Follow every kick as Portsmouth take on Chelsea in the Premier League
on 24-Mar-2010, kick off time 19:45
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Chelsea have the perfect opportunity to lift themselves out of their current malaise when they take on rock-bottom Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Carlo Ancelotti's team still appeared to be suffering a hangover from their Champions League exit at the hands of Internazionale when they played out a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.
That result left them third in the Premier League table and handed the initiative in the title race to Manchester United who had beaten Liverpool 2-1 earlier in the day.
Even victory for Chelsea on the south coast would leave them one point behind Sir Alex Ferguson's team with only seven matches of the campaign remaining and they still have to visit Old Trafford.
Almost all the statistics point to a Chelsea victory at Fratton Park though as they have won 15 of their last 16 meetings against Pompey in all competitions, with the south coast side managing to find the net just three times in their last 14 games against the Stamford Bridge-based team.
Portsmouth have not beaten Chelsea in the league since Boxing Day 1957 and have not secured back-to-back Premier League wins since October 2008.
They beat Hull City 3-2 at the weekend when, despite the myriad of off-field problem that continue to blight the club, the players showed great spirit to come from behind as they claimed only their sixth victory of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Chelsea's draw at Ewood Park extended their recent poor record on their travels to only two victories in their last eight away matches in the top-flight.
Avram Grant is likely to be without Hassan Yebda (knee), David James (calf) and Kevin Prince Boateng (ankle) as he prepares to face the club he led to the Champions League final two years ago.
Source: DSG
