BlueLion.

I hope we see this team: Petr Cech Ferreira, Terry, Ivanovic, Cole Mikel Essien, Ramires Malouda, Anelka, Zhirkov The front three did nothing until Zhirkov came on at Villa Park on Saturday, whilst we will need the pace of that midfield three in what will be a very fast-tempo match. I'd like to see Bosingwa get another half-an-hour and for van Aanholt to get some playing time as well. I'd love it if Kalou was fit because we've missed him!

Zhirkov turned the game and should definitely start in Russia - as an ex-CSKA man I might even stick a cheeky fiver on him scoring first :cfc:

It does... but it's a pain in the arse doing it.

Ash was brilliant But I can agree about Malouda, he was very good and his work rate was exceptional. No, I thought he was great once again. The last two games he has been influential in helping our defence.

Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea Chelsea were twice denied by the woodwork but were indebted to goalkeeper Petr Cech as they battled to a deserved point against a resilient Aston Villa. With Manchester United dropping points at home to Roberto di Matteo's West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea were presented with the chance to extend their lead to seven points at the top of the Premier League, but Carlo Ancelotti's side were unable to capitalise. Ultimately, the draw was a fair result and Chelsea will be pleased to have avoided defeat on a ground where they have won just once in the last twelve attempts. The home side, now under the management of ex-Liverpool and Lyon coach Gerard Houlier, were tenacious and went close on two occasions early on, but almost fell behind in the second half when Branislav Ivanovic thumped a header against the post from a Florent Malouda corner. Villa rallied and hit the woodwork themselves through Ciaran Clark, but Chelsea were denied the three points when Nicolas Anelka's header bounced onto the bar. Both teams were struggling with various injuries, though Chelsea perhaps had the most notable absentees with Frank Lampard, Alex, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou amongst a host of players out for the champions. Nevertheless the Blues demonstrated great character despite their depleted squad, and for long periods dominated their opponents. Villa Park has always been a bogey ground for Chelsea and things looked ominous for the visiting team when Petr Cech twice had to rescue his side. First, ex-Manchester City star Stephen Ireland burst through and fired wide after being distracted by the onrushing Chelsea goalkeeper, before a strong left wrist from the Czech Player of the Year denied John Carew. Chelsea's start had been sluggish but there were signs of their starting eleven finally waking up after the half-hour mark had passed. Michael Essien had the best chance of the first half for the table-topping Blues; firing straight at Brad Friedel from the edge of the box, but Chelsea were gradually beginning to show more speed and guile in their passing and movement. Villa continued to pressure forward and attempted to build on a promising start, but Chelsea's defence were doing their utmost to maintain parity; Ivanovic typifying the Blues' never-say-die attitude with a heroic block to deny Ireland's fierce attempt. But whilst their defence was on peak form despite the loss of Alex, Chelsea's attack was lacklustre in the absence of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard - the latter of whom scored four against the same opposition in a 7-1 trouncing in March. In fact, it was the first time in 11 months that the Blues had begun a match without their talismanic attacking duo, and with Nicolas Anelka's tendency to drift out wide, they found themselves lacking options inside the box as the first half came to a dour conclusion. The second half was far more entertaining and Chelsea's performance cranked up a gear or two. Ancelotti responded to a poor showing prior to the interval by taking off the ineffective Gael Kakuta and replacing him with Yuri Zhirkov. The response was emphatic; the Blues dominated the entire second period and were massively unlucky not to take an early lead as first Clark stopped a dangerous Malouda cross before Friedel denied the French captain with a smart save. It was becoming evident this match would be decided by a single goal - and a game of fine margins was highlighted when Ivanovic's header came back off the post after a super delivery from Malouda following a Chelsea corner. At the other end, Villa were left cursing their luck in similar fashion as Clark headed against the foot of the post - Clark had been an early replacement for the crocked Richard Dunne and was playing brilliantly alongside James Collins at the heart of the Villains' defence. Chelsea almost had the last laugh when Anelka was presented with a glorious chance but he could only head into the ground under pressure - only to see his effort bounce onto the top of the bar and over. It was a glorious but difficult opportunity for the Frenchman; and fortunately for him and Chelsea they were not made to rue such a chance. Cech again raced to Chelsea's rescue in stoppage time and he came out to rush Nigel Reo-Coker into a wayward shot after the ex-England Under 21 captain had stolen possession from young Josh McEachran. Bursting through, he found himself forced to take the shot early as Cech made himself big, and thankfully the Blues survived. Ultimately it was a well-deserved point for Chelsea - a point that they will willingly take considering their woeful run of results against Villa in the recent past. Manchester City can tomorrow close the gap with a win at Blackpool, but with the Manchester derby coming up and a nicer run of fixtures for the Blues to come, this point can certainly help form the cornerstone to Chelsea's title assault this season. ___________________________________________________________________ Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira (Bosingwa 76), Ivanovic, Terry ©, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Ramires (McEachran 76), Kakuta (Zhirkov 46), Anelka, Malouda Villa (4-4-1-1): Friedel; Beye, Collins, Dunne (Clark 12), Warnock; Downing, Reo-Coker, Petrov ©, A Young; Ireland (Sidwell 84); Carew (Delfouneso 75) The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Chelsea's number 3, Ashley Cole

Funny how people are saying drawing away from home against a bogey team is a shit result. We lost there last season, meaning we're a point better off from the corresponding fixture from last term. We won the league by a point last season so this could be the difference once again. It isn't as if United won and put the pressure on us. I'm very happy that we've got ANOTHER really hard away game out of the way without having been punished for it!!

Petr earned us a point whilst the woodwork denied us all three... a fairly even game and I'm happy with the point. Five points clear, though City can pull it back to two with a win tomorrow.

Reports on Sky Sports that there will be no Drogba in Russia in midweek either.

That'll do.

We could do with Zhirkov, I remember him having an amazing game against Villa in March.

0-0 HT, happy with the scoreline but the performance not quite so much.

Boring game, shite performance going forward, thankfully the defence have been excellent.

Shocking delivery by Kakuta from a free-kick. Let Malouda have them!

Kakuta's really annoying me: he's trying too hard, he simply needs to keep hold of the ball and wait for Essien/Ramires to run forward.

Its far too narrow at the minute... Anelka is so deep we're playing without a striker.

Chance for Kakuta but he fires wide...

:yellow_card: Yellow for Essien :subs: Dunne OFF, Clarke ON

Nice to hear Stan Collymore complimenting Mikel on the TalkSport commentary I must say. And what the fuck is up with Malouda's hair?

Richard Dunne looks hurt...

Really poor start, thankfully Cech has been alert. The defence have been lackadaisical and the midfield is offering nothing.

Cech did brilliantly there to rush Ireland.

Shit start.

This is going to be a really interesting game because both teams are missing key players... we'll miss Drogba but I can hear Ferreira breathing a sigh of relief that Albrighton won't be playing.

4 points clear of Arsenal, United and City, though we have played a game less than United and Arsenal of course. This gives us a real big incentive to win - we can increase the lead to seven points with a win which puts a lot of pressure on City to go to Blackpool and win. However after those results I'd be more than satisfied with a draw... Arsenal 2-1 Birmingham Bolton 2-1 Stoke Fulham 1-2 Tottenham Man Utd 2-2 West Brom Newcastle 2-2 Wigan Wolves 1-1 West Ham