Chelsea v Sunderland

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Match Start Date:  SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2012
Time:15: GMT
Venue: Stamford Bridge

London - Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been ruled out of the trip to Sunderland and is facing a race against time to make the following Premier League trip to Manchester United.But Michael Essien,having scored what proved to be the winner,was later sent-of,for a two-footed foul on Clint Dempsey,and is suspended.  

Manager Carlo Ancelotti must decide whether to play Didier Drogba, diagnosed with malaria and below par in the win over Fulham.

Much will depend on the fitness of Nicolas Anelka, missing in midweek with a back complaint.

But Frank Lampard’s anticipated return could take place this weekend.

Sunderland’s last away win was at Hull in April and they last won in London in August 2008 – at White Hart Lane.

Since then, in 10 visits to the capital, Sunderland have failed to score in six, losing seven, scoring three goals and conceding 21.

And manager Steve Bruce’s record in London is worse; he last left on the winning side in a Premier League game in December 2004 – when he led former club Birmingham to a 3-2 win at Fulham.

Since then, Bruce has taken Birmingham, Wigan and Sunderland to London on 23 occasions, losing 17 and drawing six.

Last season, Sunderland lost 7-2, with Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka scoring two goals apiece.

Sunderland have lost on their last six League visits to Stamford Bridge, scoring twice and conceding 23 goals. Overall in the Premier League, Sunderland have won just once – in March 2001 – while losing the other eight, scoring eight goals and conceding a massive 35.

Leading score Darren Bent is out for at least two more weeks with a hamstring strain while John Mensah (shoulder), Anton Ferdinand (hamstring), Fraizer Campbell (knee) and David Meyler (knee) are all out.

Last season: Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3, Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2.

Stat of the game: Only two Sunderland players have scored the club’s 10 goals with Darren Bent netting six and Asamoah Gyan claiming four (plus one own goal).