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Last November I made the trip to Stamford Bridge, my first visit in 26 years, hoping for an enjoyable night out. I said on the way down that I just wanted to be able to come home with my head held high.
I got more than I bargained for. I came home with a place in the Carling Cup quarter-finals after a sensational night out. That ultimately led to the heartbreak of Spurs which surely was the inspiration for the rest of the season.
And so that's taken us back to the Bridge, this time for a league game, a Premier League game no less. I don't think many of those delirious fans leaving the ground last season would have dared predict this, or that we would be three games in with two wins and six points.
It's been tough. Manchester United and Everton at home are very tough games. Now we have two equally tough away games, if not more so, with the first against one of two sides currently with maximum points.
A year ago we might have said Chelsea were the richest club in English football, a club that has for the last six years been lifted sky high since they very cleverly got rid of the odious Ken Bates and were taken over by Roman Abramovich.
Poor Abramovich is now upset that Manchester City are spending more money than him, but that might not be the case totally given that Chelsea must be spending heavily on managers with five having been in charge in less than two years.
The new man in charge this season is Carlo Ancelotti who arrived from AC Milan. The 50-year-old former Italian international took over at the beginning of July. He hasn't, as yet, gone overboard with the spending having brought in just three new players.
The first, a big surprise, was Middlesbrough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull. Many sources believe he's been signed to ensure they have enough English players in their Champions League squad.
Turnbull was followed by Manchester City youngster Daniel Sturridge before he spent £18 million on CSKA Moscow midfielder Yuri Zhirkov. Only Sturridge, to date, has featured.
They've won all three league games this season and only Spurs, who have a better goal difference are above them. That has followed a penalty shoot out win against Manchester United in the Community Shield.
Ancelotti can welcome Juliano Belletti. The Brazilian has been out with an achilles injury but is fit again. Two other players, Joe Cole and new signing Yuri Zhirkov, are both close to a return but tomorrow comes too early as they recover from knee injuries.
Also ruled out are Alex and Paulo Ferreira with groin and knee injuries respectively.
Last time out at Fulham they lined up: Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Jose Bosingwa (Sam Hutchinson), John Terry, Ashley Cole, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard (Deco 81), John Obi Mikel, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka. Subs not used: Ross Turnbull, Salomon Kalou, Daniel Sturridge, Branislav Ivanovic, Michael Essien.
Captain Steven Caldwell and fellow defender Michael Duff are again both ruled out whilst Richard Eckersley is added to those unavailable as he serves a one match ban following his harsh red card at Hartlepool on Tuesday.
Of the side that played Everton last Sunday only Andre Bikey was in the side for the Carling Cup tie in midweek but Own Coyle will almost certainly revert to the side that have won both home games so far this season.
The team is likely to be: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Andre Bikey, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander, Steven Fletcher, Wade Elliott, Chris McCann, Robbie Blake, Martin Paterson. Subs from : Diego Penny, David Edgar, Christian Kalvenes, Brian Easton, Joey Gudjonsson, Kevin McDonald, Chris Eagles, Fernando Guerrero, Jay Rodriguez, Steven Thompson.
Burnley's last league game at Stamford Bridge came during that remarkable season of 1982/83 when we reached the semi-final of the League (Milk) Cup and the quarter-final of the FA Cup yet were relegated from the second division.
We'd just had a run of three games without defeat (two wins and a draw) when we travelled to Chelsea in December 1982. David Speedie and Micky Droy gave the home side a 2-0 lead in the first half with Burnley replying right on half time with a Brian Laws penalty. There were no goals in the second half leaving Chelsea 2-1 winners.
The teams were;
Chelsea: Steve Francis, Joey Jones, Chris Hutchings, John Bumstead, Micky Droy, Colin Lee, Phil Driver, Peter Rhoades-Brown (Clive Walker), David Speedie, Mark Falco, Mike Fillery.
Burnley: Alan Stevenson, Brian Laws, Andy Wharton, Tommy Cassidy, Micky Phelan (Derek Scott), Brian Flynn, Martin Dobson, Trevor Steven, Billy Hamilton, Steve Taylor, Paul McGee.
Our last meeting at Chelsea in the top flight came in the 1974/75 season in the first midweek of the season and by half time Burnley looked dead and buried as goals from Peter Houseman, Bill Garner and Charlie Cooke had given them a 3-0 lead.
Jimmy Adamson told his players at half time just to go out and enjoy the second half and how we did. Ray Hankin pulled one back nine minutes in, Martin Dobson got a second on the hour and Paul Fletcher completed the recovery with the third just nine minutes from time to give us our first point of the season.
The teams on that occasion were;
Chelsea: Peter Bonetti, Gary Locke, Peter Houseman, John Hollins, Micky Droy, Ron Harris, Steve Kember, David Hay, Charlie Cooke, Bill Garner, John Sissons.
Burnley: Alan Stevenson, Peter Noble, Keith Newton, Martin Dobson, Colin Waldron, Billy Rodaway, Geoff Nulty, Ray Hankin, Paul Fletcher, Doug Collins, Leighton James.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
2008/09 | LC | a | 1-1* | 41,369 | Akinbiyi (* - after extra time, won 5-4 on penalties) |