Premiership - Birmingham City v Chelsea

26 December 2009

Preview By Tipster Zozo (FYROM)

Asian Handicap Line +1 : -1

Chelsea suffered a big slump of their game after the loss from Manchester City. Their defense looked terrible in the last few matches. After few bad results, the confidence of the players went down and they are still searching for some confidence boost. Chelsea is main contender for the title this season and no matter that Anceloti have no experience in this very busy schedule, I think Chelsea players are more than experienced that title winner is deciding mostly in this close fixtures.

Yes, Birmingham were brilliant so far, especially their defense with 8 matches without conceding a goal and with run of nine matches without a loss and taking 21 from possible 27 points. Although these points were taken from mediocre teams with exception of draw a row Manchester City (0:0) and 2:2 with out of form Liverpool, the atmosphere in the team is on highest possible level. The last loss came from top 4 team, when Arsenal beat them with 3:1. Fans are happy, confidence of the players is sky-high, definitely, this is great season for Birmingham.

Birmingham is well organized physical team. They have huge number of experienced players and they took many points with their hard fight on the pitch. Now for their opponent will have, another physical team that is much better tactically and technically. Chelsea is desperate for points as they lost too many in past several weeks. Although Birmingham is not a easy place to take all three points, especially not now when team is playing good and on Boxing Day when all stadiums will be full and the home teams will get huge support, but I believe that Chelsea is too experienced and absolutely dominant in every position. The odds are going up for Chelsea, but that does not mean anything.

Chelsea will be without Bosingwa, Essien, Anelka and Deco, but Drogba and Kalou will play their last match for Chelsea before goint on African Cup of Nations and probably we will see inspirational performance from them.

Murphy, Tainio and O’Connor are out for Birmingham and important defenders Johnson and Ridgewell are rated as doubtful.

Chelsea will have the possession and play and will dominate this game. Chelsea conceded 15 goals, 13 of them from set-pieces and they practiced a lot on how to defend them. I believe that they composed well in the defense and I see absolutely no chance for Birmingham tomorrow no matter their recent form. Away win for me, all the way.