Filed under: Chelsea, West Brom, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: THE HAWTHORNS, SATURDAY APRIL 16, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1500 BSTThis time a year ago Carlo Ancelotti was getting ready to celebrate a momentous double as Chelsea manager and his job prospects looked rock solid.
In the lead up to the mid-week Champions League defeat against Manchester United, the Italian was still talking in bullish terms about being assured by owner Roman Abramovic that he would be allowed to see out his contract, which expires next summer.
His mood altered somewhat after the quarter-final defeat, admitting it was not up to him whether he remained, or would be replaced and the psychological impact of losing to their rivals will not help his case.
With an 11-point gap to leaders United representing a chasm in the title race, Ancelotti is on unstable ground at Stamford Bridge and another defeat at the Hawthorns could be terminal - especially having admitted to his mistake of starting Fernando Torres at Old Trafford and leaving Didier Drogba on the substitutes' bench - and there is a queue of potential candidates, currently led by Guus Hiddink as potential successors next season.
Such a disappointing end to the season looked unthinkable when Chelsea launched the defence of their title with a 6-0 victory over West Brom in August, but miraculously Roy Hodgson's job prospects at the Hawthorns look far more solid than his opposite number heading into this dead rubber.
Hodgson was not in charge for the mauling handed out to Roberto Di Matteo's new boys, but since replacing the Italian as Albion manager, he has produced a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
They are unbeaten in the six games he has presided over since his arrival, following his 191-days of tourment at Anfield.
It would take a miraculous course of events for Albion to slide out of the Premier League now and that represents real progress for a side which has yo-yoed between the top two divisions for so long.
KEY MATCH-UP: Peter Odemwingie v John Terry: The Nigerian international has been proposed as one of the best pieces of transfer business performed this season. The £1.5m spent to bring him from Lokomotiv Moscow has been rewarded with 11 Premier League goals and he was inspirational in last weekend's win against Sunderland. Terry can be uncertain against players with genuine pace, who like to run in behind and his contribuition to a wounded side will be of vital importance.
FORM GUIDE: Odemwingie has equalled Robert Earnshaw's 11-goal total of 2004-05, the best by an Albion player in the Premier League. Chelsea have taken 13 points from their last five Premier League games.
ODDS: WBA 4/1, Chelsea 8/11, Draw 5/2
WEST BROMWICH ALBION:
Albion face a Chelsea side with the second best record in the Premier League - but they have a score to settle after events at Stamford Bridge on the opening day.
The 6-0 embarrassment handed out by Chelsea was a rude wake-up call for the Premier League new boys, but they have learned lessons every step of the way since.
Their embarrassment has eased somewhat and the red-faces now belong to Terry and Co with Youssouf Mulumbu in the mood to turn them a deeper shade of crimson against a side which he believes has lost its edge.
"Apart from that game, we can say we deserve to stay in the Premier League. So it is about revenge, because the result against them was ridiculous," Mulumbu said.
"They're not as good at the moment so I think we can have a great result on Saturday. It would be great because we're on 39 points and, if we win, we'd be on 42.
"So it's a big game for us, both for the points and also to get revenge after the first game we had against them.
"We can't think everything is done because we still have to get some points. Saturday will be a big game for us and we have to get a good result.
"We don't have to be scared of big teams because we have dealt with some big teams at home."
Strategy: Albion are four points ahead of the drop zone, but are playing with a freedom not associated with a side with relegation problems. Much of that is due to the intelligent running and pace of Odemwingie, who represents a real goal threat. He will be asked to perform the same role again, with Chris Brunt relied upon to provide the intelligent passes from deep that can cause anxiety for a Chelsea defence still scarred by events at Old Trafford.
Injury Update: Graham Dorrans (ankle) is still unavailable for selection, after six-weeks on the sidelines, but Hodgson expects him back before the end of the season.
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