English Premier
2009-10-24 - Chelsea vs Blackburn Rovers
A Sports Betting Pick by Gooner
Football: England, Premier League
Saturday, 24th October 2009 - Kickoff 17:30
Chelsea cruised through a Champions League game in midweek - thrashing Atletico Madrid 4-0, and we should probably expect more of the same on Saturday afternoon when Blackburn come calling.
Chelsea (2nd) Home : 4-0-0 10:1
Chelsea have made every game a winning one at Stamford Bridge this season, and have won their last three fixtures "to nil" and by a very comfortable 2-3 goal margin.
While questions are being asked about the taxctical accumen of new manager Carlo Ancelotti when it comes to away games in the Premier League, there is little doubt that Ancelotti knows how to maximise efforts at home.
When Chelsea lost at Wigan a month ago, they bounced back with a good home win over Liverpool.
Friday Night Team News :
Chelsea are without injured duo Jose Bosingwa and Yuri Zhirkov while Alex and John Mikel Obi lack match fitness.
Salomon Kalou scored twice against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday and will hope to dislodge either Nicolas Anelka or Didier Drogba up front.
Blackburn Rovers (13th) Away : 0-0-3 3:11
Blackburn Rovers under Sam Allardyce are not the sort of side that dishes up many surprises. Unfortunately for Rovers fans that "sameness" also means a predictability about their play.
Rovers have lost their last six away games in the Premier League, and although Blackburn did score twice against Arsenal at the Emirates stadium last time out, the way that the defence opened up at the back just underlined why they've conceded 16 goals in the lasty five away games.
Balckburn did have a good win over local rivals Burnley last weekend, coming back from an early goal to be 3-1 up by halftime, but Blackburn are going to have to be on their game at both ends of the pitch to get anything here.
Friday Night Team News :
Blackburn striker Franco Di Santo, on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible.
Di Santo's absence could mean a recall for Jason Roberts, but Pascal Chimbonda (calf) is unlikely to feature and Vince Grella (thigh) remains sidelined.
Head to Head
Chelsea have dominated Blackburn recently, with a 4-2-0 record at Stamford Bridge in the last six seasons, and a 5-0-1 record in reverse fixtures as well.
Last season Chelsea did the double over Blackburn Rovers, winning both games by a 2-0 scoreline.
The Betting Verdict
Despite a few questions about away form, there is little doubt that Chelsea are as imposing as ever at "The Bridge" and I have not seen anything in Blackburn's travelling performances so far this season to suggest that a shock result is on the cards.
Indeed, a glance at the "traffic light" statistics down below show a green sweep of home wins for Chelsea, and a wall of red losses for Blackburn. It's not often that previous result trends are so clear-cut.
I think that Chelsea will score 2-3 goals, keep a clean sheet, and cruise to a comfortable win, and so it may pay to take the "asian handicap bet on this one.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Chelsea 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
BEST BETTING TIP :
Yes. CHELSEA should win.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
But I'll make my bet on this game CHELSEA -1.75 goal start to win by a 2-3 goal margin.
