Chelsea v Reading: Blues to state title credentials
Roberto Di Matteo's men got the new campaign off to a winning start at the weekend as two early goals put them in the driving seat against Wigan. Tonight they host newly promoted Reading, who snatched a share of the spoils against Stoke, but no-one outside of Berkshire really gives them a hope of leaving the Bridge with anything other than a heavy defeat.
This will be the fifth Premier League meeting between the two sides and Reading are still searching for their first win over the Blues. In fact, you have to go back to 1930 for the last time Chelsea lost to Reading in the league.
Star names litter the Chelsea starting line-up - in Mata and Torres they have two World and European champions - but Reading will not be fazed by reputations.
This fixture has carried a bit of needle ever since Stephen Hunt's challenge on Petr Cech left the goalkeeper with a depressed fracture of the skull. Although Hunt is now at Wolves, Cech still carries the scars of that incident and the atmosphere in the ground should be buzzing.
Reading have scored in 19 of their past 20 outings and found the back of the net three times in their previous four meetings with Chelsea, however, with Terry, Lampard, Torres, Hazard and Oscar in the team the Blues understandably start the game as favourites with the bookies and our pundits.
Chelsea v Reading; Kick Off 8pm August 22 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Shub Chaterjee |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Frank Pattison |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Man United |
Alex Richert |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
4 |
V |
1 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
5 |
V |
0 |
|
Spurs |
Mike Richards |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hossiennia |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
2 |
V |
0 |
Panel Verdict
Looks like an easy win for the European champions.
Home: 31; Draw: 2; Away: 0. TBA 1
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
