Chelsea v West Brom preview

Chelsea skipper suspended while Baggies captain passed fit

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 24th December 2008

Chelsea v West Brom preview

Terry: Misses visit of Baggies

PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: Chelsea 2 West Brom 0
Sky Bet odds: Chelsea 1/6, Draw 11/2, West Brom 20/1
One to Watch: Didier Drogba
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Chelsea will be looking to improve their home form with a win over bottom of the table West Brom on Boxing Day.

The Blues have dropped 14 points at Stamford Bridge already this season and have won just once at home in the last five games.

The Baggies will be buoyed by the fact that fellow strugglers Newcastle and West Ham have both left the Bridge with hard-earned points in recent weeks.

After taking six points from a possible 15 in the league during their last five outings Luiz Felipe Scolari will be hoping to silence the critics that are writing off his side's chances of success this season.

The former Portugal and Brazil national team boss will have to make do without his skipper John Terry after the England skipper received a straight red for a lunge on Everton's Leon Osman on Monday.

The defender will miss Friday's clash, the trip to neighbours Fulham two days later and also the FA Cup tie against League One side Southend United.

Scolari welcomed back Ricardo Carvalho to training this week but the defender will not be considered for first team action for another seven to 10 days.

This should mean that want-away defender Alex will continue at centre-back with Branislav Ivanovic coming in for the suspended Terry.

The Chelsea manager could also hand striker Didier Drogba some much-needed game-time, giving the Premier League's top scorer Nicolas Anelka a rest in the process.

Baggies news

The Baggies will be full of confidence for their trip to West London on the back of their dramatic late win over Manchester City on Sunday.

The victory was their first in 10 Premier League games and, despite still propping up the rest of the league, Tony Mowbray's men are now four points from safety.

Skipper Jonathan Greening has been declared fit for the Chelsea clash after he had to be substituted in the City match after suffering from double vision.

Midfielder and record signing Borja Valero looks set to miss his second successive game as he continues to suffer from flu.

Fellow midfielder Felipe Teixeira is another doubt after he suffered a calf injury in the warm-up prior to the City game and is unlikely to have recovered in time for Friday.

Possible starting XIs

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, A Cole, Alex, Ivanovic, Lampard, J Cole, Deco, Mikel, Ballack, Drogba.

West Brom: Carson, Robinson, Olsson, Zuiverloon, Meite, Greening, Kim, Morrison, Koren, Moore, Bednar.