Carlo Ancelotti and John Terry have done their utmost to try and get seasoned Chelsea supporters on-side for the visit of Manchester United on Tuesday but it could be another night of disappointment for the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Snow prevented this clash from going ahead in December and it is fair to suggest Chelsea’s fight to stay in the title race has frozen over too.
A wretched run of form at the back end of 2010 – blamed in some quarters by the departure of Ray Wilkins – sees the Blues 15 points off Sir Alex Ferguson’s title chasers, leaving them scrapping it out for Champions League football next season.
Their form has picked up somewhat since that miserable run but they have still won only four of their last 14 Premier League games after victories in nine of their opening 12 – and the likes of Sunderland and Liverpool have collected wins at a once near-impregnable Stamford Bridge this season.
United have not been at their vintage best this season but remain on course to win a record 19th domestic title.
They have won only four times on the road this season in the league and Sir Alex Ferguson has the looming worry of some of his elder statesmen nearing the end of their glittering careers to address.
Gary Neville has quit, Edwin van der Saar will leave at the end of the season and the likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs cannot be relied on for every game.
Both teams could cancel each other out and the advice here is to take the draw at 23/10 given that United have drawn eight on the road this term – while two of last four trips to the Bridge have ended all-square – and Chelsea cannot be considered cast-iron even at the price of 6/5.
United +1 in the match handicap at 4/6 is not the worst price too given that it factors in Chelsea having to win by a two-goal margin.
Chesterfield were knocked out of their League Two promotion stride on Saturday when they fell to a shock home defeat by strugglers Morecambe but punters should snaffle up the 5/4 for them to get back on track in a top-of-the-table clash against Wycombe.
No-nonsense Mancunian John Sheridan is not the kind of manager to dress up what was a miserable performance and his players will know they will have to turn it on at the B2net Stadium against Gary Waddock’s men in what looks the perfect fixture to atone for the weekend horror show.
Wanderers were involved in a 21-man stoppage-time brawl against Macclesfield and their state of mind is open to question for such a difficult trip.
Four draws on the bounce have hurt Huddersfield Town in their pursuit of a League One automatic promotion place but manager Lee Clark has spoken of the determination of his players to return to winning ways on Tuesday at the backable price of 7/5.
Hartlepool claimed a shock 1-0 win at the Galpharm on Boxing Day but have won only six of their 15 league games at Victoria Park.
There is an old adage in football that draws are only ever any good if there is a win at the end of them and the Terriers, despite concerns over strikers Jordan Rhodes (laryngitis) and Danny Cadamarteri (back spasm), should have too much going forward for their hosts.
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Stoke City take on Birmingham City on Tuesday night with manager Tony Pulis still seething from yet another big decision that appears to have gone against his men at the weekend.