By Since66
September 23 2008
Just over a month ago Chelsea destroyed Portsmouth 4-0 in what was described as Chelsea's best performance for a couple of years. Just a few days ago Portsmouth were 'murdered' at Eastlands 6-0 by Abu Dabbi and in front of Citeh's new owner.
On Wednesday night, Chelsea travel to Fratton Park to play Portsmouth in the 3rd Round of the Carling Cup.
When the draw was made I thought straight away, the game will be live on the telly - yeah right, when you want a game to be shown live, they don't oblige (yeah alright all of a sudden I am a armchair fan!!!) BOVVERED, FACE BOVVERED!! Instead, Chelsea TV are showing the game 'live' from 10pm, as for me I will be on my way back from 'up norf' when the game kicks-off, tuning into the radio for ALL the updates I need. Of the Premiership teams at this moment in time, Chelsea and Portsmouth must be the most fragile. Chelsea with their injury crisis - no Deco, no Ricky and no Essien so early in the season and there is Portsmouth a few days after conceding SIX at Citeh. But this is the cup (albeit the Carling Cup), but what about Chelsea and Portsmouth battles in previous cup competitions. In 1997 Chelsea travelled to Pompey on a foggy day and the game was televised and Chelsea ran out 4-1 winners with a Mark Hughes volley setting the Blues on their way to a resounding victory. Travel back in time to the League Cup in 1990, Chelsea won at Fratton Park 3-2 in a replay after a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge. Go back even further, Chelsea beat Portsmouth at The Bridge, 3-0 in the Full Members Cup in 1985. In 1960 Chelsea travelled to Pompey and were beaten 1-0 in the League Cup and then re-enter your 'tardis' and do a Dr Who and go back to 1929 when Chelsea and Pompey first met in a cup competition. It was the FA Cup and after a 1-1 draw at The Bridge, Pompey won the replay 1-0 five days later. Coming back to the present, Chelsea can and especially Didier Drogba look forward to a quick reunion with two former players - Lassana Diarra and Glenn Johnson. Of Diarra, Dids said, "When I was in Le Mans he came there and I knew him, so it has been a long, long time. He was 13 or 14 I think. When Mourinho wanted to sign him he told me asked me about him, I said good things about him and he thought he had found the next Makelele. "For me Lassana could be the next Makelele, but he also has more to his game and he likes to go forward as well. It was difficult for the manager to let him play in his position because of Maka and Mikel, but he had some games at right-back and played very well, and did really well in the Champions League and had some fantastic games." Didier could well feature on Wednesday night against his young friend and said, "He just wanted to play more on the pitch and get games, which is understandable. Even though he is young he wants to play against the big players, go one against one and show himself to work and to improve. To do that he knows he has to play against the best, so it's good for him that he is desperate to improve." As for Didier himself, Didier said "I feel good, and just need to play more games and to score goals. That's it." 


Quote:Since 66
1929 Chelsea team against Portsmouth
For the first game at The Bridge the attendance was 38,474, receipts were £3,121
The replay produced receipts £2,308 with a crowd of 31,966
