A little news:
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<!-- S SF -->Italian keeper Carlo Cudicini remains doubtful for Chelsea as he struggles to shake off a leg muscle injury.
Joe Cole is out for a month with a broken foot but coach Jose Mourinho has no other major injury worries.
Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt has shaken off a virus and forward Antoine Sibierski (hamstring) should be fit.
Kieron Dyer (thigh) and Scott Parker (back) are not quite ready to return, while Emre (ankle) and Nolberto Solano (groin) have joined a long injury list. <!-- E SF -->
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Chelsea (from): Hilario, Cudicini, Hedman, Ferreira, Carvalho, Geremi, Terry, Boulahrouz, Bridge, A Cole, Lampard, Essien, Makelele, Ballack, Kalou, Drogba, Shevchenko, Wright-Phillips, Robben, Diarra.
Newcastle (from): Given, Srnicek, Taylor, Ramage, Huntington, Babayaro, Butt, N'Zogbia, Milner, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Edgar, Martins, Sibierski, Luque, Rossi, Carroll.
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Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard:
"There's not much difference in the pressure of being a few points clear or closing the gap.
"You still have to win matches. There's a long way to go so it's important we stay strong mentally and physically."
Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder:
"It's a massive test and it doesn't help being without so many first-team players.
"That probably means an opportunity for one or two younger players - but what an opportunity it is to play at Stamford Bridge.
"Chelsea would have pencilled in three points but it's up to us to put on a performance. The boys are confident and rightly so."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
CHELSEA run out three days after dropping two home points to Arsenal, and set about the task of closing the eight-point gap between themselves and leaders Manchester United, but opponents Newcastle are enjoying their best form of the season, undefeated in eight in League and Cup.
The Stamford Bridge club are aiming to extend their unbeaten home League record to 53 games. They're not lost a home Premiership match under Jose Mourinho, and if they can maintain that run until the end of this season they will equal Liverpool's record of 63 home League matches without defeat.
The Blues may have lost to a Titus Bramble goal at St James' Park on the last day of last season, but they welcome the Magpies as they attempt to complete five successive victories over them at the Bridge.
NEWCASTLE UNITED followed home Premiership victories over Portsmouth and Reading with Saturday's impressive 1-3 triumph at Blackburn. Victory over the champions would take them to within one of matching their five-game winning sequence of last April, and provide an ideal 51st birthday present for manager Glenn Roeder. The Magpies have not lost on the road since succumbing to Manchester United and Middlesbrough in successive away League fixtures on 1 and 22 October. United travel to West London in search of their first ever Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge - the Magpies last recorded a League victory there 20 years ago. Andy Thomas got a brace and Peter Beardsley the other in a 1-3 victory on 22 November 1986.
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:toast:
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<!-- S SF -->Italian keeper Carlo Cudicini remains doubtful for Chelsea as he struggles to shake off a leg muscle injury.
Joe Cole is out for a month with a broken foot but coach Jose Mourinho has no other major injury worries.
Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt has shaken off a virus and forward Antoine Sibierski (hamstring) should be fit.
Kieron Dyer (thigh) and Scott Parker (back) are not quite ready to return, while Emre (ankle) and Nolberto Solano (groin) have joined a long injury list. <!-- E SF -->
<!-- S IMED -->
<!-- E ILIN -->
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Chelsea (from): Hilario, Cudicini, Hedman, Ferreira, Carvalho, Geremi, Terry, Boulahrouz, Bridge, A Cole, Lampard, Essien, Makelele, Ballack, Kalou, Drogba, Shevchenko, Wright-Phillips, Robben, Diarra.
Newcastle (from): Given, Srnicek, Taylor, Ramage, Huntington, Babayaro, Butt, N'Zogbia, Milner, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Edgar, Martins, Sibierski, Luque, Rossi, Carroll.
<HR>
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard:
"There's not much difference in the pressure of being a few points clear or closing the gap.
"You still have to win matches. There's a long way to go so it's important we stay strong mentally and physically."
Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder:
"It's a massive test and it doesn't help being without so many first-team players.
"That probably means an opportunity for one or two younger players - but what an opportunity it is to play at Stamford Bridge.
"Chelsea would have pencilled in three points but it's up to us to put on a performance. The boys are confident and rightly so."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
CHELSEA run out three days after dropping two home points to Arsenal, and set about the task of closing the eight-point gap between themselves and leaders Manchester United, but opponents Newcastle are enjoying their best form of the season, undefeated in eight in League and Cup.
The Stamford Bridge club are aiming to extend their unbeaten home League record to 53 games. They're not lost a home Premiership match under Jose Mourinho, and if they can maintain that run until the end of this season they will equal Liverpool's record of 63 home League matches without defeat.
The Blues may have lost to a Titus Bramble goal at St James' Park on the last day of last season, but they welcome the Magpies as they attempt to complete five successive victories over them at the Bridge.
NEWCASTLE UNITED followed home Premiership victories over Portsmouth and Reading with Saturday's impressive 1-3 triumph at Blackburn. Victory over the champions would take them to within one of matching their five-game winning sequence of last April, and provide an ideal 51st birthday present for manager Glenn Roeder. The Magpies have not lost on the road since succumbing to Manchester United and Middlesbrough in successive away League fixtures on 1 and 22 October. United travel to West London in search of their first ever Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge - the Magpies last recorded a League victory there 20 years ago. Andy Thomas got a brace and Peter Beardsley the other in a 1-3 victory on 22 November 1986.
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:toast:
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Damn ! should of bet the correct score 1-0 as i predicted! :toast:
Hooligans said:Well your right on the Chelsea game. its a must win situation for them! i dont think they will cover the -1.5 but a straight up win 1-0 looks and feels right for the Chelsea side. i will take them at -500 staight up to win for 1 unit at betez! cheers and good luck to you all!:toast:
