We've turned Stamford Bridge into a fortress again, insists John Terry

Simon Johnson
26 Oct 2009

It was exactly 12 months ago today that Chelsea were nursing the wounds from Liverpool ending their 86-game unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge. The damage to the team's confidence was so great they went on to drop many more points at home and it cost them any chance of winning the title.

Chelsea's emphatic 5-0 victory over Blackburn at the weekend just emphasised what a difference a year makes. The club have rediscovered their swagger in south-west London and captain John Terry believes it has put them on course to winning the Premier League for the first time since 2006.

One quick look at the statistics reveals the dominance they are enjoying over the men occupying the away dressing room and it is not just confined to matches in the top flight. So far they have won all eight games played at Stamford Bridge this season. Their supremecy is highlighted by the fact they have scored 21 goals with just one conceded - and that was against Hull on the opening day of the season.

The only sour point this term so far has been losing two consecutive away games in the League, but Terry feels if they put their form right on the road, no one will be able to stop them.

He said: "We're on our way to building a fortress at Stamford Bridge again, not slipping up at home and that's something we've got to build on.

"Here we've got one of the tightest pitches around which you might think makes it easier for the opposition to defend on but when you know it like we do, that's not always the case.

"It's not about losing at Stamford Bridge. It's about winning. And that side of our game is something we can really build on this year.

"We have been playing really well at home but last season it was the opposite. We drew too many games and threw away too many points but we did really well away from home.

"This season we have started really well at home, won our big games like against Liverpool, which we didn't do last year.

"We were unbelievable away last year but we can't buy a win at the minute. We're not playing great and hitting our top form. Away from home you can say we haven't had that bit of luck."

Many pundits have predicted a more open fight for the championship this term due to the form of Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham so far. Yet Terry remains sceptical and still sees Manchester United as Chelsea's main rivals.

He added: "We've got all but six points from our 10 League games so far. If we maintain that form we'll finish with around 90 points at the end of it.

"So when people say that the title race will be more open this year and the winners will get fewer points, you have to ask if the teams involved now are capable of keeping that pace.

"We are and we know United are. The others have to prove it. I don't remember second place ever getting 90 points. It's a brilliant pace."

Chelsea's chances have been boosted by the return to fitness and form of Joe Cole, who made his first start in the Premier League on Saturday after eight months out with a knee injury. The England international may not have scored against Blackburn but he provided the X-Factor playing at the tip of the diamond.

He also confirmed he will soon be providing a signature on the four-year contract he has been offered.

Cole said: "We're talking at the moment. I love it here. The club want me to stay, so there should be no problems and I feel like this is my home.

"There is so much to look forward to and I am so excited about just playing football for Chelsea and England. There are a lot of ups and downs in football and I've had eight-nine months of sitting on my backside watching so the game against Blackburn was like a breath of fresh air for me.

"Playing behind the two strikers suits me down to the ground. If I was a manager I would put myself in that position. But I'm not going to start saying 'I want to be playing here, there and every week'. I'm just happy to be playing for Chelsea. My job is to help the club win something this year."