Chelsea vs West Brom: Preview, Team News, Injuries, Predictions and Expected Lineups

Mar 01, 2013 04:44 AM EST

When the Chelsea players walk out at Stamford Bridge to take on West Bromwich Albion in their English Premier League game Saturday, one person from the home dug out can expect the biggest round of boos from the home fans themselves.

Of course it is common nature now for Rafa Benitez to be heckled at every single game from his own fans. However, the reception that the Spaniard is likely to receive Saturday, following his rant at the way he has been treated by the fans, is likely to reach its peak.

Unfortunately, at the end of the day, the situation does not help anyone. Chelsea need their fans now more than ever to back them as they look to secure a place in the Champions League for next season, or face the prospect of again battling it out in the competition that no top team wants to play in - the Europa League.

The Blues are two points adrift of Tottenham in third place, and only two points separate them from Arsenal in fifth. The two North London sides clash on Sunday. So with at least one team likely to drop points, Chelsea need to capitalise against West Brom.

The last time the two teams met, it was the beginning of the end of Roberto Di Matteo's reign at Stamford Bridge following Chelsea's 2-1 loss at the Hawthorns.

Lightning might just strike twice if the Blues slip up against West Brom for a second straight time.

Chelsea had a comfortable enough outing against Middlesbrough in the F.A. Cup in midweek, and Benitez will be desperate to take that confidence into the game against West Brom, even if that team consisted largely of reserves.

One man who did start the game against Middlesbrough -- John Terry -- is expected to remain in the first XI against West Brom. Terry has found it hard to get into the first XI under Benitez, but the Spaniard is unlikely to further antagonize the Chelsea faithful and the skipper himself by leaving the veteran out for the crucial match.

Gary Cahill, who missed the midweek game with a virus, is expected to return and Benitez will have to make a decision on which central defensive partnership to put out. The Chelsea interim manager has no major worries in the injury department, with Cesar Azplicueta a slight doubt, while Oriol Romeu is a long-term casualty.

West Brom, after a mid-season blip under former Chelsea assistant Steve Clarke, have found their feet again and will look to push on having already secured that magical 40-point mark which most teams aspire to at the beginning of the season.

West Brom have a major concern in the striking department, with the in-form on-loan Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku ineligible to face his parent club, while Shane Long is a slight doubt.

That leaves Clarke with the option of either starting with Peter Odemwingie, Markus Rosenberg or Marc-Antoine Fortune up front.

"It's an opportunity for Peter, and an opportunity maybe for Markus Rosenberg and Marco Fortune," Clarke said.

"I've said all season I've got great forwards. All five of them have made a big contribution and I'm pleased with all of them.

"And, if Shane wasn't to make it, no matter which one or two I pick it wouldn't be to the detriment of the team. Any of those players can do a good job."

West Brom will also be without defender Goran Popov, who serves the last of his three-match suspension for spitting at Tottenham rightback Kyle Walker.

Expected lineups: Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Lampard; Moses, Mata, Hazard; Ba.

West Brom: Foster; Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Odemwingie, Morrison, Brunt; Long.

Prediction: 1-0 to Chelsea

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