<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/200px-Chelsea_FC.svg_.png"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-8697" title="Chelsea_FC.svg" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/200px-Chelsea_FC.svg_-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/chelsea.png"></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><img class="alignright" title="Blackpool" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/14/Blackpool_fc_logo.png" alt="" width="149" height="147" /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chelsea FC</strong></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>vs</strong></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Blackpool FC</strong></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong> </strong></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #888888;">19 September 2010 8:30 PM IST</span></strong></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #888888;">Stamford Bridge — London</span></strong></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;">It's not often that a minnow slays a behemoth, but it is precisely that Blackpool will seek to achieve when it takes on the most dominant force currently in the League - Premier League Champions, Chelsea FC. Blackpool, surprisingly at fourth spot in the league standings, have already proven they can spring a surprise or two, but were handed a chastening baptism of fire on their last visit to London, by Arsenal.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> The Blues on the other hand will be looking to drain Blackpool of their resolve, chipping away at their defence, till the walls come crashing down. With some of its biggest rivals clashing with each other over the weekend and running the risk of dropping points, Chelsea will be relishing the prospect of steaming even further ahead in the standings. Chelsea, who withstood a spirited Zilina assault mid-week, also have the additional incentive of building a comfortable points cushion in anticipation of a tough game away to Manchester City in a week's time. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/charlie-adam-blackpool/image/9573883?term=charlie+adam" target="_blank"><img title="Charlie Adam Blackpool 2010/11" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9573883/charlie-adam-blackpool/charlie-adam-blackpool.jpg?size=380&imageId=9573883" border="0" alt="A Dejected Charlie Adam and team mates wave to the Blackpool Fans after the final whistle Blackpool 2010/11 Arsenal V Blackpool (6-0) 21/08/10 The Premier League Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" width="406" height="278" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #888888;">Charlie's Angels</span></strong></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/charlie-adam-blackpool/image/9573883?term=charlie+adam" target="_blank"></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The atmosphere surrounding the clash is one of congeniality, with Blackpool skipper graciously going on record to praise Frank Lampard who felicitated the young 24-year old after Blackpool clinched the play-off for the Premier League last season. The Blues, however, would do well to remember that Blackpool are unlikely to be short of self-belief after the whistle blows - the Seasiders beat the Blues at Stamford Bridge, the last time they met in 1996.</div> <p style="text-align: justify;"> Adding to Ancelotti's tiny list of worries, will be the fact that Blackpool have performed admirably well on their travels. Currently sitting pretty, just one point behing Manchester United, Blackpool have had a dream start to the season. </p> <strong> </strong> <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Roll Call</span></strong> <p style="text-align: justify;">Frank Lampard is unlikely to make it, after a successful hernia operation, in his quest to partnering the rampaging Essien in midfield. Bosingwa, the almost forgotten right-back, will still be out of action for another 2 weeks - giving Ivanovic the chance to showcase his wares as a stand-in right back. Ashley Cole, will also come back into the squad in place of Yuri Zhirkov who impressed against Zilina. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Gary Taylor-Fletcher, whose absence was barely felt in the victory over Newcastle United, will return to bolster his side. Coach Ian Holloway will also have the services of Keith Southern, Baptiste and Dekel Keinan to call upon. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/blackpool.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10423" title="blackpool" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/blackpool.png" alt="" width="340" height="518" /></a> </p> <strong>Chelsea Possible Starting XI:</strong> Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole, Essien, Ramires, Mikel, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka. <strong>Chelsea Possible Starting XI:</strong> Gilks, Baptiste, Eardley, Crainey, Evatt, Adam, Vaughan, Varney, Campbell, Taylor-Fletcher, Grandin. <strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">TheHardTackle's prediction</span></strong> Chelsea's home form looks to be too insurmountable an odd, for Blackpool to realistically overcome. Drawing on our extensive knowledge of the game, and a top-secret algorithm known only to Hard Tacklers, we conclude the game will end 3-1 in favor of The Blues. <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Blast from the Past</span></strong> The last time these two sides met, way back in 1996, it was the Seasiders who sprung a surprise on the Blues, winning 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. That was not, however, enough to overhaul the 4-1 win Chelsea FC managed to pull over Blackpool earlier, at Bloomfield Road. <div><strong> </strong></div> <div><strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">TheHardTackle's Player to watch out for </span></strong> </div> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/west-ham-chelsea-2010/image/9731781?term=didier+drogba" target="_blank"><strong><img title="West Ham v Chelsea 2010-11" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9731781/west-ham-chelsea-2010/west-ham-chelsea-2010.jpg?size=380&imageId=9731781" border="0" alt="Upton Park, West Ham v Chelsea , Premier League 11/09/2010 Didier Drogba of Chelsea takes the free kick which Robert Green of West Ham drops for the 2nd goal Photo Marc Atkins Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" width="327" height="416" /></strong></a> <strong><span style="color: #888888;">Didier miss me?</span> </strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[ <STRONG><U style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline" mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" mce_name="span">Blast from the Past</U></STRONG> // ]]></script> <p style="text-align: justify;">Chelsea's array of attacking talents will pose a huge threat, one Blackpool will have to neutralize at all cost if they want to stand a chance. Nobody exemplifies that threat better than Didier Drogba. Suspended, almost as usual, from the start of the Champions League, and watching his lesser prolific teammates add to their individual tallies, the big Ivorian will be salivating at the prospect of cementing his reputation as last season's top scorer.</p>