Stoke v Chelsea - The next step.

Chelsea need to take each game as it comes. After gaining 19 points out of a possible 24 and confidence back amongst the players, we travelled to the Britannia this afternoon hoping that we can continue our good run of recent weeks and to once again put pressure on Arsenal and Manchester United above us.

By the time we kick off, we will know how Manchester United have got on in the lunchtime kick off against West Ham and we all will be looking for the East London side to do us a favour. However, it will all be for nothing unless Chelsea make sure we win every single game in the Premier League between now and the end of the season, starting this afternoon.

So what of our opponents? Stoke are one win away from the so called safety point mark of 40 points, through to the FA Cup Semi Final against Bolton and after having hammered Newcastle 4-0 at home in their last game, won't fear Chelsea tomorrow.

Stoke's strength is their form at home in the league. They look to play their own game, to the strengths of their side to win games and like I say at home are very effective. If that means they are also physical then so be it, fair play to them.

Stoke will look to play two up front with two wide men and attack Chelsea. It will more than likely be Kenwyne Jones up top with Jonathan Walters and Jermaine Pennant wide right with Matthew Etherington wide left. Chelsea need to deal with the threat of all these players tomorrow and then look to kick on playing our game.

With the new rotation policy at Chelsea it appears to be any one's guess as to who plays. There are reports that players who haven't featured on international duty in the week will play but until we find out at 3pm tomorrow we still won't know for definite.

You can imagine Ancelotti will set Chelsea up in the 4-4-2 formation of recent weeks but I do wonder if he will have one eye on United on Wednesday as he names his starting eleven. I would say for definite that Cech, Terry, Cole, Lampard, Essien, and Anelka start tomorrow, the rest of the places are up for grabs.

Let's be honest here. We need a win and nothing less. We have the quality to win the game and more importantly the confidence to get the job done but will need to work hard to do so.

Whoever plays, needs to give their all as Chelsea look to kick on.

I am going for a 2-0 Chelsea win and hope to god that Fernando Torres gets on the score sheet at some stage!

KTBFFH

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