PREVIEW: West Ham v Chelsea

It’s almost a year to the day since last season’s corresponding fixture against Chelsea and it still doesn’t get old watching the highlights and the celebrations that followed.

But now we face a completely different Chelsea and an equally different  importance surrounding the game. Chelsea under Jose Mourinho are always a more difficult challenge, while the fact we’ve only won once since the opening day of the season means anything less than a victory could see us sitting in the bottom three by Monday.

Many people will believe this is the best time to play Chelsea after most of their players featured during the international break, but you could also argue it’s the best time to play us. Poor home form, defence riddled with injuries and no striker capable of sticking the ball in the proverbial onion bag.

And the latter remains the biggest worry for us all. Sam Allardyce admitted yesterday that he has no idea when we can expect to see Andy Carroll back in action, which didn’t really come as a surprise to any of us. Most Hammers fans don’t expect to see him all season, while others are just taking each day as it comes regarding the announcement of an expected come back date, which is probably exactly what the club and Carroll himself are doing, too.

With all that considered, this is probably the worst time to play a team like Chelsea. They haven’t exactly set the world alight since Mourinho made a hero’s return in the summer, but how long before they click? Normally, when a side is struggling for form or desperately needs a win, it’s us they’re playing next.

The defeat to Norwich was difficult to take. After what was arguably the best 45 minutes we’ll enjoy all season, the players collapsed in the second-half and lost the game. Had they continued their dominance for the entire 45 minutes, we wouldn’t be looking over our shoulders no nervously now. We wouldn’t be safe, by any means, but at least we’d be taking a lot confidence and belief in to a game against Chelsea.

That said, with the game being under the lights at the Boleyn Ground, the atmosphere is bound to be electric, which could work in our favour and get the players pumped up for another famous win over the Blues.

Team News:

West Ham United (16th, 10 points)

The Hammers will be without Winston Reid after he had surgery on an ankle injury during the week.

Razvan Rat is doubtful because of an hamstring problem, but both James Collins and Joey O’Brien should be passed fit.

Chelsea (4th, 21 points)

Fernando Torres has not recovered from his adductor muscles injury to feature, but Ashley Cole is expected to play following a rib injury.

Last 10 meetings:

Match in Numbers:

2 – Sam Allardyce has picked up just two points from his last six top-flight meetings with Jose Mourinho.

4 – The Hammers are without a win from their last four home games, which is their worst run under Sam Allardyce.

3 – Frank Lampard has scored in three of his last four games against West Ham.

6 – Chelsea are unbeaten in their las six London derbies in the league.

100 – George McCartney could make his 100th league start for the Hammers if passed fit.

Head-to-Head (all competitions):