West Ham United v Chelsea
Barclays Premier League
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 11 September 2010
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Chris Foy
LISTEN LIVE WITH EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY FROM THE BOLEYN ON WHUTV
Introduction
• West Ham United play host to reigning Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea in their second home league match of the 2010/11 season at the Boleyn Ground.
• The Hammers are aiming to kick-start their season after tasting defeat in each of their opening three Premier League fixtures. An opening-day reverse at Aston Villa (3-0) was followed by a disappointing home reverse against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday 21 August (3-1) and a loss at Manchester United on Saturday 28 August (3-0). Avram Grant's side also defeated Oxford United (1-0) in the Carling Cup second round to set up a third-round trip to Sunderland on Tuesday 21 September.
• Chelsea have made a perfect start to the new Premier League campaign, defeating West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge (6-0), winning at Wigan Athletic (6-0) and securing a home win over Stoke City (2-0). Prior to that, the Blues were defeated by Manchester United in the FA Community Shield at Wembley (3-1).
• West Ham United have failed to beat Chelsea in any of their last five Premier League meetings at the Boleyn Ground. The Hammers' last home victory over the Blues came on 3 May 2003, when Paolo Di Canio - a special guest of the club this Saturday - scored the only goal in a 1-0 home victory. Since then, Chelsea have won four and drawn one of their last five visits, scoring 13 goals and conceding three.
• West Ham's biggest home win over Chelsea came courtesy of a 4-0 home Division Two victory on Valentine's Day 1981.
Saturday's team news
West Ham United
• New signings Lars Jacobsen and Victor Obinna could both make their West Ham United debuts on Saturday after joining the Hammers on transfer deadline day. Denmark full-back Jacobsen has joined the club on a permanent one-year contract from Blackburn Rovers, while Nigeria forward Obinna has linked up with the club on a season-long loan from Italian double winners and UEFA Champions League winners Internazionale.
• Valon Behrami is available again after recovering from the thigh injury that has ruled him out of the start of the season. The midfielder was hurt while on international duty with Switzerland at the start of August.
• Defender Tal Ben Haim could be set for his Premier League debut for the club after starting Israel's opening two 2012 UEFA European Championship qualifiers against Malta and Georgia.
• New arrival Ruud Boffin, a 22-year-old Belgian goalkeeper signed from Dutch side MVV Maastricht, will be challenging Robert Green and Marek Stech this season. Boffin made his full debut for the club in a 1-0 reserve-team friendly win at Leicester City on Tuesday. Radoslav Kovac and Junior Stanislas will also hope to have impressed after playing a full 90 minutes in the same game.
• Manager Avram Grant could be without Thomas Hitzlsperger after the 28-year-old picked up a thigh injury during Germany's international friendly draw in Denmark last month.
• Hungary Under-21 goalkeeper Peter Kurucz has joined Jack Collison and Zavon Hines on the long-term injured list after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the reserve team against Ipswich Town on 14 August. Kurucz has recently undergone surgery, while Collison and Hines are regular visitors to Chadwell Heath as they continue their rehabilitation.
Chelsea
• Chelsea will hope to welcome back England duo John Terry (hamstring) and Frank Lampard (groin) after both missed the Three Lions' 2012 UEFA European Championship qualifying wins over Bulgaria and Switzerland through injury.
• Portugal full-back Jose Bosingwa could also return after missing his country's 2012 UEFA European Championship qualifying matches against Cyprus and Norway with a knee injury.
• Serbia 2010 FIFA World Cup defender Branislav Ivanovic is definitely out of Saturday's game after being ruled out for six weeks with a back injury that is set to sideline him until mid-October.
• France Under-19 winger Gael Kakuta is out of this weekend's fixture with a back injury.
Previous meetings
• The most recent meeting between the two sides was on 13 March 2010, when 41,755 supporters saw Chelsea run out 4-1 winners in a Barclays Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge. Alex put Chelsea ahead on 16 minutes before Scott Parker levelled matters on the half-hour mark with a rasping half-volley. Second-half goals from Didier Drogba (two) and Florent Malouda settled matters.
The lineups were:
Chelsea: Turnbull, Ferreira, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic (Zhirkov 80), Malouda (Kalou 87), Lampard, Mikel, Ballack, Drogba, Anelka (J. Cole 66)
Subs not used: Taylor, Bruma, Deco, Sturridge
West Ham United: Green, Gabbidon, Upson, Spector, Daprela, Parker, Kovac, Dyer (Cole 68), Behrami, Ilan (Diamanti 84), Mido (Stanislas 68)
Subs not used: Stech, Tomkins, Collison, McCarthy
• Saturday's game marks the 94th time West Ham and Chelsea have faced one another in competitive fixtures, and the 85th in the Football League and Premier League. West Ham have won 36, Chelsea 39 and there have been 18 draws. In this competition, West Ham have won 34, Chelsea 33 and 17 matches have been drawn.
Overall record
v Chelsea (all competitions) W 36 D 18 L 39
Last time out
• West Ham United were beaten 3-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday 28 August. The tea-time kick-off, which was screened live by ESPN, was evenly-contested until Jonathan Spector conceded a penalty for a foul on former team-mate Ryan Giggs on the half-hour mark, allowing Wayne Rooney to open the scoring from the spot. Second-half goals from Nani and Dimitar Berbatov secured victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's side. The closest the Hammers came to scoring was when Kieron Dyer's low shot eluded Edwin van der Sar and bounced wide off the outside of the Dutchman's post.
28 August 2010
Barclays Premier League
Manchester United 3-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Gabbidon, Upson, Spector, Ilunga, Faubert (Barrera 62), Parker, Noble, Dyer (Piquionne 76), Boa Morte (Stanislas 89), Cole
Subs not used: Stech, Kovac, Da Costa, McCarthy,
• Chelsea continued their perfect start to the new Barclays Premier League season by defeating Stoke City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 28 August. Florent Malouda opened the scoring on 32 minutes before Didier Drogba made sure of the Blues' third consecutive league win with a 77th-minute penalty.
28 August 2010
Barclays Premier League
Chelsea 2-0 Stoke City
Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Alex, Cole, Malouda, Lampard (Kalou 72), Mikel, Essien (Ramires 85), Drogba, Anelka (Sturridge 81)
Subs not used: Turnbull, Zhirkov, Van Aanholt, Benayoun
West Ham United
• West Ham United could hand debuts to Nigeria forward Victor Obinna and Denmark full-back Lars Jacobsen as new manager Avram Grant seeks his first Barclays Premier League victory of the 2010/11 season. Both have been training with the club this week - Obinna since Tuesday and Jacobsen since returning from international duty on Thursday.
• Scott Parker should play his first game for the club since signing a new long-term contract on Thursday afternoon. The two-time reigning Hammer of the Year joined the Hammers from Newcastle United for £7m in July 2007. Since then, the 29-year-old has made 89 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals.
• The Hammers brought in eight new players this summer - Obinna, Jacobsen, Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, Mexico winger Pablo Barrera, France forward Frederic Piquionne, New Zealand defender Winston Reid, Belgian goalkeeper Ruud Boffin and Israel defender Tal Ben Haim, who has arrived on loan from Grant's former club Portsmouth.
• Five senior players left the Boleyn Ground during the summer transfer window - Alessandro Diamanti and Fabio Daprela both joined Italian Serie A new boys Brescia Calcio on permanent contracts. Brazilian Ilan was released at the end of his short-term contract, Egyptian Mido returned to Middlesbrough following the end of his loan spell and has since joined Ajax, while Mexican Guillermo Franco was released at the end of his one-year contract.
• Teenage midfielder Josh Payne was released and subsequently joined Doncaster Rovers before being loaned to Oxford United. Academy graduate Bondz 'Gala has linked up with Plymouth Argyle on a permanent basis.
• Grant managed Chelsea to the League Cup final in 2007/08. The Blues took on Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, but despite taking the lead through Didier Drogba, a Dimitar Berbatov penalty and Jonathan Woodgate header denied Chelsea the trophy. Later that same season, Grant's Chelsea were beaten on penalties by Manchester United in Moscow in the UEFA Champions League final.
• West Ham possess the tenth-best record in Premier League history. The Hammers have contested 581 matches, winning 195, drawing 146 and losing 240. West Ham have scored 681 goals and conceded 819 in those matches. In total, the Hammers have won 731 Premier League points.
Chelsea
• Chelsea go into Saturday's game atop the Barclays Premier League table, having taken nine points from their opening three matches. The Blues have scored 14 goals in that span, conceding none. Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda have both scored four goals in three league starts, while Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou have both netted twice.
• Chelsea have brought in four new faces over the summer. Former West Ham United midfielder Yossi Benayoun has arrived from Liverpool, while Brazil FIFA World Cup midfielder Ramires has been snapped up from Portuguese club SL Benfica.
• Croatian goalkeeper Matej Delac has joined the Blues from Inter Zapresic, being immediately loaned to Dutch club SBV Vitesse. Czech Republic Under-17 international Tomas Kalas has arrived from Sigma Olomouc, but was immediately loaned back to his former club.
• Chelsea allowed six players to leave Stamford Bridge during the summer transfer window on a permanent basis. Michael Ballack moved back to Germany with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Ricardo Carvalho rejoined former Blues boss Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid CF, while Joe Cole has joined Liverpool. Slovakia forward Miroslav Stoch was allowed to leave for Turkish club Fenerbahce, while Scott Sinclair has moved to Championship side Swansea City and striker Franco Di Santo has joined Wigan Athletic.
• Nemanja Matic has joined new club-mate Delac at Vitesse on loan, while England Under-21 midfielder Jack Cork has been loaned to Burnley and Michael Mancienne has rejoined Wolverhampton Wanderers. Young goalkeeper Rhys Taylor has joined Crewe Alexandra on a season-long loan, while forward Danny Philliskirk has been loaned to League Two new boys Oxford United. Ryan Bertrand has been loaned to Nottingham Forest, while Ben Gordon has joined Kilmarnock on a temporary basis.
• Didier Drogba has scored five goals in eight career appearances against West Ham United. The Ivory Coast striker has scored two hat-tricks in his last four Premier League appearances, and eight goals in his last five league matches dating back to a 2-0 win at Liverpool on 2 May 2010.
• Former Hammer Frank Lampard has scored three times for Chelsea at the Boleyn Ground - including penalties in a 4-0 win in March 2008 and last season's 1-1 draw. Lampard was also sent-off in that 4-0 victory three seasons ago.
• Salomon Kalou appeared at the Boleyn Ground for Ivory Coast in a 1-0 international friendly victory over Italy in August. Didier Drogba missed the game through injury.
• Chelsea have the third-best record in the history of the Premier League. The Blues have contested 699 matches, winning 365, drawing 181 and losing 153. Chelsea have scored 1,162 goals in those matches, conceding 662. In all, Chelsea have won 1,276 Premier League points.
Ten-year League records
West Ham United
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2000/01 Premier League 15th (42 points)
Chelsea
2009/10 Premier League 1st (86 points - champions)
2008/09 Premier League 3rd (83 points)
2007/08 Premier League 2nd (85 points)
2006/07 Premier League 2nd (83 points)
2005/06 Premier League 1st (91 points - champions)
2004/05 Premier League 1st (95 points - champions)
2003/04 Premier League 2nd (79 points)
2002/03 Premier League 4th (67 points)
2001/02 Premier League 6th (64 points)
2000/01 Premier League 6th (61 points)
Old boys
• Avram Grant was appointed as Director of Football at Chelsea on 8 July 2007. Following the departure of Jose Mourinho, Grant was appointed as manager on 20 September 2007. The first Israeli to manage an English League club, Grant led Chelsea to the 2008 League Cup final, where they lost to Tottenham Hotspur, the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, where they lost to Manchester United in a penalty shoot-out and second place in the Premier League. Voted Manager of the Month for April 2008, Grant took charge of 54 matches in total at Stamford Bridge, winning 36, drawing 13 and losing just five. He left Chelsea on 24 May 2008.
• Scott Parker made 28 appearances for Chelsea between January 2004 and May 2005, scoring once.
• Carlton Cole began his career at Chelsea, making 31 appearances between August 2001 and May 2006, and scoring eight times.
• Chelsea's Frank Lampard began his professional career at West Ham United, making 187 league and cup appearances and scoring 38 goals before heading west in June 2001.
• Blues midfielder Yossi Benayoun spent two seasons at West Ham between July 2005 and July 2007, scoring eight goals in 72 appearances. Benayoun started the 2006 FA Cup final for the Hammers and also played a starring role in the 'Great Escape' season of 2006/07.
• Chelsea captain John Terry spent time at West Ham as a schoolboy.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Clive Allen, Syd Bishop, Peter Brabrook, Billy Bridgeman, Billy Brown, Robert Bush, Dickie Deacon, Alan Dickens, Len Goulden, Jimmy Greaves, Ron Greenwood CBE, George Hilsdon, George Horn, Joseph Hughes, Sir Geoff Hurst, William Jackson, Glen Johnson, Joe Kirkup, Andy Malcolm, Harry Medhurst, Scott Minto, Eric Parsons, Joe Payne, Dave Sexton, John Sissons, Ron Tindall and Billy Williams.
Saturday's officials
Referee - Chris Foy
Assistant referees - Andy Garratt and Bobby Pollock
Fourth official - Lee Probert
• Not to be confused with the Australian actor of the same name, Chris Foy will be taking charge of West Ham United for the first time this season.
• The 47-year-old official took charge of five West Ham matches last season - the opening-day 2-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, the 3-1 loss at Manchester City, the 2-2 home draw with Arsenal, when he appeared as a late replacement for Steve Bennett, the 5-3 home win over Burnley and the 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
• Foy, who was born in St Helens, Merseyside, has been a Barclays Premier League referee since 2001, having originally made the Select Group list of assistant referees in 1995.
• In 2007, Foy officiated the FA Trophy final at Wembley, before returning to the Home of Football a year later to act as fourth official for Portsmouth's FA Cup final victory over Cardiff City.
• Today's match will be the referee's fourth Premier League engagement of the 2010/11 campaign. Previously, he has taken charge of Manchester United's 3-0 win over Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 win at Stoke City and Arsenal's 2-1 success at Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago.
Next up
• West Ham United travel to the Britannia Stadium next Saturday to face Stoke City in the Barclays Premier League. The fixture, which will be broadcast live by Sky Sports, kicks-off at 12.45pm.
• Chelsea travel to Slovakian champions MSK Zilina on Wednesday evening for their opening UEFA Champions League Group F fixture, with kick-off at 7.45pm.
General information
• Supporters using public transport to travel to the Barclays Premier League fixtures with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur should take note of the following important information. London Underground have informed the club that the District and Hammersmith and City lines will also be closed between Aldgate East and Barking/Upney all day on Saturday 11 September, when Chelsea will visit the Boleyn Ground. Fans are urged to use rail replacement buses or use alternative Tube and rail services to reach either Canning Town or Barking stations, from which they can either walk or take a bus. The District and Hammersmith and City lines will also be closed between Whitechapel and East Ham all day on Saturday 25 September, when Tottenham Hotspur will provide the opposition. Transport for London has informed the club that these works are being carried out to upgrade the District line, as well as on Network Rail and Crossrail schemes, and have been scheduled following talks with all five London-based Barclays Premier League clubs. For further information, visit www.tfl.gov.uk
• Saturday's weather forecast is for light rain showers with a maximum daytime temperature of 19C (67F) in east London.
• A limited number of tickets are available for Saturday's match. To purchase your seat, visit the West Stand ticket office between 9am and 5pm on Friday, log on to whufcboxoffice.com or call 0871 222 2700 (calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras). Any remaining tickets will be on sale from the West Stand ticket office on Saturday morning from 9am until kick-off.
• Beta Technology are Saturday's Man of the Match Sponsors. Beta Technology is a knowledge based company supporting industry, the public sector and academia to collaborate and to develop innovative projects. For more information, click here.