Nostalgia - the Chelsea team last time Bournemouth visited Stamford Bridge

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Guest article by domfell

History will be made one way or another on Saturday when AFC Bournemouth roll into Stamford Bridge.

The meeting will be the first between the two clubs in the top tier, and only the fifth time they have ever locked horns.

Those previous contests came in Division Two and League Cup competition, with the Cherries emerging victorious in the first, but coming unstuck in the next three – failing to score a goal in the process.

Some 21 years have passed since the last of those matches was staged, and it is fair to say that a lot has changed in that time for both clubs.

This weekend, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will send a star-studded team into action, one brimming with world-class talent, international pedigree and one still operating under the banner of reigning Premier League champions.

Things have not always been this good, though, and back in 1994/95, the Blues were plodding their way towards mid-table mediocrity and early exits from domestic knockout competition.

They were, however, to claim the scalp of Bournemouth along the way, and the side that lined up in west London the last time the Cherries paid a visit stands in stark contrast to the expensively assembled ranks of today.

How many of those handed a starting berth that day do you think you can name?

To give you a bit of a clue, there a sprinkling of full internationals in there – with Russia, Norway, Scotland, Denmark and Jamaica among those represented, alongside five Englishmen - four of which were spread across midfield.

The game in question finished 1-0 to Chelsea, putting them on course to prevail in a Coca-Cola Cup contest played over two legs.

Given that goals have been in short supply between these two in past meetings, and with both in need of points in the present day, football betting experts are likely to favour another close encounter when the curtain goes up on their latest fixture.

Let us get back, though, to the issue of those who made up Glenn Hoddle’s starting XI back on 21st September 1994.

Dmitri Kharine lined up between the sticks, and in front of him were Erland Johnsen, Frank Sinclair, Jakob Kjeldbjerg and Steve Clarke.

Bite and flair in midfield was provided by Gavin Peacock, Eddie Newton, Dennis Wise and David Rocastle.

Paul Furlong and John Spencer were paired together up front, with Neil Shipperley stepping off the bench to replace the latter in the only change of the game.

None of the frontmen proved to be the match-winner, though, with a solitary effort from Rocastle enough to hand the Blues a slender first leg advantage.

It is also worth noting that the game was played out in front of just 8,974 spectators.

It is safe to assume that there will be a fair few thousand more in attendance this weekend, and that Mourinho will be hoping to see his side offer more of a cutting edge than they did two decades ago as Chelsea seek to stretch their three-match unbeaten run and breathe new life into their 2015/16 campaign.