PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: STOKE CITY V CHELSEA
Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton are joined by former Blue Clive Walker to provide the second instalment of their information collection regarding this afternoon's fixture….
TACTICAL BRIEF
Chelsea need to return to winning ways. Former Blues winger Clive Walker considers where the game against Stoke will be won or lost.
Key battles
'It's not a great surprise to me that we have had two upsets - QPR and Swansea - at home rather than away. Teams think they have worked out a way of nullifying us and it's easier to execute the plan when they're not in front of their own fans.
'Chelsea need to rediscover the means to break down teams that sling everyone behind the ball. What's perhaps disappointing is those two sides got what they wanted from the game without really pressing us very much. We had time on the ball but are not using it quite as well at home.
'Swansea set themselves up to say to us "break us down." Previously we've had such a great record at home that opponents were looking at it and were daunted. But a draw is always a great result away to Chelsea.
'It's different for opposing teams playing at home - they are expected by their fans to create and score and win. The players we have now are excellent at that counter attacking when sides come on to us, and that's why we are faring so well on our travels.
'Stoke have a lot of big, powerful men who are not so comfortable handling swift interplay. If we can reinstigate the one-touch football we will undo any team.
'Stoke's fans are very loud and helpful to their team but they demand the players get stuck into the opposition's faces - if we can keep our nerve that will help us as they are not the fastest at recovering their defensive positions from an attack. You can imagine Eden Hazard really testing them in that respect. It's a shame Victor Moses isn't around too.
'People talk about Tony Pulis's side playing more football but they still like to get the ball wide and fire it into the mixer - that's where they score all their goals, close range. Jonathan Walters is their top scorer, he has had the most shots for them and is their most fouled player.
'If they play Walters one side, Matthew Etherington the other with Kenwyne Jones or Peter Crouch upfront you know what their plan is. They are going to knock balls into the box and against Stoke you always have to win that battle to earn a result. Ross Turnbull will be under a lot of pressure and he will have to prove himself.
'Ryan Shotton is their new long throw expert - that is another battle you have to fight in order to win the war.
'John Terry played 45 minutes for the Under-21s and may play some part at the Britannia. It's the sort of game in which a fully fit JT is priceless - he relishes the scrap.
'An advantage smaller players often have over bigger ones is speed of foot. The nimbleness of the likes of Hazard and Oscar is something Stoke's backline will not be so comfortable dealing with.
'When I was older and playing in non-league football I would come up against some hulking players who might not be as swift of thought but I knew if they caught me I would be kicked up in the air and it would hurt.
'It's about being mentally sharp, knowing what you're going to do with the ball before it comes and whisking it away before they can take you out: don't hang around, keep moving!
'Chelsea have to be brave, strong and sharp. Everything they do: first touches, passes, shots - brisk and accurate.
'Demba Ba could make his league debut. He impressed at Southampton and in the cameo at the end of Swansea he fashioned four chances in 10 minutes.
'He's hit four goals in four games against Stoke. When you have that sign over a side you go into the game head high. Your preparation leading up to it is fabulous. You can't wait to get to the game and onto the pitch. You're a few inches taller than you usually are knowing this is a team that finds you a difficult customer.
'Stoke's defenders will know his record and in any case he is a handful, he's unorthodox and gives us very different options. He will fancy his chances against them even though they're unbeaten at home this season.
Squad fitness news
John Terry returns to the squad and Petr Cech's availability will be assessed so only Oriol Romeu is out injured.
Stoke have no new injury concerns. Defender Marc Wilson (broken leg) and midfielder Rory Delap (hernia) are long-term casualties.
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