A slightly briefer and less familiar ‘when we last met‘ for this weekend’s fixture at home to Bournemouth, as I wasn’t even born the last time the Cherries paid a visit to Stamford Bridge!
There have only ever been four fixtures between the two sides (excluding a game in the ‘Zenith Data Systems Cup’ which Bournemouth have recorded on their website), who face each other for the first time in the Premier League this Saturday.
The four previous fixtures – two in the Old English 2nd Division during the 1988/89 season and two League cup fixtures in 1994 – have seen Chelsea win three and Bournemouth win one (1-0, September 1988).
The Blues dropped down into the 2nd division in the 1987/88 season, after finishing 18th under manager Gordon Durie, but Kerry Dixon pushed Chelsea for a first place finish in Division 2 the following season, with a 2-0 home victory over the Cherries included in an impressive season almost three decades ago.
Though using data from fixtures that last occurred 21 years ago can be of no significance, Jose Mourinho will be hoping for a third Chelsea clean-sheet against the Cherries, as his side look to pick up their fourth consecutive clean-sheet, showing signs of stability following a rocky few months in the Chelsea defence.
The Cherries’ last trip to Stamford Bridge ended in a 1-0 defeat – a David Rocastle goal the difference between the two sides.
Reading FC Manager and former Chelsea assistant manager Steve Clarke, who worked with Mourinho, was in the starting line up for the Blues that day, with Frank Sinclair, Dennis Wise and Eddie Newton all featuring, too.
