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Chelsea have chance to go top

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 13/03/2010
Football betting

Chelsea can reclaim top spot in the Premier League table, at least for 24 hours, if they can beat a West Ham United side at Stamford Bridge that remains in a dog-fight to avoid relegation.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have had two weeks to lick their wounds following a 4-2 humiliation at the hands of Manchester City although they were effective in sending Stoke City packing from the FA Cup at the sixth-round stage last weekend.

Injuries are certainly not helping 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 being suspended for the Stoke game.

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Meanwhile, the Hammers' 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 left the Hammers 16th and just three points clear of the drop-zone.

Hull City face Arsenal at the KC Stadium having lost three games in a row, the last of which was Sunday's 5-1 drubbing at Everton.

In contrast, Arsene Wenger's youthful and exuberant Gunners side have grabbed four successive league wins and cantered to a 5-0 Champions League last-16 second leg win against FC Porto on Tuesday evening.

Tottenham step up their pursuit of a top-four finish with the visit of Blackburn Rovers to White Hart Lane. Harry Redknapp's side have lost only one of their last 12 league games.

Birmingham City entertain Everton looking to grab another win that would aid their slim hopes of grabbing a Europa League qualification spot.

Alex McLeish's outfit secured a 2-1 win at Portsmouth on Tuesday evening with hit-man Cameron Jerome at the double. Everton are also refusing to give up on the possibility of securing European football for next season though following a recent resurgence.

Bolton Wanderers face north-west neighbours Wigan Athletic with both clubs fighting at the wrong end of the table.

Owen Coyle's men will be striving to get back to winning ways following their Tuesday night horror-show at Sunderland when they crashed to a 4-0 defeat and had Sam Ricketts dismissed.

The Latics are still too close to the relegation zone for comfort, but will have been boosted by Monday's fine 1-0 win against Liverpool.

Burnley face Wolves at Turf Moor in a battle between two of the online favourites to be relegated this season while Aston Villa must refocus their attention on the Premier League following their various cup forays in recent weeks.

They take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium having not played a league game since February 21 when they beat Burnley 5-2.

Since then they have been beaten in the Carling Cup Final by Manchester United before coming from behind to secure a 4-2 victory against Reading in the sixth round of the FA Cup.

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