By dixon9
April 29 2007

This is normally a difficult fixture away but at home we’ve been quite successful against the northern side. We are quite tired but fortunately the team has been showing almost inhuman resilience. We have just completed a run of 4 away games in something like 12 days and it’s a pleasing observation that Man Utd now face a similar run of always for this forthcoming period. – in fact, 3 of their last 4 league games are away whilst 3 of ours are at home. As usual, we need the 3 points to maintain our slim hopes of retaining our premiership crown.  Man Utd have an awkward away at Everton who will want to ensure UEFA qualification and almost certainly win their first game after the death of one of their legends, Alan Ball. Our other opponents in the other big cup, Liverpool are away to Portsmouth and will no doubt play out another testimonial pace game so as to rest as much as possible for the return leg at Anfield on Tuesday night. Bolton are themselves chasing a UEFA place being just ahead of Spurs and Portsmouth so even with a depleted squad, we can expect them to put up a typical Bolton fight and although they have lost 10 more matches than us, they are still on course for a best ever Premiership campaign. They've never finished higher than sixth place and it’s only Everton’s goal difference that is keeping them from 5^thThe good news for us for tomorrow’s league game comes on two fronts;  Bolton have 6 first teamers out or doubtful in El-Hadji Diouf (hamstring), Tal Ben Haim (knee) and Abdoulaye Faye (toe) definitely ruled out whilst Kevin Nolan, Nicky Hunt and Stelios Giannakopoulos will all have late fitness tests.  Arjen Robben appears to be fit from injury now and will at least feature on the bench.  This is great news and hopefully, at some point, José will be able to give him a run out in case we need him at Anfield.Ballack still remains doubtful however after the ankle injury picked up at Newcastle but Michael Essien returns after suspension from the Liverpool game mid week. Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Geremi, Diarra, Carvalho, Terry, Boulahrouz, A Cole, Bridge, Lampard, Makelele, Obi, Essien, J Cole, Wright-Phillips, Robben, Shevchenko, Drogba, Kalou.Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Michalik, Meite, Gardner, Campo, Nolan, Giannakopoulos, Speed, Teymourian, Davies, Anelka, Thompson, Walker, Tal, Martin, Vaz Te. Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire) I’m sure José will need to think about resting some players albeit for a brief periods of the game.I would like to see something like; Cech, Diarra, Boulahrouz (Carvalho isn’t 100%), Terry, Bridge, Mikel Obi, Essien, J Cole, Wright-Philips, Shevchenko and Kalou.   Keep the likes of Drogba, A Cole and Maka on the bench and at some point give Robben a run out.

Prediction:  2-0