A fortnight ago Chelsea dispatched London's Claret and Blues with ease. A repeat against the Midlands' version on Saturday will do nicely. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton look at the likelihood.

TALKING POINTS
Some notable milestones were passed at Fratton Park the other night. Chelsea set a new highest total of goals in a Premier League season by reaching 75 (72 was the mark to beat); John Terry equalled Ron Harris's record of 324 matches as Chelsea skipper; Didier Drogba brilliantly reached 30 goals in a season for the second time; and the Blues finally experienced a bit of luck when the pitch nobbled poor old David James.

With eight, possibly nine games to go, four players are in double figures for goalscoring in all competitions: Drogba, Frank Lampard, Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda. Wednesday's clean sheet was equally welcome.

Now we have the chance to remedy poor recent performances at the Bridge as we square up to fourth-place-chasing Aston Villa. This is a side that inflicted a damaging and unfortunate defeat on Chelsea back in October, but who have drawn seven of their last 10 league games. As Carlo Ancelotti pointed out, Martin O'Neill's men will be a good test of whether the 'bad moment' is over.

KEY STAT Didier Drogba joins Jimmy Greaves and Peter Osgood as the only Chelsea players who have scored 30 goals twice in a top-flight season. Greaves achieved the feat three times.

In one of football's nice serendipities, this weekend acts as a dry run of the FA Cup semi-finals to come in a fortnight's time, with Spurs also hosting Portsmouth.

Until the recent win over Wigan O'Neill's Villa had never won a league game in March. Never the less the two home draws since, against Wolves and Sunderland, must have bitterly disappointed the Irishman. The result against local rivals Wanderers might have been worse had their opponents been able fully to capitalise on a loose back-pass by Stephen Warnock.

As at Chelsea, injuries are starting to ravage his squad, and O'Neill has said that he will not risk players - possibly including the influential James Milner and Richard Dunne, along with forwards Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey. Villa invested in their squad last summer but, perhaps having found some of the new recruits wanting, he has largely stuck with the same core side in all competitions and mileage is now taking its toll.

Rarely has the proverbial marathon of the league ended with a three-way sprint for the tape such as we are experiencing this season. Since they play each other next weekend, should either Chelsea or Manchester win all seven remaining games, there is nothing Arsenal can do about it.

Chelsea's longest winning streak to date was six league games, from the start of the campaign. Third-placed Arsenal are currently in a six-win sequence, easily their best. Can they really extend that to 13? United's longest winning run was also half-a-dozen, achieved in August/September. They have also won their last four. Who has timed their run the best?

Only the Blues have the comforts of home this Saturday and if the other two flinch at the Reebok or St Andrew's, Ancelotti's men must take full advantage going into the final bend.

Chelsea's remaining league fixtures (4 home, 3 away)
Saturday Aston Villa (h)
Sat Apr 3 Man Utd (a)
Tue Apr 13 Bolton (h)
Sat Apr 17 Tottenham (a)
Sun Apr 25 Stoke (h)
Sat May 1 Liverpool (a)
Sun May 9 Wigan (h)

Manchester Utd's remaining league fixtures (3 home, 4 away)
Saturday Bolton (a)
Sat Apr 3 Chelsea (h)
Sun Apr 11 Blackburn (a)
Sat Apr 17 Man City (a)
Sat Apr 24 Tottenham (h)
Sat May 1 Sunderland (a)
Sun May 9 Stoke (h)

Arsenal's remaining league fixtures (3 home, 4 away)
Saturday Birmingham (a)
Sat Apr 3 Wolverhampton (h)
Wed Apr 14 Tottenham (a)
Sun Apr 18 Wigan (a)
Sat Apr 24 Man City (h)
Sat May 1 Blackburn (a)
Sun May 9 Fulham (h)

The race for the Premier League Golden Boot
Rooney (Man Utd) 26
Drogba (Chelsea) 24
Bent (Sunderland) 20
Defoe (Tottenham) 17
Tevez (Man City) 16
Torres (Liverpool) 16
Fabregas (Arsenal) 15
Lampard (Chelsea) 13
Saha (Everton) 13

Barclays Premier League table
		Pld	Gd	Pts
1	Man Utd	31	47	69
2	Chelsea	31	47	68
3	Arsenal	31	40	67
4	Tottenham	30	26	55
5	Man City	30	16	53
6	Liverpool	31	18	51
7	Aston Villa	30	17	51
8	Everton	31	8	48

Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Birmingham v Arsenal 3pm
Chelsea v Aston Villa 3pm
Hull v Fulham 3pm
Tottenham v Portsmouth 3pm
West Ham v Stoke 3pm
Wolverhampton v Everton 3pm
Bolton v Man Utd 5.30pm - ESPN
Sunday
Burnley v Blackburn 12pm - Sky Sports
Liverpool v Sunderland 4pm - Sky Sports
Monday
Man City v Wigan 8pm - ESPN

Click on tabs above for more briefing.


See Carlo Ancelotti's pre-match press conference via a live video stream direct from Cobham to your computer. Starts approximately 1.30pm Friday.

TACTICAL BRIEF
Petr Cech looked fully fit against Pompey but Ricardo Carvalho sustained an injury that will keep him out for a few weeks. Didier Drogba limped off at Fratton Park but thankfully there is not a concern over him.

Impressively, Drogba has scored seven goals in his last five league games and 22 represents his best return in a season for Chelsea, surpassing the 20 in 2006/7.

Martin O'Neill would be concerned if Richard Dunne was ruled out on Saturday through injury. No one has made more blocks or clearances for Villa than the former City defender. If he is absent, the Villa boss may be inclined to restore Carlos Cuellar, timid at right-back, to the centre alongside James Collins where he is more comfortable. Luke Young can step in on the right.

With injuries at the back on ether flank themselves, Chelsea must be wary of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, who swap wings regularly. Wherever he is, though, Young always predictably switches the ball to his right foot.

Wolves and Sunderland successfully snuffed out the creativity of impressive James Milner for most of their games and he is arguably the Villans' most influential player.

If he is not seeing much of the ball Villa are inclined to launch it long towards Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey (both possibly injured) or in-form John Carew. In recent games O'Neill paired Carew and Heskey together, but they are very similar, bustling players. Another option is fast, tricky Nathan Delfouneso (pictured below), who was impressive in the FA Youth Cup games against Chelsea two seasons ago.

Two Chelsea youngsters, Daniel Sturridge and Patrick Van Aanholt, impressed in the gloom of Fratton Park with their drive, reading of the game and technique. Van Aanholt, who returned from loan to Newcastle a few weeks ago, became the fourth home grown to make his senior debut this campaign.

Central midfielder Steve Sidwell may play against his former club.

MATCHDAY HOSPITALITY PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR CHELSEA V ASTON VILLA - Saturday 27 March (from 99+vat). Seat-only ticket in Hospitality Area - £80.
For the latest availability and matchday prices please click here.

STANDARD TICKETS ARE ON GENERAL SALE FOR CHELSEA V BOLTON WANDERERS - Tuesday 13 April

 

 

WE HAVE HISTORY
This match, while critically important in its own right, is also a sampler for the upcoming FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. The Pensioners and the Clarets have met several times in the competition down the years, but few people mention the first postwar version played over two legs in early 1946.

Chelsea faced Villa having seen off Leicester (as usual) and West Ham United over double-headers. Despite the unusual format there was no lack of interest in the competition's revival. Just under 40,000 spectators came to the Bridge for Leicester, and a whopping 65,726 watched Billy Birrell's side - including big box office striker Tommy Lawton - take on the Hammers.

Although 4,000 ticket applications for the Villa match on the Fulham Road were returned a slightly smaller but none the less huge attendance of 65,307 was recorded on Saturday 9 February. Four days later 55,000 were at Villa Park. Unfortunately for Chelsea a single goal for the Villans in each game ended our involvement in this unique FA Cup.

We have, of course, exacted pleasant revenge since at the 2000 FA Cup final at Wembley, a dour match settled by Roberto Di Matteo's third final tie goal. It is chiefly remembered for Dennis Wise et al bringing their children with them to climb those famous old steps for the last time to collect the trophy.

Right now, though, Chelsea are looking to extend our unbeaten home run against Aston Villa to nine games in all competitions. We have won six and drawn two of the last eight.

Villa's last victory at Stamford Bridge was the last game of season 2001/02 a week after our FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal. Aston Villa won 3-1. Peter Crouch, Darius Vassell and Dion Dublin scored their goals. Eidur Gudjohnsen scored a penalty in reply.

The Villans are hoping for a first league double against the Blues since they last achieved it in the 1989/90 season.

Our Premier League record against the Villans at Stamford Bridge is:
1992/93 Villa won 1-0
1993/94 Drew 1-1
1994/95 Chelsea won 1-0
1995/96 Villa won 2-1
1996/97 Drew 1-1
1997/98 Villa won 1-0
1998/99 Chelsea won 2-1
1999/00 Chelsea won 1-0
2000/01 Chelsea won 1-0
2001/02 Villa won 3-1
2002/03 Chelsea won 2-0
2003/04 Chelsea won 1-0
2004/05 Chelsea won 1-0
2005/06 Chelsea won 2-1
2006/07 Drew 1-1
2007/08 Drew 4-4
2008/09 Chelsea won 2-0

The reverse fixture this season
17 October 2009 Premier League
Aston Villa……..….2 Chelsea………..……1
Dunne 32                   Drogba 15
Collins 52
                             Att: 39,047

Chelsea v Aston Villa in all competitions
Games played 138
Chelsea wins 51
Villa wins 55
Draws 32

Head to head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 62
Chelsea wins 32
Villa wins 18
Draws 12

Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
29/03/1921 -Chelsea 5-1 Aston Villa
19/09/1931 -Chelsea 3-6 Aston Villa

DAYS SINCE
John Terry captained Chelsea for the first time: 3,034
Aston Villa last won at Stamford Bridge: 2,877
Arsenal won a trophy: 1,771
Liverpool won a trophy: 1,414


BBC London has live radio commentary on every Chelsea game and can be accessed online via Chelsea TV Plus.

CHELSEA STATS
41 goals have been scored in our last nine league matches at Stamford Bridge, 29 of them by Chelsea. That's an average of 4.55 goals per game.

Chelsea have lost three Premier League games at Stamford Bridge in six years since February 2004.

Chelsea's 75 league goals (with seven games to go) is our best haul in a top flight season since 1964/65 when we scored 89 in 42 games. Barry Bridges was our top league scorer with 20.

Didier Drogba has scored 15 goals in his last 14 Barclays Premier League appearances.

Last six results
Feb 27	Man City (h)	L 2-4
Mar 7	Stoke (FA Cup h)	W 2-0
Mar 13	West Ham (h)	W 4-1
Mar 16	Inter Milan (CL h)	L 0-1
Mar 21	Blackburn (a)	D 1-1
Mar 24	Portsmouth (a)	W 5-0

2009/10 Premier League scorers
Drogba 24, Lampard 13 (6 pens), Anelka 8, Malouda 9, Ballack 4, A Cole 3, Essien 3, Deco 2, Terry 2, Alex 1, J Cole 1, Ivanovic 1, own goals 4 (Givet, Blackburn h, Vermaelen, Arsenal a, Adebayor, Man City a, Smalling, Fulham h). Total 75.

MILESTONES
30 goals in a top-flight season
Jimmy Greaves 43 (1960/61), 37 (1958/59) 30 (1959/60).
Didier Drogba 33 (2006/07), 30 (2009/10)
Peter Osgood 31 (1971/72), 31 (1969/70),
Kerry Dixon 36 (1984/85)
George Hilsdon 32 (1907/08)
Hughie Gallacher 30 (1931/32)
Tommy Lawton 30 (1946/47)

Didier Drogba needs one goal to equal our seventh highest scorer George Mills on 125.

John Terry is due to move ahead of Ron Harris to become our all-time record captain with his 325th appearance with the armband. He is also due to make his 450th appearance for the club.

Frank Lampard needs three more goals to equal our joint third highest scorers in our history - Peter Osgood and Roy Bentley on 150.

ASTON VILLA STATS
Formed 1874

Major trophies
7 League championships, last in 1981
1 European Cup in 1982
1 Uefa Super Cup in 1982
7 FA Cups, last in 1957
5 League Cups, last in 1996
1 shared Charity Shield in 1981

Aston Villa's best season in the Premier League was runners-up in 1992/93 with 74 points, ten behind champions Manchester United and two above third-placed Norwich.

Villa are the only club still unbeaten in the Premier League in 2010, with their sole defeat coming in the Carling Cup final. Their last league loss was at Anfield against Liverpool on December 29th, 11 games ago, although they have drawn seven of their nine matches this year.

Only Stoke (22) have used fewer players in the league than Aston Villa (23).

They have the best defensive record (with Manchester Utd) in the top flight, conceding just 25 goals in 30 games.

Villa have won 23 points in 14 games on their travels this term scoring 16 goals and conceding 12. Their away Premier League record is six wins (Liverpool 3-1, Birmingham 1-0, Man Utd 1-0, Sunderland 2-0, Fulham 2-0, Wigan 2-1), five draws (Wolves 1-1, Everton 1-1, Burnley 1-1, Tottenham 0-0, Stoke 0-0) and three defeats (Blackburn 1-2, West Ham 1-2, Arsenal 0-3).

Manager Martin O'Neill
Days in charge: 1,330
Played 181
Won 76
Drawn 59
Lost 46

VILLA IN THE PREM
The Villans are one of seven clubs to have appeared in every season in the Premier League.

	Pts	Pos
1992/93	74	2nd
1993/94	57	10th
1994/95	48	18th
1995/96	63	4th
1996/97	61	5th
1997/98	57	7th
1998/99	55	6th
1999/00	58	6th
2000/01	54	8th
2001/02	50	8th
2002/03	45	16th
2003/04	56	6th
2004/05	47	10th
2005/06	42	16th
2006/07	50	11th
2007/08	60	6th
2008/09	62	6th

 

Last six results
Feb 28	Man Utd (Carling Cup final)	L 1-2
Mar 7	Reading (FA Cup a)	W 4-2
Mar 13	Stoke (a)	D 0-0
Mar 16	Wigan (a)	W 2-1
Mar 20	Wolves (h)	D 2-2
Mar 24	Sunderland (h)	D 1-1

2009/10 Premier League scorers
Agbonlahor 11, Carew 7 (1 pen), Milner 5 (1 pen), A Young 4 (1 pen), Dunne 3, Heskey 3, own goals 3, Cuellar 2, Downing 2, Collins 1, Davies 1, Total 42.

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The referee is Peter Walton. He has sent off a player in each of his two Chelsea games this term: Jlloyd Samuel at Bolton, and Florent Malouda at Birmingham on Boxing Day. His last Villa game was their home 1-1 draw with Manchester Utd in February, when he dismissed Nani after half an hour.

OTHERWISE ENGAGED
There are no suspensions