Barclays Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Saturday, 13 March 2010 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
TEAM NEWS
Goalkeeper Ross Turnbull will make his league debut for Chelsea as Hilario is sidelined with an abductor muscle injury.
Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack return after one-match bans, while Yuri Zhirkov has recovered from a calf strain.
West Ham welcome back Benni McCarthy and Danny Gabbidon after injuries.
But full backs Julien Faubert and Herita Ilunga are not fit for the trip across London.
Chelsea
Injured: Bosingwa & Essien (both knee), Carvalho (hamstring), Cech (calf), A Cole (ankle)
Suspended: Da Costa
Injured: Boa Morte & Hines (both knee), Davenport (leg), Faubert (hamstring), Ilunga (tendon), Noble (arm)
MATCH PREVIEW
In 1996, new Parma manager Carlo Ancelotti decided that the unique talents of Gianfranco Zola did not fit into his system and sold the diminutive striker to Chelsea, thus setting in motion the process that led to Zola becoming a Blues legend.
Last year we got a point in both games, so you never know what is going to happen... We are not going there already beaten, because I know that football can give you a surprise
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola
On Saturday the Italian returns to Stamford Bridge desperate for a result that would seriously damage his former club's title ambitions, and boost his own side's stuttering survival bid.
Zola's side hover just three points outside the drop zone and suffered a morale-sapping defeat at home to relegation rivals Bolton last time out. They follow up Saturday's trip to Chelsea with another London derby at Arsenal - a daunting prospect for a side who haven't won away from home since the opening day of the season.
Chelsea's hopes of a first Premier League title since 2006 have been hit by two defeats in their last three league outings amid question marks over team-morale in the wake of several high-profile scandals.
Ancelotti's side go into Saturday's game trailing leaders Manchester United by two points, but will take heart from a 10-match unbeaten run against their east London rivals.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham have not beaten Chelsea in any of their last 10 meetings in all competitions (D2, L8). Their last win came in May 2003, with their last victory at Stamford Bridge coming a year earlier in September 2002.
• In the last 10 Premier League meetings with the Blues, West Ham have failed to score more than one goal.
Chelsea
• Chelsea have not lost back-to-back Premier League games since May 2006.
• Didier Drogba has scored 10 goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances.
• If the Blues concede a goal, they will have shipped more goals already than in any full season since 2003-04.
• Nicolas Anelka turns 31 on Sunday.
West Ham
• The Hammers have not won any of their last eight Premier League London derbies.
• They have only earned one point after conceding the first goal this season, losing 12 times and drawing once. They last came from behind to win a league match in December 2008, beating Stoke 2-1.
• Along with Bolton, West Ham and Chelsea have scored the most goals from set pieces this season (20).
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Chelsea
Drogba: 25 goals (19 league); Lampard: 16 goals (12 league)
West Ham
Cole: 9 goals (9 league); Diamanti: 8 goals (7 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Assistant referees: Stephen Child & Rob Lewis
Fourth official: Stuart Attwell
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Chelsea (L2-4 v Man City, h): Hilario, Ivanovic, Carvalho (Kalou 69), Terry, Lampard, J Cole (Sturridge 60), Mikel (Belletti), Ballack, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Alex, Matic.
West Ham (L1-2 v Bolton, h): Green, Faubert (Dyer 47), Tomkins, Upson, Spector, Behrami, Parker, Kovac (Stanislas 75), Diamanti, Cole, Franco (Mido 67). Subs Not Used: Stech, Ilan, Da Costa, Daprela.
MOST RECENT MEETING
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea (20 December 2009)
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