Sheff Utd v Chelsea
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Sheff Utd v Chelsea
Ch 23 - 7:45pm (Live)
SHEFFIELD UNITED against Chelsea kicks off the weekend's Premiership programme. This clash pits the hosts, with just one top flight win to their name in this campaign, against the visitors, with only one defeat.
Sheffield United defender Claude Davis returns from a one-match ban to face Chelsea. The Blades are set to make wholesale changes from their Carling Cup defeat by Birmingham but Colin Kazim-Richards (knee) is their only injury doubt.
The Blues have not won at Bramall Lane in 15 years, since a 0-1 top flight triumph on 3 September 1991 with a winner from Dennis Wise. Having said that, there have only been two Premiership fixtures subsequent to that victory.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Rob HULSE is Sheffield United's top scorer with three goals.
HULSE and Paul JAGIELKA are the only players to have scored in the Premiership for the Blades.
Only JAGIELKA and Chris ARMSTRONG have played every minute of every one of Sheffield United's Premiership matches this season.
CHELSEA
Didier DROGBA is the highest scoring Premiership player with nine goals - five of which were in the League itself.
Only Michael ESSIEN has figured in every minute of every one of Chelsea's Premiership matches this season.
If involved, Joe COLE will be making his 100th Premier League appearance in a Chelsea shirt.
REFEREE
Martin Atkinson -
don't be mean... and you know what i mean
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K lah... k lah... since you asked in such a nice way...
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glad to see there no diver FC logo again thus i will be posting here again thanks
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SHEFFIELD UNITED vs Chelsea
Defender Claude Davis returns from a one-match ban whilst wholesale changes are likely for the visit of Jose Mourinho's team.
Forward Danny Webber and midfielder Nick Montgomery are pushing for a starting place after playing in midweek.
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has told England coach Steve McClaren he is ready for selection after coming through his first start of the season without any ill effects.
Cole has been sidelined since damaging knee ligaments in the summer and has appeared as a substitute on just three other occasions this season.
Chelsea face United on Saturday knowing they may see the return of Carlo Cudicini in goal following his absence through concussion.
The reigning champions have struggled to hit peak form so far this season but Cole warned the rest of the Barclays Premiership they were beginning to get back to their best.
Sheffield United: Kenny, Bennett, Bromby, Unsworth, Davis, Morgan, Short, Sommeil, Armstrong, Leigertwood, Kozluk, Jagielka, Ifill, Gillespie, A Quinn, Hulse, Akinbiyi, Nade, Kazim-Richards, Kabba, Webber, Montgomery.
Chelsea : Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Boulahrouz, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Bridge, Geremi, Makelele, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, J Cole, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, Robben, Drogba, Shevchenko. -
sheva to score again
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Lampard to score
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Frank Lampard Score a free kick 43 ' mins sheff utd 0 - 2 chelsea
ballack goal assist by Frank Lampard
10 appearance in epl this season 5 goals(including the goal against sheff utd) 3 assists and 2 Match Winning goal..........The stats show that he is a top player -
shev not playingOriginally posted by used:sheva to score again -
Sheff utd goalkeeper perform well so far but made a mistake with Lampard's free kick.
Half-time
Sheff Utd 0 - 1 Chelsea -
54 mins
Sheff Utd 0 - 2 Chelsea
Pls bring back shev... with him chelsea not so dangerous. -
Sheffield United paid the price for a first-half penalty miss as champions Chelsea coasted to a comfortable win.
Henrique Hilario had little difficulty in saving Danny Webber's poorly-taken spot-kick after Didier Drogba was adjuged to have fouled Claude Davis.
Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front just before the break, with a swerving free-kick that fooled Paddy Kenny.
Early in the second-half Lampard crossed for Michael Ballack, who made it 2-0 with a powerful far-post header.
If Webber had scored the course of the game might have been different, but once he had missed, Chelsea steadily assumed control.
Webber's penalty miss proved costly for the Blades
Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock:
"We are a little bit naive. Their players sometimes go down where we stumble on. We have to learn what to do in certain situations.
"We will be looking to add some quality in January but we need to stick in there in the meantime. "We are easy to referee because we never try to convince him."
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho:
"Hilario is amazing. He is cool and comfortable in goal and I think the penalty save was a three-point save.
"If Hilario doesn't save it maybe we are in trouble." -
that was a very badly taken penalty. not that hilario was good.
sheffield missed 2 penalties against blackburn too.
they should go back to the writing board and improve on their basic skills.