Apr 15

Squad sheets: West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea

The manager who can do no wrong versus the man who cannot get it right. West Bromwich Albion, unbeaten in their last seven, are up to 10th under Roy Hodgson, despite the continuing absence of last season’s top scorer, Graham Dorrans. Chelsea, who can now win nothing after going out of the Champions League, have Carlo Ancelotti admitting he was wrong to prefer Torres to Drogba in midweek – a mistake he cannot afford to repeat. He is without Alex and Ramires, both with thigh injuries, but David Luiz is available again. Joe Lovejoy

Venue The Hawthorns, Saturday 3pm

Tickets £40 (0871 271 9780)

Last season n/a

Referee L Probert

This season’s matches 20 Y49, R5, 2.70 cards per game

Odds West Bromwich 5-1 Chelsea 8-11 Draw 11-4

West Bromwich

Subs from Myhill, Kiely, Cech, Barnes, Vela, Zuiverloon, Hurst, Fortuné, Tamas, Cox, Jara

Doubtful None

Injured Dorrans (ankle, 23 Apr), Ibáñez (hamstring, unknown)

Unavailable Tchoyi (personal reasons)

Suspended None

Form guide LLDWWD

Disciplinary record Y47 R6

Leading scorer Odemwingie 11

Chelsea

Subs from Hilário, Turnbull, Torres, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Benayoun, Anelka, Zhirkov, McEachran

Doubtful None

Injured Alex (thigh ,20 Apr, Ramires (thigh, 20 Apr)

Suspended None

Form guide WDWWWD

Disciplinary record Y45 R1

Leading scorers Drogba, Malouda 10

Match pointers

• Chelsea have won all nine of their Premier League games against Albion, conceding only two goals

• Albion are undefeated in their last six Premier league games at The Hawthorns

• Chelsea have dropped fewer points (four) from winning positions than any other team in the top flight

• Albion’s current seven-match unbeaten run is their best in the top flight since January-March 1983

• Didier Drogba has had the most shots on target in the division so far this season with 63

Premier LeagueWest BromChelseaguardian.co.uk

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Aug 13

Squad sheets: Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion

The fixture list, on paper at least, has been kind to Chelsea given their toils in pre-season. The champions’ World Cup contingent are still finding their feet, with four successive friendlies lost, though the suspicion remains that they will hit the ground running against newly promoted opponents. West Bromwich Albion have not even scored a league goal at Stamford Bridge since 1988 and Roberto Di Matteo, once the hearty welcome back to an old haunt dies down, could be in for a troubled top-flight managerial baptism. Certainly, the size of the task ahead could be made very clear on the opening afternoon. Dominic Fifield

Venue Stamford Bridge, Saturday 5.30pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season n/a

Referee M Clattenburg Last season’s matches 31 Y84, R5, 2.87 cards per game

Odds Chelsea 2-11 West Bromwich 20-1 Draw 13-2

Chelsea

Subs from Hilário, Turnbull, Ivanovic, Bruma, Mancienne, Zhirkov, Benayoun, Matic, Kakuta, Kalou, Borini, Sturridge

Doubtful Alex (thigh), Cech (calf), Lampard (ankle)

Injured Bosingwa (knee, Sep)

Suspended None

Form guide n/a

Disciplinary record (last season) Y57 R5

Leading scorer (last season) Drogba 29

West Bromwich

Subs from Myhill, Barnes, Olsson, Cech, Mattock, Zuiverloon, Cox, Bednar, Méïté, Wood, Thomas, Moore

Doubtful Dorrans (groin), Ibáñez (hamstring)

Injured None

Suspended None

Form guide n/a

Disciplinary record (last season) Y89 R4

Leading scorers (last season) Brunt, Dorrans 13

Match pointers

• Chelsea have not lost their first game in a top-flight season since Coventry won 2-1 at Highfield Road in 1998

• West Bromwich have not won at Chelsea in a league match since September 1978

• In 2009-10 Chelsea became the first side to score over 100 goals in a top-flight campaign since Tottenham in 1962-63

• West Bromwich scored 27 goals from outside the box in the Championship last term – a divisional high

• Chelsea conceded a higher proportion of goals from set pieces (68%) last season than any other side in the division

Premier LeagueChelseaWest Bromguardian.co.uk

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