Newcastle v Chelsea: The pressure is on, time to deliver.

There is no question that in an hours time the pressure is on Chelsea now. After weeks of reported turmoil, constant speculation about Carlo's future, the club and a run of bad results, added to that United winning yesterday, Chelsea need to put in a good performance and get the right result. This afternoon is no easy game and Newcastle will be determined to add to the pressure mounting on our side.

Let's face facts, there are no easy games in the Premier League and anyone can get a result against anyone on their day. I don't think any of us being honest would have expected Newcastle to go to the Emirates and beat Arsenal but that's just the way the Premier League is this season.

Chelsea have had a bad run and Newcastle are having the same. Newcastle losing 5-1 last week away at Bolton will give their players that extra incentive to play well in front of their fans today and with Chelsea the Champions coming to town, will expect to give us a game this afternoon.

The good thing about us now is that we have players coming back from injury and suspension after this game ready for the important Christmas period but the signs are good after our performance against Birmingham away and midweek against Zilina.

Chelsea are playing their flowing football once more, are creating plenty of chances and soon enough everything will click back into place. Important players have had a full week's training and time to rest after missing out on Zilina and will be fresh for the game. Chelsea will need to be at their flowing best today to get any kind of result against a strong, hard working Newcastle side.

Carroll up front is the obvious danger today for Newcastle. It important that Alex is back to deal with the threat he poses. Drogba will also need to do a job defensively from set plays.

Forgive me Newcastle fans reading this but you have to admit without Coloccini & Williamson at the back your are there for the taking today. Sol Campbell and Steven Taylor are not exactly your ideal pairing to deal with Drogba, Anelka and Kalou and I fully expect with the pressure on us and United, City and Arsenal watching, these three to deliver today.

For me Newcastle's weakness has always been their defence. Taylor is a quality player in my eyes and yes he has been injured and has missed plenty of football. Because of his lack of match fitness and Campbell's age Chelsea have to expose their weakness. In order to do that today Florent Malouda needs to impose himself in the middle of midfield.

Our front three, no matter who they are, haven't been amongst the goals of late which has to be a concern. Against Birmingham the encouraging thing for me was the chances we created. On any other day we would have scored a hatful but it wasn't to be. I expect us to create plenty of chances today and its down to Drogba, Anelka and Kalou to make them count.

Today the emphasis on the players is to get forward, dominate possession and force Newcastle on the back foot. Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole will both look to impose themselves in the final third rather than anywhere near their own box this afternoon and Newcastle will have problems dealing with them.

Mikel and Ramires will need to be strong in the middle of midfield but also with the ball at their feet, look to knock it about and get it forward at every available opportunity.

Alex and Ivanovic need to remain solid to deal with the threat Newcastle pose us in and around the box. If we can keep Carroll quiet then it's half the job done.

Today its down to Chelsea. Of course we just have to concentrate on ourselves to ensure we play well at a quick tempo and win the game. If we keep winning our games then we don't have to worry about what the other sides are doing around us. However, this is Chelsea. We like to make life difficult for ourselves and there is no question the pressure is on us to get the right result.

The press are there watching and waiting for any kind of slip up to jump on the Chelsea negative bandwagon once again. Ready to deliver yet another damming verdict on Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Now is the time for the Chelsea players to deliver!. COME ON CHELSEA!!

KTBFFH