Latics v Chelsea Preview

Can the Latics shake off last weeks shambles against Blackpool when they face Chelsea at tea time today? I certainly hope so or we are in for a torrid early evening.

Last week the performance as much as the result was a major concern, this week Latics fans expect a vast improvement in effort from the players and work off the ball must be improved on if Chelsea aren`t going to be allowed to run amuck

Charles N`Zogbia should make a return to the starting eleven and his creativity and class will bring a dimension to the Latics attack that was sadly missing last week, new signing Mauro Boselli was starved of any serious service and he looked a frustrated figure running the front line single handed.

There have been calls for the managers head, very premature in my mind, but it does show that there is unrest amongst sections of the Latics fans and club chairman Dave Whelan has called for the supporters to get behind the boss saying 'Calling for the manager to be sacked doesn`t really help anybody, we are in this together

Latics boss Roberto Martinez:

'Chelsea in my eyes have the strongest squad in the league, but we're ready to react from our disappointment and be competitive in a game why showed last season we're capable of winning'

'They've been working together as a squad for a number of seasons and have had tremendous results.

'Everything you look for in a successful team; experience, strength, power and quality they possess in big amounts.

'You need to be at your very best to compete with that, but our game against them here last season shows we are capable of performing against such an opponent.

'To do that we need to be perfect in everything we do, learning lessons from last weekend's game.'


Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti

'Our aim is to show continuity away from home.

'Although we did very well last season, away we had some problems. We need to change the direction of this.'

Missing for the Latics captain Gary Caldwell who is still recovering from two hip operations and Victor Moses who pulled his calf muscle against Blackpool last week.

Charles N'Zogbia should be back in the starting eleven today.

Latics probabable:

Kirkland, Stam, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Diame, McCarthy, Watson, Rodallega, Boselli.

It will be very interesting to see how little Charlie reacts if he is back in the team, we really need a positive start from him

Jose Bosingwa is out and new signing Ramires not deemed ready.

Chelsea probable:

Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka

A hat-trick in each of his last two Premier League games, will he make it three threes in three games?

Latics and Chelsea have met on 15 previous occasions in all competitions, the record is:

Latics 3 wins, Chelsea 10, draws 2.

Last Six Meetings

09/05/10 - Premier League - Chelsea 8 Latics 0
26/09/09 - Premier league - Latics 3 Chelsea 1
28/02/09 - Premier League - Chelsea 2 Latics 1
24/08/08 - Premier League - Latics 0 Chelsea 1
14/04/08 - Premier League - Chelsea 1 Latics 1
26/01/08 - Fa Cup 4th round - Latics 1 Chelsea 2

Mike Dean (Wirral)

Why not have a read of our excellent Meet the Ref article

Heart says 2-2 draw

Head says 1-3 Chelsea win, but I'm going with the draw

Carling Cup Round 2

Hartlepool United v Latics
Victoria Park
Tuesday 24/08/10 7:45pm

Premier League

Spurs v Latics
White Hart Lane
Saturday 28/08/10 3pm

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