Take Hull’s foray into the lofty peaks on their top-flight debut and Tottenham’s hapless pre-Harry Redknapp anchor impression a mere two years ago.
- Podcast: On Houllier, Rooney and West Ham v Chelsea / West Ham United News / Chelsea News
But as top of the pile prepares to take on bottom this weekend, few spectators would be surprised to see both sides remain in their respective positions until the curtain comes down in May.
Great news for Chelsea as they remain on course to defend their domestic crown. Not so good for their London rivals West Ham who are another defeat or two away from flirting with the panic button.
The two go head to head for the 94th time in all competitions at Upton Park on Saturday and nothing but the maintenance of two deeply contrasting 100 percent records is expected come five o’clock.
Chelsea have been unforgiving in their early assault on the Premier League, swatting aside West Brom, Wigan, and Stoke, scoring 14 and conceding none in the process.
The Hammers have generously directed their own early horror show for the benefit of Aston Villa, Bolton and Manchester United who each left with a goody bag containing three goals and three points.
The two clubs have been inextricably linked in recent years with a whole host of players being exchanged with varying degrees of willingness.
England duo Frank Lampard and John Terry, who are both expected to appear after shaking off injuries that ruled them out of international duty, were plucked from the highly productive West Ham academy while Yossi Benayoun made the journey from East to West London via Anfield this summer.
Carlton Cole, Tal Ben Haim and Scott Parker, fresh from signing a new contract, have all relocated from Stamford Bridge to Upton Park in recent years.
As has West Ham boss Avram Grant, who firmly established himself as the nearly man during his year long stint at the Chelsea helm with a hat-trick of runners up medals in the League, Carling Cup and Champions League.
How times and fortunes have changed for Grant who has already amassed another hat-trick of misfortune with three league defeats and only an unconvincing League Cup victory over Oxford United to show for his brief tenure with the East end club.
On a more positive note for the Israeli manager is the availability of new signings Jars Jacobsen and Victor Obinna as well as injury plagued, wantaway Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami for tomorrow’s clash.
While Thomas Hitzlsberger’s wait for his West Ham debut continues with a thigh injury sustained on international duty for Germany ruling him out of action.
Chelsea are unbeaten in the last five meetings between the sides with a solitary Paolo Di Canio goal enough to seal a rare victory for West Ham in 2003.
In their last encounter, the eventual league champions ran out 4-1 winners at Stamford Bridge with Alex, Didier Drogba (2) and Florent Malouda all on the scoresheet.
Source: DSG
