Chelsea vs Bolton Wanderers: Will Chelsea have come down from Wednesday?
Chelsea will be confident, after the midweek humbling of Liverpool, and face a Bolton side that is just doing enough to stay out of trouble.
Guus Hiddink is clearly changing Chelsea for the better, and the what-ifs surely concern both what would have happened if he had arrived earlier and/or if his tenure can be extended. But saying that, the title race is back on with Manchester United dropping six points in the last three games and a win in this game could push Chelsea to within a point of the top if the top two slip up. Carvalho is fit again and will surely resume his excellent partnership with John Terry, as Terry will get a midweek rest, in any event, after his yellow at Anfield.
Bolton is in the dangerous position of looking quite secure, in terms of relegation, but with enough of the season left to make things unpleasant. Bolton start the game eight points clear of Newcastle; and Gary Megson will have to be at his most motivational to a) persuade his players that they desperately need something from this game and b) that they can actually get something from this game.
If Chelsea is a tired and emotional team after the Wednesday game then there is a case that Bolton could catch it cold - but if Chelsea is on the money it will win this one.
Chelsea is the shortest odds favourite on offer this weekend at an unbackable 1/4 with Bet365, the draw is 9/2 and Bolton is an astonishing 14/1 outsider.
Chelsea vs Bolton Wanderers; Kick Off 3:00pm 11 Apr 2009
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Tony Bellew : 3 - 1
Dave Blackburn : 2 - 0
Sue Gardener : 2 - 0
Chris Goodwin : 2 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC - TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 2
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 2 - 0
Peter Lee : TBC - TBC
Don McMahon : 2 - 1
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : 2 - 0
Tony Ratton : 2 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 0
Dan Taylor : 3 - 0
Bill Urban (sqf) : TBC - TBC
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 0
Isaac Williams : 3 - 0
Mark Williams : 2 - 0
Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting Chelsea to keep the pressure on the top two with a comfortable 2-0 win.
Home: 14; Draw: 1; Away: 0; TBC: 3.
* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!
