ENGLISH PREMIER BETTING PICK - BLACKBURN ROVERS V CHELSEA

English Premier

2008-11-09 - Blackburn Rovers vs Chelsea

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Ince has had a tough start to his time as manager of a Premier League club and they have compiled a 3-4-4 record with 13 goals scored and 20 conceded. At Ewood Park, Blackburn are 1-2-2 with 3 goals scored and 8 conceded, making them the joint lowest scorers at home in the league along with Wigan. They are only 2 points clear of the teams in the relegation zone in 14th position.

Blackburn have not won in any of their last 5 games and they have drawn 3 of their last 4 games. Goals had been a problem for Blackburn but they have managed 4 in their last 2 games even though they have failed to win any of those games. Blackburn have not won any of their last 2 games at home, and it took a last minute penalty to prevent them from losing 2 in a row here. Both Arsenal and Manchester United have visited here already this season and come away with comfortable victories.

Benni McCarthy is out through suspension and Santa Cruz is out with an injury. Brett Emerton and Vince Grella are also out for Rovers.

Chelsea

Chelsea have a chance to reclaim top spot from Liverpool this weekend and may also open up an 8 point gap over Manchester United with a victory here. They have an impressive 8-2-1 record with 27 goals scored and only 4 conceded and will look to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat in Rome on Tuesday night. They have the best away record in the league with a 100% 5-0-0 record, scoring 14 goals and only conceding the 1 goal.

Chelsea had only lost 1 of their last 15 games in all competitions before their capitulation in Rome. However they followed up their last defeat with a comprehensive 0-3 away win at Hull City. They had also been unbeaten in 7 away games in all competitions before their recent loss and they had 5 consecutive clean sheets away from home.

Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien are all out for this game. Mineiro is in the squad and in line for his first start for Chelsea.

Head to Head

Blackburn have a really bad recent record against Chelsea, winning 1 of the last 12 matches between the sides. They have also lost 5 of the last 6.

Chelsea have won 4 in a row at this ground and have only conceded 1 goal in that time.

Prediction

Blackburn will not be full of confidence coming into this game and with the loss of their 2 star strikers, they will struggle to score goals against a tough Chelsea defence.

Chelsea will look to get back on track after their 3-1 defeat in Roma, and they have looked very good against those sides they are expected to beat. A tougher test for Scolari will be when those 'big' teams play his side and those are the matches his Chelsea team have struggled in this season.

Blackburn will look to play Chelsea in a physical battle here but Chelsea will be all too aware of that. Their good recent history, plus the return of Didier Drogba makes them favourites to win this in my opinion.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

Chelsea WIN