Chelsea v Sunderland 14th Jan 2012

Chelsea v Sunderland

Scene Setter

Fourth placed Chelsea are at home to 10^th placed Sunderland with both teams coming off Premier League away wins

Whilst Chelsea have scored more goals than Sunderland 39/27 but Sunderland have the better defensive record 23/25, which is the reason why Chelsea are not in the title race

After years of having the best home record in the PL Chelsea have already lost three times at Stamford Bridge this season and taken just 20 out of 30 points at home, the fifth best record in the PL   

On the road Sunderland have the 13^th best record with 11 points out of a total of 30 available

Sunderland have used nine players 21 or under compared to just five for Chelsea, whilst at the other end of the scale Chelsea have used nine players 30 or over and Sunderland just three

Leading the scoring for either side is young England International Daniel Sturridge with nine goals, one more than Frank Lampard, whilst for Sunderland top scorer is their midfield player Sebastian Larsson

Sturridge and Lampard have both scored more goals on the road than at the Bridge with six and five respectively   

Sunderland have had just one penalty awarded to them this season, the joint lowest number in the PL along with QPR and Norwich 

Chelsea have two ever presents this season, John Terry and Ashley Cole, with Petr Cech next on the list with 18 

Sunderland have just the one ever present in Frenchman Stephane Sessegnon who has started all 20 matches, two more than any other Black Cat

Chelsea have five goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches compared to just one by Sunderland 

Sunderland have scored four times direct form free kicks, four more than Chelsea 

Attacking Stats

Defensive Stats

Fixture History   

Chelsea have won 13 out of the last 14 matches between the two in the PL although Sunderland were 3-0 winners in this fixture last season 

At home Chelsea are 8/2 against Sunderland and there has yet to be a draw at the Bridge between the two 

Sunderland have scored in four of their 10 PL trips to the Bridge’ and when they have scored they have gone on to score again each time 

Chelsea have out scored Sunderland 35-11 averaging 3.5 goals a game

Chelsea have scored in nine of their 10 home PL matches against Sunderland 

Chelsea have never scored just one goal in this fixture, the nine times they have scored they have gone on to score again 

Frank Lampard has scored six times in 17 matches against Sunderland including four in nine at home 

Click on the link to see all the Premier League matches between the two