Premier League preview: Blackpool v Chelsea

Chelsea travel to Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road on Monday hoping to avoid the same fate as Champions League qualification rivals Tottenham.

A Charlie Adam penalty and goals from DJ Campbell and Brett Ormerod gave Ian Holloway’s promoted Blackpool a surprise 3-1 win at home to high-flying Spurs on February 22.

The defeat put a dent in fourth-placed Tottenham’s bid to finish in the Champions League qualification places again this season.

It also allowed direct rivals Chelsea to close to within two points of Spurs with a game in hand over Harry Redknapp’s side.

English Premier League title winners last season, Chelsea have struggled for consistency this year and look unlikely to retain their crown.

But their ailing campaign received a major boost courtesy of a 2-1 win at home to league leaders Manchester United on Tuesday.

Embattled manager Carlo Ancelotti will be eager for his players to build on that result with another victory over Blackpool.

After their unexpected win against Spurs, Ian Holloway’s team slumped to a damaging 4-0 loss away to relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out.

Holloway will need the team that beat Tottenham to turn up on Monday if they are to have any hope of toppling their heavyweight visitors.

Chelsea boss Ancelotti has been attempting to juggle big-money January arrival Fernando Torres and established strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in the starting line-up.

Torres received the nod against United, but failed to find the target and is yet to score for his new club.

Midfielder Yossi Benayoun is Chelsea’s only long-term absentee.

Brazil centre-back Alex is nearing a return from a knee injury, but will struggle to reclaim his place from countryman David Luiz, who has been outstanding since joining from Benfica in January.

Blackpool, however, must contend with a host of disruptions.

Goalkeepers Matthew Gilks and Paul Rachubka, defender Chris Basham, midfielder Elliot Grandin and strikers Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Billy Clarke are all injured.

Left-back Stephen Crainey is in doubt, while first-choice striker Campbell and key midfielder Adam are both suspended.