West Brom v Chelsea: Can the Baggies beat the Blues?
Chelsea have a lot to thank West Brom for. If it wasn't for Gareth McAuley's late winner against them at the Hawthorns last season Roman Abramovich may have kept faith with Andre Villas-Boas and the Champions League and FA Cup double masterminded by Roberto Di Matteo may have never happened. So I'd like to think there will be a bit of respect shown by the Chelsea fans today.
With former number two Steve Clarke in the dugout at the Baggies, and former Albion boss Di Matteo at the helm at Chelsea, it just goes to prove that football is a funny old game. But although there will be a few jokes shared before kick-off, once the whistle is blown both sides will be getting straight down to business.
West Brom got back to winning ways last weekend against Wigan but Chelsea remain without a league win since beating Spurs three games ago following their draw at home to Liverpool.
Chelsea have fallen from first to third over the past few weeks and Di Matteo will be eager to put the pressure on leaders Manchester United, who play Norwich in the evening kick-off. But West Brom are no pushovers. Gone are the days when Chelsea could roll over the Baggies and tickle their bellies. The Albion have a real steel about them defensively and are inventive going forward too. Chelsea will have to work for everything this afternoon.
Victory for Chelsea could put them back on top - depending on City's result with Villa - but a win for the Baggies will see them climb to within a point of the champions of Europe.
But who will come out on top? A few weeks ago this would have been an away win for sure. Today the panel is not so certain.
West Brom v Chelsea; Kick Off 3pm November 17 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Josh Ben Moshe |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Alex Richert |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Spurs |
Adam Crawford |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hosseinnia |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
0 |
V |
0 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
2 |
V |
4 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
1 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
Away win.
Home: 6; Draw: 11; Away: 14. TBA 3.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
