Chelsea v Burnley Match Preview

[outwoodclaret]

Burnley’s recent league form has seen them pick up 6 points from their last 5 fixtures, both scoring and conceding 7 goals, with just the one defeat at Manchester City. That upturn in form will be put fully to the test as they travel to Stamford Bridge to face league leaders Chelsea. The Blues have lost only one league fixture so far this season conceding a miserly 3 goals along the way. They have demolished our relegation rivals Norwich and Newcastle 7-0 and 3-0 in their last two matches and the home side will be very confident of picking up another three points.

Thomas Tuchel recorded his first win as Chelsea head coach back in January when Burnley were beaten 2-0 at Stamford Bridge with goals from Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso. A hallmark of Chelsea is that even if you blunt their forwards they can rip you open down the flanks and have defenders equally adept at finding the net. For Alonso/Azpilicueta now read Ben Chilwell/Reece James.

Tuchel built on an impressive start in the Premier League as his Chelsea team won the Champions League in May defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the final. On Tuesday evening Chelsea made more progress towards the last 16 of this year’s competition with a resolute 1-0 away victory at Malmo. They did so despite being without Lukaku, Werner, Mount and Kovacic. These four are also likely to be missing against Burnley. Pulisic who came on as a second half substitute in Sweden replacing Hudson-Odoi may well start against the Clarets. He certainly has a taste for scoring against us having hit a Turf Moor hat-trick when the sides met in October 2019.

Burnley’s three goal first half salvo against Brentford took me back to one of the sweetest of opening days in August 2017 when a brace from Sam Vokes and a lovely drilled finish from Stephen Ward gave Burnley a 3-0 half time lead against the then defending league champions at Stamford Bridge. A repeat of that performance is unlikely but Burnley could well opt to field the same eleven that started against Brentford and look to frustrate their London opponents.

Preparing to write this preview took me on a trip down memory lane. On 30 March 1963 I was with my father in London and we were hoping to go to White Hart Lane in the afternoon where Burnley were the visitors. It would have been my very first Burnley game though I would still have missed seeing Jimmy McIlroy who had been sold to Stoke City earlier that month. I would have to wait another year to watch Burnley and this would also see them face Spurs at Turf Moor. That game ended Burnley 7 Spurs 2 so the wait was worth it! Thwarted in our plans that March day back in 1963 we opted to find another match in the capital and made our way to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were at home to Walsall and the Saddlers came away with a 1-0 victory. It remains my one and only trip to Stamford Bridge.

The match referee is Andre Marriner who hopefully will not be all at sea. Mike Dean is on VAR.

COYC!

[kritichris]

After reading that I think my 3-1 is a tad optimistic from our point of view. Cheers Outwood.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Great preview Mr Outwood - 2-0 to us.

[Swissclaret]

Great Outwood. What division were Chelsea and Walsall in at the time?

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Great Outwood. What division were Chelsea and Walsall in at the time?

If I recall correctly, the old Second division.

[Supersub6]

If I recall correctly, the old Second division.

They certainly were and that season saw Chelsea finish 2nd and get promoted to the First Division, however, Walsall finished 21st and were relegated to the Third Division. It was 1987/88 before Walsall managed promotion but that was only for one season and they then suffered back to back relegations to the 4th tier.
Chelsea managed to stay in the First Division until the end of the 1974/75 season when they suffered relegation.
Certainly in different leagues now ---in all respects!

[outwoodclaret]

If I recall correctly, the old Second division.

Indeed it was BT. Chelsea despite that shock home defeat to Walsall would finish runners up to Stoke City who now had McIlroy in their ranks.

[Norder]

.




whats this...same old defend defend and defend again....with a hoof and hope for good measure. or will Cheesy sit back, gve us some space and make some comically curious clusterflucks.

[Altobelli]

With the pairing of Mariner and Dean I don't hold out much hope

[Altobelli]

will Cheesy sit back, gve us some space and make some comically curious clusterflucks.

Ha I think we all know if there is to be any Clusterflucks that only one team will conduct them