Bolton V Chelsea – Pick: Ramires to score – 2nd October, 2011

Blues to wreak havoc at The Reebok

Premier League Tips

 

Bolton V Chelsea

English Premier League

Sunday, 2nd October 2011 – 13:30 (GMT)

Chelsea inflicted Bolton’s heaviest home defeat last season when drubbing the Trotters 4-0 at The Reebok in January – and there’s every chance of another landslide result when the pair reacquaint on Sunday.

The Blues, who have made encouraging start to the season, after taking 13 points from the 18 that went on offer, couldn’t of wished for a more favourable fixture in which to head into the forthcoming two-week break due to internationals. It’s a fixture they’ve always enjoyed, one which has guaranteed them points over the years, as well as goals, against an opponent who have seldom caused them problems in the Premier League, if truth be told.

In total, these two sides have met on 24 occasions in the Premier League era, with The Reebok playing host to 12 of them. Bolton were victorious in two of those (home), but their most recent was way back 1997. They’ve also failed to register a single point from any of the previous eight, which thinly veiled means Chelsea are searching for their ninth straight Reebok victory on Sunday afternoon, having won the previous eight by a staggering aggregate of 18-0.

Nothing is ever a formality in football, yet I’m wandering how on earth this isn’t going to be another straightforward away win for Chelsea, who have been in supreme form of late. Their performance at Old Trafford a few weeks merited far more than a 3-1 defeat; they were rampant at home to Swansea last week winning 4-0, despite playing much of the game with a numerical disadvantage, while only Salomon Kalou’s stupidity denied them what would have been an Champions League victory over Valencia in Spain.

Bolton, meanwhile, well their form in recent weeks couldn’t be more contrast. A 3-0 loss at Arsenal last weekend was their fifth straight league defeat of the season, their tenth reverse in their last eleven Premier League games. The Reebok hasn’t been their saviour, either, having lost all three of their matches there so far this season. Two of which were against the two Manchester clubs, United and City, by an aggregate of 2-8 as well. So expect a sombre atmosphere in Lancashire, especially after the Trotters were humbled by Norwich last time out.

To compound matters for Bolton, manager Owen Coyle is struggling to put a squad together for Sunday. Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is doubtful, Stuart Holden has been ruled out for six-months, top-scorer Ivan Klasnic is suspended while Gael Kakuta is ineligible.

So… It should be a case of ‘help yourself, Chelsea’s attackers’. Ironically, the one forward in desperate need of a few goals, and will have licked his lips at the prospect of a trip to Bolton, is unavailable. Fernando Torres, a rejuvenated Spaniard who has two goals in his last two league starts and could have netted a few more in midweek, will serve the first of his three-match domestic suspension for seeing red in his team’s 4-1 win over Swansea last week.

Either Daniel Sturridge or Dider Drogba, the latter has six goals in his last five appearances versus Bolton, will step in and deputise for the suspended Torres, and both will be extremely keen to shine in what is a limited window of opportunity for the striking pair.

I really don’t see anything other than a comfortable, possibly even emphatic away win. Chelsea have won 4-0 on each of their last two league visits to The Reebok, so there’s one obvious value bet already. Another is Ramires continuing where he left off against Swansea.

The Brazilian midfielder extended his goal tally for the Blues to four in 47 appearances with two accomplished finishes last week, and although he is often one of the first players at Chelsea to come in for criticism when results aren’t going their way, he’s gradually maturing into a fine player; a box-to-box midfielder who is now getting forward to good affect. The 24-year-old should have added another in Valencia on Wednesday, too.

Ramires won’t be short of room to surge into at The Reebok either, against a team lacking in combative individuals who have also conceded goals-aplenty at home this season.

Betting Tip: Ramires to score @ 5/1 Unibet

Alternatives

Chelsea 4-0 (Correct Score) @ 25/1 Boylesports

Chelsea – 1.5 (Asian Handicap) @ 27/20 Bet365