1, Terry 1, own goals 3 (Adebayor, Man City a, Givet, Blackburn h, Vermaelen, Arsenal a). Total 43.

BIRMINGHAM STATS
Formed 1875

Major trophies
1 League Cup in 1963

Birmingham have never won the top flight. They achieved the double over champions Chelsea in their best season in 1955/56 when they finished sixth. Their last piece of silverware was the Auto Windscreens Shield in 1995.

Birmingham are top of the Premier League form table with five wins and one draw from their last six matches.

Alex McLeish has managed to name the same starting 11 in all of those six games.

City have conceded (with Chelsea) the fewest goals at home this season - five.

Birmingham have only scored eight goals in nine home games (the fewest in the top flight) and have won 17 points from a possible 27 at home this term winning five (Portsmouth 1-0, Sunderland 2-1, Fulham 1-0, West Ham 1-0, Blackburn 2-1), drawing two (Stoke 0-0, Man City 0-0) and losing two (Aston Villa 0-1, Bolton 1-2).

Birmingham are unbeaten in nine games - the longest run in the Premier League.

2009/10 Premier League scorers
Bowyer 5, Larsson 4, Jerome 3, Benitez 2, McFadden 2 (1 pen), O'Connor 1, Phillips 1, Ridgewell 1. Total 19.

Manager Alex McLeish
Days in charge: 757
Played 94
Won 38
Drawn 27
Lost 29

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The referee is Peter Walton who has been the man with the whistle at one Chelsea game this season - the 4-0 away win at Bolton. He refereed Birmingham's 2-2 draw at Anfield and 2-1 defeat at Spurs.

OTHERWISE ENGAGED
There are no suspensions.

Domestic bookings 26
Carvalho 4, A Cole 4, Drogba 4, Ivanovic 3, Terry 3, Essien 2, Belletti 1, Bruma 1, Deco 1, Ferreira 1, Kalou 1, Mikel 1.

If Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho or Ashley Cole are cautioned they will be suspended for our match against Fulham on Monday. Five yellow cards before the end of December results in a one-match suspension.