First Game Since Trophy Was Presented


Champions

By BlueBlood
May 10 2005

How do you write a preview for a game that has no importance except for pride? After all the Championship is all wrapped up and the trophy presented.

 Chelsea go to Man Utd newly-crowned Premiership Champions and as Premiership Champions can expect a warm welcome from Sir Alex Ferguson and his team who, if stories are correct, are planning to welcome Chelsea onto the pitch through a guard of honour. Whether 60,000 Man Utd fans see it the same way remains to be seen.

Without pressure on either side, lets face it, it will take a mighty cock-up by Arsenal to lose second place, it should be a good game of football. Man Utd will be seeking revenge firstly for the opening day defeat at The Bridge and secondly the Carling Cup semi-final defeat back in January.

As the season progressed and records a plenty were being broken, Chelsea concentrated on the job in hand and went on to claim the championship. Now that the furore is settling down their are further records that Chelsea can aim for in the last two league games, tonight and against Newcastle away on Sunday.

First Chelsea need two points to beat Man Utd's record of 92 set in 1993/94 (although there were 42 games played). Second, Chelsea has only conceded 13 league goals all season and if we concede no more than two, Chelsea will set a new all-time record which was set by Liverpool back in 1978/79 when they only conceded 16 goals. Again this record was over 42 games. If Chelsea avoid defeat tonight, Chelsea will beat their all-time record of 27 league games without defeat which was set in 1988/89. The record for Premiership clean sheets was set last Saturday, where the record now stands at 25.

If Chelsea avoid defeat tonight, then the all-time record of 13 consecutive unbeaten away League games will be equalled which was set in the old Division Two in 1988/89. If Chelsea beat Man Utd this evening then Chelsea will set a new all-time English top flight record of nine consecutive away League wins. Either a victory tonight or at Newcastle on Sunday will equal Chelsea's record of 29 League wins in a season, which was set over 46 games in the old Division Two in 1988/89 and another record will fall as Chelsea will beat the 1988/89 record of 14 League away wins.

So for Chelsea at least there is still quite a bit to play for.

It is quite possible that JM will make some changes and it is quite possible that he may rest Lamps, JT and Ricardo Carvalho, as all three require surgery once the season has finally come to an end. Carlo did enough on Saturday to warrant a start and although many believed that Carlo made his final appearance at The Bridge on Saturday, according to Peter Kenyon, Carlo is staying. I mean how can you sell the 2nd best 'keeper in the Premiership.

Here's to an exciting game and its live on Sky Sports one, starting at 7pm

COME ON CHELSEA

KEEP THE BLUE FLAG FLYING HIGH

 

 

 

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