The Premier League round-up
Not a lot of goals at all this weekend, with most teams winning by the odd strike.
Not a lot of goals at all this weekend, with most teams winning by the odd strike.
Didier Drogba stroked home the only goal of the game to secure Roberto Di Matteo his first 3 points as caretaker boss, against a 10 man Stoke team, which moved them level on points with 4th placed Arsenal.
Caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo takes charge of his first Premier League game today as Chelsea face a Stoke City side who have won their last 2 games.
Two of Chelseas biggest challengers for third and fourth place, Arsenal and Newcastle, battle it out on Monday, while they play in one of only four Saturday 3 o’clock kick-offs, giving them the chance to put pressure on their fellow Londoners with a victory over Stoke City. Liverpool travel up to the Stadium of Light, and Spurs take on Everton in the late kick-off.
A crowd of nearly 16,000 turned up at Fratton Park to cheer on a First Division Portsmouth side facing Premier League high flyers Chelsea, who were attempting to reach the semi-final stage for the second consecutive season.
With Chelsea looking for their 11th boss since the turn of the century, many will be sceptical of a role than seems to be the death of managers, rather than the start of an illustrious career.
Roberto Di Matteo started the post Villas-Boas era by overcoming a depleted Birmingham side 2-0 on Tuesday night, to set up a home tie versus Leicester City in the Quarter Finals.
Chelsea travel to the Hawthorns to take on West Brom this weekend, and everything suggest they are cracking value at even money (2) with Paddy Power to bag all three points.
There is bad news for the Blues as both Didier Drogba and star youngster Daniel Sturridge could miss the away game with West Brom.