Chelsea v Bolton preview

10 April 2009 12:16
Chelsea, fresh from a morale-boosting success in Europe, return to domestic action this weekend with a home date against Bolton.[LNB] The Blues secured an emphatic 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in midweek and will enter Saturday's game in buoyant mood.[LNB]They will be hoping the welcome continental boost can also reignite their pursuit of the Premier League title.[LNB]Guus Hiddink's side currently sit four points adrift of leaders Manchester United, but have fired themselves into contention with five wins in their last six fixtures.[LNB]The Blues have also gone unbeaten through their last 10 meetings with the Trotters, taking seven wins and three draws along the way.[LNB]Bolton are no push-overs, though, and they will not have given up hope of securing a top-half finish.[LNB]At present, they occupy a standing eight points above the relegation zone and will feel that their top-flight status is secure for at least another season.[LNB]They have kept only one clean sheet in their last 19 Premier League games, but will take heart from the fact that they have taken a point from each of their last two visits to Stamford Bridge. [LNB]In Kevin Davies the Trotters can also boast a frontman who is in red-hot form, with the burly striker having notched six goals in his last nine games.[LNB]Changes possibleChelsea could welcome Ricardo Carvalho back into their starting XI on Saturday, with the Portuguese defender restricted to a substitute role in midweek.[LNB]Jose Bosingwa could also be welcomed back into the fold after shaking off a hamstring problem, but Branislav Ivanovic is expected to continue at full-back following his goal-scoring antics at Anfield.[LNB]Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira remain long-term absentees with knee injuries but Hiddink has no other issues to contend with.[LNB]Set to keep faithBolton manager Gary Megson has no fresh injury concerns and may name an unchanged side.[LNB]Megson is still without the services of midfield duo Mark Davies and Joey O'Brien because of knee injuries.[LNB]Danny Shittu and Gary Cahill look certain to continue at the heart of the defence as the Trotters seek to build on last weekend's 4-1 thumping of Middlesbrough.[LNB]Possible starting XIsChelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Kalou, Ballack, Lampard, Essien, Malouda, Drogba.[LNB]Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Shittu, Samuel, Taylor, Muamba, McCann, Gardner, Elmander, Kevin Davies.[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports