PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: WEST BROMWICH ALBION V CHELSEA
TACTICAL BRIEF
Having slipped to third, Chelsea travel to the team in fifth. All the Blues may have to be at the top of their game to achieve victory, says former winger Clive Walker.
Key battles
'Don't underestimate Steve Clarke's West Bromwich Albion. That's what I think Robbie Di Matteo will be drilling into his players' heads,' says Walker. 'They look a team that's quite capable of stopping us in our tracks and we must not let that happen.
'That's why I believe a key factor will be the mental approach of each team. At our best we have looked fluent and together, but a lot of our players are still finding out about each other. You sense that the kind of team confidence is coming but not always there yet; that comes from extended runs of good results.
'West Brom's rise has not come so much from one or two top performers as their team mentality and work ethic.
'Of course, the likes of powerful midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu (pictured below) have been decent this season, but there are teams we have faced with better individuals. Saturday is about us locking horns with them all over the park because Clarkey has obviously got something going on there.
'I'm sure he would like to prove a point against his old club. He will know our scouts have been watching them play a certain way but he has the players to change tactics and it would not surprise me if he made a few tweaks to his system to throw us. West Brom's team is not quite as familiar to our lads as some other contenders for European places will be.
'In the early stages, which can be so important, Clarkey could throw a spanner in the works. So we have to ensure that we dictate the tempo and flow: front foot, early on.
'West Brom have used quite a tight-knit few players to date and Clarkey is saying a few internationals picked up knocks. We'll take all the help we can get.
'People have latched onto the fact we've not scored so many in recent games, but this Chelsea team, with the creativity on offer, will create chances all season.
'It needs a good, high tempo start and to have the killer instinct. They're still bonding and finding the formula.
'Obviously we are letting in easy goals too easily. In years gone by we would have won the last two league games. We are switching off - a series of mistakes and all of a sudden we have a setback. This season we seem to need to get two goals at least to kill teams off - that could be the case this weekend.
'Obviously John Terry's absence through injury doesn't help at the back but David Luiz and Gary Cahill have done okay when JT has been unavailable. Branislav Ivanovic is equally good in there and Cesar Azpilicueta showed good signs of settling into English football when he played. I would imagine Brana will return to right-back though.
'West Brom do not launch it. They don't really have the typical hold-up man either. They have hard-working forwards who run the channels. Our back line has to be spot on watching for the ball slipped through to the man behind.
'Romelu Lukaku is unavailable of course, and he's played quite regularly for them and caused problems even for the likes of Man City.
'They use the width well and tend to have a good tempo and movement to their game when they're in possession. The problem they face is when they lose the ball too close to their own goal, which is what Chelsea have to be looking to force with good pressing.
'Sometimes the Baggies can almost move the ball too quickly for their own good. Fernando Torres, Oscar and Eden Hazard are terrific at robbing the opposition high up the pitch. I feel that could be West Brom's Achilles heel. Ben Foster will also be missed, though they have Boaz Myhill to come in.
'I think we will push up on them, squeeze play, and have Petr Cech ready to play as a sweeper. We cannot sit deep; if we do, we could have problems.
'We need to dictate play, ensure our most dangerous players see a lot of the ball. When they do, our quality attacking players need to be on top of their game.
'I'd love to see Torres playing with the same confidence he had at the start of this season. He's still working hard for the most part and strikers thrive on regular starts. His luck will turn and we will see a different player then.'
Squad fitness news
Ashley Cole may return after a hamstring strain but Frank Lampard (calf) remains out, as is John Terry (knee). David Luiz recovered from the illness that kept him out of the Liverpool game to play for Brazil midweek.
West Brom are without first-choice goalkeeper Ben Foster (groin) so Boaz Myhill will play.
There is a doubt over defender Gareth McAuley who was injured on duty for Northern Ireland but midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu (hamstring) may be fit after missing the internationals.
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