THERE IS nothing like a home game with Chelsea for West Ham fans to realise just how far they are still behind the cream of the Premier League. Last season it was 4-0 at Upton Park with the Blues three up with the points in the bag after just 22 minutes o

THERE IS nothing like a home game with Chelsea for West Ham fans to realise just how far they are still behind the cream of the Premier League.

Last season it was 4-0 at Upton Park with the Blues three up with the points in the bag after just 22 minutes of a disappointingly one-sided game.

The season before that it was 4-1, so to say that the Hammers fans are due to a performance from their side against Chelsea on Saturday is something of an understatement.

The last time West Ham beat them at Upton Park was in 2003, when a goal from substitute Paolo Di Canio was enough for a 1-0 victory in a match where Gianfranco Zola was in the Blues line-up.

They did grab a well-deserved 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season thanks to Craig Bellamy's blast, but since then Chelsea have replaced the eccentric Phil Scolari with the pragmatic and cool Guus Hiddink and Chelsea haven't looked back since.

They have lost just one game in the last 15 - that a 1-0 defeat by Spurs at White Hart Lane - and in that time they have booked a place in the FA Cup Final by beating Arsenal, and the semi-final of the Champions League by beating Liverpool over two legs.

Nicolas Anelka is their top scorer with 21 in all competitions, while Frank Lampard has 19, but the man on fire at the moment is Didier Drogba.

The Frenchman has 12 to his name this campaign, but has hit five in his last four matches and will be looking to improve that on Saturday.

They sound formidable, but Chelsea have proved themselves to be a little vulnerable at the back, with goalkeeper Petr Cech in terrible form.

They let in four against Liverpool and three in nine minutes against Bolton and that may give hope to West Ham fans.

Chelsea also face a tough clash with Everton at Stamford Bridge tonight (Wednesday) and though they have a big squad, the Hammers will be hoping that their fixture pile-up will have a detrimental effect and that they can overcome a tiring Chelsea.

However, the Blues seem to have no trouble scoring goals at the moment and West Ham certainly do, and that could be the decisive factor.

West Ham could go close if they were to get in front, but what are the chances of that happening? Not good.

Where's Di Canio when you need him?

POSSIBLE TEAM: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole A, Ballack, Lampard, Essien, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.

Prediction:

West Ham 0 Chelsea 2