A blog of two halves

The Blues have a relatively restrained and low-key festive programme... and a thoroughly relaxed New Year, thanks to TV changes.

Yorkshire grit v Southern softies? It should have been no contest.

Saturday’s West Ham v Chelsea lunchtime timing suits the Met, but won’t help agoraphobics.

Chelsea fans in need of a serious dose of football have a bonanza on Saturday when the men take on Newcastle at lunchtime at the Bridge, and the ladies battle Yeovil five hours later.

The Blues play away three times on the trot, followed by three homes in a quirk of scheduling skewed by European commitments.

A mistimed header from a player who has been one of the most consistent performers of the season proved that Chelsea Ladies are human after all.

Welcome back, N'Golo Kante! It's been a bleak, listless October without you... but thank heavens you're fit again.

It’s The Sulky One v The Rattled One.

The games come thick and fast as Ferraris fight for space with ambulances in the players’ car park at Cobham.

The Blues are hamstrung. Identical injuries to Victor Moses, N’Golo Kante and Alvaro Morata mean Tony Conte can’t choose from a full squad until Manchester United visit the Bridge on bonfire night.