Carlo Ancelotti

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

Mark Clattenburg is set to take charge at the Britannia Stadium and Pulis will be hoping that he can cut out his high-profile mistakes that have caused controversy in recent weeks.

Potters fans never know what to expect from their team at the moment as they lost their first three Premier League matches, then took 10 points from their next four, and haven’t added to that tally since beating Blackburn on October 2.

But the current poor run includes three away defeats and the only reverse at home was against Manchester United when they looked set to take a point from the Red Devils before Javier Hernandez won the game with just four minutes to go.

Stoke do not have a great recent record against Alex McLeish’s side at home, as Birmingham have won three of their last four league and cup games at Stoke, keeping a clean sheet in each match, and the Midlanders  travel to the Potteries after coming back from 2-0 down to take a point against West Ham at the weekend.

Goals may be at a premium in this match as Birmingham have only scored six in their last eight matches, while they have won just three of their last 21 Premier League contests.

Stoke have scored two goals in their last four top-flight matches but if they can get the rub of the green then we predict that their losing streak will come to an end and they will sneak this one by the odd goal (Stoke 11/2 to win 1-0).

Tuesday’s other Premier League match-up sees Tottenham entertain Sunderland with Harry Redknapp’s men desperate for a win to get their season back on track.

The north Londoners have been superb in Europe and it may be that their league form has suffered as a consequence, with a draw and two defeats in their last three games leaving them in seventh place on 15 points.

However the table is so congested, with four other teams also on 15 points, two on 14 and a couple more on 13, and so the standings could alter significantly over coming weeks.

Spurs are back at White Hart Lane and that should give them the edge over a Sunderland side who have also garnered 15 points to date.

They bounced back from humiliation in the north-east derby to beat Stoke on Saturday, albeit with a little help from the officials, but they are a different side away from Wearside, with three draws and two defeats on their travels.

Steve Bruce is likely to go looking for a point on Tuesday, as his men rarely score away from home, and it could be like the Alamo at times with Spurs; attacking talent bearing down on the Sunderland box.

Tottenham are capable of beating the best on their day and we believe they will run out winners by at least two goals, although an early strike will be vital to force the visitors to come out and try to get back into the game (Spurs 5/1 to win 2-0).

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