West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian insists Sam Allardyces side can travel to Chelsea on Boxing Day confident of taking three Barclays Premier League points. The east Londoners headed west in January last season, grinding out a 0-0 draw in a match in which Chelsea fired in 39 shots on the West Ham goal. Jose Mourinho branded West Hams style of play like football from the 19th century in the aftermath of the fixture, with Allardyces men battling relegation at the time. The point left West Ham 18th in the Barclays Premier League, but they head to Chelsea this time fourth in the table after a season which has seen Allardyce implement a free-flowing style. And Adrian believes the Hammers potent front line can help them become the first top- flight side to take something away from Stamford Bridge this season. I think that this game on Boxing Day and this season is so different because we have many combinations and possibilities to attack - our football is different, he told the London Evening Standard. Of course, we are away from home and we still need to be resolute but this time we have attacking players, we are fourth in the Premier League. This time we will go there and attack Chelsea. Why not? We want to get three points. This season we have different players and we have been able to play with more freedom. It is good because we have plan A, B or C. That is good for the team and the manager. James Tomkins (thigh) is Allardyces only injury doubt, though Mourinho could be without Eden Hazard after the Belgian winger hurt his ankle in Mondays 2-0 win at Stoke City. The Chelsea manager is not perturbed by fitness issues in the hectic Christmas period, however, and hailed English footballs festive traditions. I have lots of respect for the players in this country, it doesnt matter English or not English, he said. But the moment you are in football in this country I respect them a lot. In this moment the German guys [Bundesliga players] are on the beach, the Spanish guys [La Liga] are in the Maldives getting the sun and everybody is doing that. In this country you play Boxing Day, you play on the 28th, you play on 1 January. No family, no Christmas, just football and I think they deserve respect. The supporters all around the country, they give them that respect by selling out every stadium and I think that is the way to do it with the professionalism every player has today. Match Facts Chelseas last five Boxing Day matches have seen a total of only six goals scored, since their famous 4-4 draw with Aston Villa in 2007. Defeat to Arsenal last season ended a run of three consecutive Barclays Premier League wins on Boxing Day for the Hammers. Sam Allardyce has managed only two wins in 21 BPL matches against Chelsea (W2 D6 L13). Allardyce has no wins against Jose Mourinho in the BPL (D3 L5) but his three draws have all come in away matches (in four visits to Stamford Bridge).
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 06:54:27 +0000
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