Football News

East meets west in a game which neither club can afford to lose at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

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Chelsea can take advantage of Manchester United not being in action until Sunday by reclaiming top spot, while time is running out for the Hammers to give themselves breathing room at the wrong end of the table.

The Blues have had two weeks to lick their wounds following a 4-2 humiliation for John Terry and company at the hands of Manchester City on February 27 and are now neck a neck with Manchester United in the 188BET odds for this season's Premier League title.

They were effective in sending Stoke City packing from the FA Cup at the sixth-round stage last weekend, but Chelsea have been far from their clinical best since losing to Everton in the league at the beginning of last month.

Injuries are certainly not helping coach Carlo Ancelotti, who will once again be without the likes of Petr Cech (calf), Ashley Cole (ankle), Michael Essien, Jose Bosingwa and Deco (all knee).

Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti are both available after missing the Stoke game through suspension.

Meanwhile, West Ham's mini-revival following the takeover of the club by David Gold and David Sullivan in January is in danger of petering out.

Last weekend's 2-1 home defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Bolton has seen the Hammers drop to 16th place in the table where they are just three points clear of the drop-zone.

"There is not much to say, the players know exactly what happened and why we lost," explained boss Gianfranco Zola afterwards. "This is a lesson that we cannot repeat. It is a big lesson and we will respond next time."

Zola will be hoping key duo Scott Parker and Carlton Cole can get one over their former club.

Cole has scored just two goals since his return from injury in January and the form of the England striker will be key to the Hammers' survival hopes.

Last season they went to Stamford Bridge and secured a valuable point following a Craig Bellamy goal in a 1-1 draw.

It was a similar story at Upton Park in December after Alessandro Diamanti's first-half penalty was cancelled out by West Ham old-boy Frank Lampard.