Chelsea v Tottenham: The Preview

This afternoon at Stamford Bridge Chelsea take on Tottenham which is our biggest test of the season so far. We have made it 5 out of 5 so far in the league and Spurs were on course but slipped up at home last week, and with a week a no football, will be keen to come to the Bridge and beat us.

Chelsea's last defeat in the league was to Tottenham and like all Chelsea fans nothing hurts more than a defeat to that lot. It was nice to read this week that Carlo Ancelotti asked JT and Lamps about the biggest derby of the season, biggest games of the season and straight away they said "Tottenham" so Carlo is aware of just how big this game is today.

Harry Redknapp has added fuel to the fire today by stating that Chelsea will never be a "Man Utd" because of their history and stadium etc etc and I am sure all the boys need today is that article pinned up on the board in the changing rooms to give them that added motivation.

Getting back to the game today and Chelsea welcome back Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa after their bans prevented them from playing against Porto. Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are now raring to go so we should be pretty much full strength. Its just a doubt about Deco and Zhirkov is still injured.

These games are always spicy and today will be no different. The main battles will be in the midfield today. With our diamond formation against their natural width it will be a test today of just how good and flexible our formation can be. There is no doubt that Spurs will look to Aaron Lennon today and up against Ashley Cole it will be another key area in the game.

For me the key area for us today is up front and Didier Drogba. Drogba who is just 2 goals away from his century of Chelsea goals has started the season flying and with a weeks rest he will be all guns blazing today. If Didi is on song today then it will be a long day for the Spurs back four. Along with Nicolas Anelka up front fresh from scoring the winner against Porto, it could be a good day today for Chelsea.

Like most teams that come to the Bridge, they will look to sit back and soak up the pressure and hit us on the break, but we look fit and sharp this season and this has had bearing on the season already with late winners against Hull and more recently Stoke. It could be a tight game and another case of grinding them down so we have to maintain possession today and make the ball do the work. As long as we get on the ball and make them chase the ball around the pitch they will get tired and we can hit them where it hurts.

With the Manchester derby on before us, its another game where we have to take advantage of our position in the league and make sure we get the three points. Right now, I can take a scrappy 1-0 and three points as this can be the weekend where we open up a more comfortable gap on the rest of the league.

So its good luck to the boys this afternoon. No matter how we get them, we need three points today. COME ON CHELSEA!