A wholehearted effort but no share of the spoils for us.
Eden Hazard's goal the difference in a tight second half.
It's Newcastle next for us away, a big one!
90: SAVE!
Lovely stuff! Steve Cook, playing as a striker late on, just inside the box smashes a lovely effort but it's straight at Courtois!
Lovely technique, unlucky!
90: Four minutes...
... of added time.
We're having a spell but just can't make it click.
86: Chance!
Franno swings in a delightful ball to the back post, Pugh is there to meet it but Zappacosta rises just highest to nod it out.
That is not far away.
83: Third sub for Chelsea...
Hazard, the goalscorer, is off for Willian.
83: Chance for Chelsea...
Hazard dinks it to Fabregas and from an angle, he puts one wide six-yards out.
Should score, but we're still in it late on.
78: Double sub for Chelsea...
Morata and Pedro off for Drinkwater and Batshuayi.
A more defensive change with Drinkwater coming on.
Keep going lads!
75: Blocked!
Close for us! A good move sees Ibe cross for Wilson in the six-yard box, he looks set to shoot but Luiz is down low to get his body in front of it.
Excellent defending to be fair.
73: Third sub for us...
Callum Wilson is back in Premier League action.
The crowd are bouncing behind the goal to see Callum return!
Benik makes way for him after picking up a knock.
72: Afobe down...
He did well to hold the ball up in the corner but has gone down.
Callum is warming up on the left hand side - we may be seeing him soon.
The moment Junior unfortunately pulled up...
64: Chance for Chelsea...
Could be 2-0.
Pedro calmly lays off Hazard who is in space in the box, he's leaning backwards and blazes over.
If he had his balance, it could've been 2-0.
63: Sub for us...
It's enforced.
Junior wet driving with the ball and quickly pulled up.
Not good!
Pughie is on for him.
53: Just over!
We get a break when Stanislas gets it on the edge and Ibe picks it up.
He shifts it onto his left foot, strikes firmly at goal, it deflects slightly off Rudiger and it flew narrowly over.
That's close!
GOAL for Chelsea.
Hazard scores.
He always scores here.
A ball over the top from Morata allows Hazard to get in the area and he fires one in at the near post.
Soft goal that. 1-0 down.
48: Sighter for Lewis Cook...
A good start to the half.
Stanislas picks out Lewis Cook who tries his luck from 25-yards.
It whizzes over, but better from us.
45: First sub at half-time...
JD is off for us.
Ibe is on, might be a tactical thing, not sure though.
More of a 4-3-3 now with Junior out on the left, Ibe on the right.
Come on lads!
HALF TIME
Well, I think Eddie Howe's gameplan has worked.
Stay in the game for as long as possible, and that's been achieved so far.
It's tight and its tense, Chelsea probably should be a goal ahead, but it's goalless at the interval.
43: Great block!
Another Chelsea move sees Pedro get down the line, he cuts it back to his Spanish team mate Fabregas.
The midfielder looks set to score from close range but Steve Cook makes an excellent block, hurling himself at it twice to ensure that the Chelsea man didn't open the scoring.
39: Unlucky!
A great corner routine sees Surman play Francis in behind with a great pass.
Franno opts not to shoot when well placed but lashes it across the face and there's bodies in the box, but a Chelsea man just nicks it away!
Great stuff from us, encouraging!
Benik is battling hard up top...
34: Great save!!
Very good play from Chelsea around the box sees Morata get free and he gets a free yard in the box to strike and it looks like it's going in...
... but for Begovic in goal! A top save with his left arm when it looked like the opener was coming. Could be crucial!
30: Chance...
Another swift Chelsea break sees Hazard cleverly pull back for Zappacosta, but his powerful strike in the box was well blocked.
Good defending.
27: Ball in the net... OFFSIDE!
Chelsea put the ball in but it's flagged immediately.
A short corner is played to Luiz on the edge, he shoots and it takes a nick, but Morata diverts it into the net from close range.
Looking at a replay, we could be quite lucky!
24: What a chance for Chelsea...
A defensive mix-up - Begovic miscues a kick which sees Hazard pick the ball up and slip in Morata.
The Spaniard has the whole goal to pick his spot from close range but diverts it wide.
Look up the phrase 'let-off' in the dictionary, this was it.
Huge huge chance.
We're battling well in this first-half so far!
17: Blocked!
A great move!
Afobe, Cook and Smith combine to great effect, Afobe tees up Daniels who gives it him back in the box but the striker has an effort well blocked.
Threatening from us!
13: A chance...
What a pass from Rudiger.
He pings a ball from 70-yards which finds Pedro.
His touch is excellent and he looks set to blast one in the box, but Ake was there to slide in expertly to pinch it off Pedro and our for a goal kick.
Top defending.
09: Early sighter for Pedro...
Chelsea's winger steams inside at searing pace, beating two players.
He gets to the edge of the box but blasts harmlessly over.
Blistering pace though, something for us to watch out for.
07: Early danger...
... but good defending from Steve Cook.
Luiz zinged a 70-yard ball which swerved and found Pedro, and his cross was accurate towards Morata in the middle but Cookie was there to throw himself at it and stop a free header for the Spaniard.
We're underway...
After a minute's silence to remember our fallen war heroes, Alvaro Morata gets us underway.
We'll attack the Ted MacDougall Colmar Construction Stand as usual in this first half.
Come on lads!
The teams are out...
A few friendly handshakes with Asmir and Nathan, our former Chelsea men, but it's down to business now.
Go on lads!
The warm ups are over...
And we're almost ready for tonight!
Ten minutes to kick off...
Andrew Surman...
Is a goal machine!
In the warm up he's just bagged three, two on his right foot!
That'd do nicely Surs today!
There's a big game feel here...
The floodlights begin to light, and the BT Sport crew are out in force.
The warm ups continue over on the far side as we keep the ball in a possession drill.
The ground is filling up nicely too, a big atmosphere expected!
Did you know...
If JD scores today, it will be the 200th league goal of his long career!
He's in from the off and looked threatening against Leicester and Spurs.
Could it be a day to remember for him?
A threat from deep?
Cesar Azpilicueta has been involved in five goals this Premier League season, which is more than any other defender.
He'll play centre-back today, could he be an influence from the back?
The manager in his pre-match interview...
Well said boss! 👏
"We’re buoyed by the past week, hopefully we can finish that off tonight. On our day we’re a match for anyone."#BOUCHEpic.twitter.com/tjWlsqBZm6
Met the real hero at The Vitality today. Great to meet you Mason & good luck for the next few weeks from all of us at @btsport 👍🏻👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/LDNYAt4xSq
Well, there's a few selection dilemmas for Antonio Conte.
Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko have been the combination Conte has used in recent weeks due to injuries in that position.
Elsewhere, Michy Batshuayi could be in contention from the off, after impressing against Watford.
He scored twice, meaning that since the start of last season, only Olivier Giroud (seven) has scored more goals as a substitute in the Premier League than the Chelsea man (five).
An update from the camp...
Andrew Surman did the pre-match Premier League interview against Stoke City.
So, being superstitious, he's done it today!
Here's what the vice-captain had to say...
"Wins create confidence that's for sure. Hopefully if we can create chances like we have done this season and take them, then we have every chance against Chelsea tonight."
Well said, Surs.
One to watch...
Is Pedro the key man for Chelsea this evening?
The former Barcelona man has been directly involved in more goals for Chelsea in all competitions in 2017 than any other player – he’s been involved in 21 goals, with nine assists in total.
With this being our closest home game to Remembrance Sunday, we're supporting the Poppy Legion today on our shirts and around the ground this afternoon.
What can we expect from today?
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer took the time to speak to afcb.co.uk this week to assess where tonight's opponents Chelsea are at.
From what Mark says, we should be confident!
"It’s definitely been a challenging time for Chelsea, for Antonio Conte and for his players. It’s been well documented that there were a lot of people unsettled at the club.
"The manager has been a bit frustrated over the lack of dealings in the transfer window and he’s also said that he feels that they’re quite a bit off the pace in terms of strengthening and trying to compete with the likes of Manchester City.
"All of a sudden, after two bad results, there’s almost like a mini crisis at Chelsea and that’s the nature of being a big club in the Premier League."
In the dugout...
A shameless programme plug here, but if you're around the ground, you have to read Italian football expert James Horncastle's feature on Antonio Conte.
Here's a snippet...
"People in Italy were not surprised last season, because they think Antonio Conte is the best manager in the world - not just out of pride but because they've seen it with their own eyes."
High praise.
Team news...
The manager kindly provided us with some early team news yesterday.
He confirmed that a very late decision will be made on Joshua King, who has a back injury following illness, while fellow striker Jermain Defoe is back in contention.
There's some headaches for the boss for sure - we'll bring you the team news before anyone else at 4.30pm!
It's matchday...
Lets do this! Welcome to our matchday blog, where we'll bring you all the build up and match action as Eddie Howe's man take on the current Premier League champions, Chelsea!
Commentary By @unknown
FULL TIME
A wholehearted effort but no share of the spoils for us.
Eden Hazard's goal the difference in a tight second half.
It's Newcastle next for us away, a big one!
90: SAVE!
Lovely stuff!
Steve Cook, playing as a striker late on, just inside the box smashes a lovely effort but it's straight at Courtois!
Lovely technique, unlucky!
90: Four minutes...
... of added time.
We're having a spell but just can't make it click.
86: Chance!
Franno swings in a delightful ball to the back post, Pugh is there to meet it but Zappacosta rises just highest to nod it out.
That is not far away.
83: Third sub for Chelsea...
Hazard, the goalscorer, is off for Willian.
83: Chance for Chelsea...
Hazard dinks it to Fabregas and from an angle, he puts one wide six-yards out.
Should score, but we're still in it late on.
78: Double sub for Chelsea...
Morata and Pedro off for Drinkwater and Batshuayi.
A more defensive change with Drinkwater coming on.
Keep going lads!
75: Blocked!
Close for us! A good move sees Ibe cross for Wilson in the six-yard box, he looks set to shoot but Luiz is down low to get his body in front of it.
Excellent defending to be fair.
73: Third sub for us...
Callum Wilson is back in Premier League action.
The crowd are bouncing behind the goal to see Callum return!
Benik makes way for him after picking up a knock.
72: Afobe down...
He did well to hold the ball up in the corner but has gone down.
Callum is warming up on the left hand side - we may be seeing him soon.
The moment Junior unfortunately pulled up...
64: Chance for Chelsea...
Could be 2-0.
Pedro calmly lays off Hazard who is in space in the box, he's leaning backwards and blazes over.
If he had his balance, it could've been 2-0.
63: Sub for us...
It's enforced.
Junior wet driving with the ball and quickly pulled up.
Not good!
Pughie is on for him.
53: Just over!
We get a break when Stanislas gets it on the edge and Ibe picks it up.
He shifts it onto his left foot, strikes firmly at goal, it deflects slightly off Rudiger and it flew narrowly over.
That's close!
GOAL for Chelsea.
Hazard scores.
He always scores here.
A ball over the top from Morata allows Hazard to get in the area and he fires one in at the near post.
Soft goal that. 1-0 down.
48: Sighter for Lewis Cook...
A good start to the half.
Stanislas picks out Lewis Cook who tries his luck from 25-yards.
It whizzes over, but better from us.
45: First sub at half-time...
JD is off for us.
Ibe is on, might be a tactical thing, not sure though.
More of a 4-3-3 now with Junior out on the left, Ibe on the right.
Come on lads!
HALF TIME
Well, I think Eddie Howe's gameplan has worked.
Stay in the game for as long as possible, and that's been achieved so far.
It's tight and its tense, Chelsea probably should be a goal ahead, but it's goalless at the interval.
43: Great block!
Another Chelsea move sees Pedro get down the line, he cuts it back to his Spanish team mate Fabregas.
The midfielder looks set to score from close range but Steve Cook makes an excellent block, hurling himself at it twice to ensure that the Chelsea man didn't open the scoring.
39: Unlucky!
A great corner routine sees Surman play Francis in behind with a great pass.
Franno opts not to shoot when well placed but lashes it across the face and there's bodies in the box, but a Chelsea man just nicks it away!
Great stuff from us, encouraging!
Benik is battling hard up top...
34: Great save!!
Very good play from Chelsea around the box sees Morata get free and he gets a free yard in the box to strike and it looks like it's going in...
... but for Begovic in goal! A top save with his left arm when it looked like the opener was coming. Could be crucial!
30: Chance...
Another swift Chelsea break sees Hazard cleverly pull back for Zappacosta, but his powerful strike in the box was well blocked.
Good defending.
27: Ball in the net... OFFSIDE!
Chelsea put the ball in but it's flagged immediately.
A short corner is played to Luiz on the edge, he shoots and it takes a nick, but Morata diverts it into the net from close range.
Looking at a replay, we could be quite lucky!
24: What a chance for Chelsea...
A defensive mix-up - Begovic miscues a kick which sees Hazard pick the ball up and slip in Morata.
The Spaniard has the whole goal to pick his spot from close range but diverts it wide.
Look up the phrase 'let-off' in the dictionary, this was it.
Huge huge chance.
We're battling well in this first-half so far!
17: Blocked!
A great move!
Afobe, Cook and Smith combine to great effect, Afobe tees up Daniels who gives it him back in the box but the striker has an effort well blocked.
Threatening from us!
13: A chance...
What a pass from Rudiger.
He pings a ball from 70-yards which finds Pedro.
His touch is excellent and he looks set to blast one in the box, but Ake was there to slide in expertly to pinch it off Pedro and our for a goal kick.
Top defending.
09: Early sighter for Pedro...
Chelsea's winger steams inside at searing pace, beating two players.
He gets to the edge of the box but blasts harmlessly over.
Blistering pace though, something for us to watch out for.
07: Early danger...
... but good defending from Steve Cook.
Luiz zinged a 70-yard ball which swerved and found Pedro, and his cross was accurate towards Morata in the middle but Cookie was there to throw himself at it and stop a free header for the Spaniard.
We're underway...
After a minute's silence to remember our fallen war heroes, Alvaro Morata gets us underway.
We'll attack the Ted MacDougall Colmar Construction Stand as usual in this first half.
Come on lads!
The teams are out...
A few friendly handshakes with Asmir and Nathan, our former Chelsea men, but it's down to business now.
Go on lads!
The warm ups are over...
And we're almost ready for tonight!
Ten minutes to kick off...
Andrew Surman...
Is a goal machine!
In the warm up he's just bagged three, two on his right foot!
That'd do nicely Surs today!
There's a big game feel here...
The floodlights begin to light, and the BT Sport crew are out in force.
The warm ups continue over on the far side as we keep the ball in a possession drill.
The ground is filling up nicely too, a big atmosphere expected!
Did you know...
If JD scores today, it will be the 200th league goal of his long career!
He's in from the off and looked threatening against Leicester and Spurs.
Could it be a day to remember for him?
A threat from deep?
Cesar Azpilicueta has been involved in five goals this Premier League season, which is more than any other defender.
He'll play centre-back today, could he be an influence from the back?
The manager in his pre-match interview...
Here's how Chelsea line up...
A devastating front three - Eden Hazard, Pedro and Alvaro Morata all start.
They'll also play five at the back, with Davide Zappacosta and Marcos Alonso looking to bomb on and cause us problems.
Courtois; Azpilicueta (c), David Luiz, Rudiger; Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Pedro, Morata, Hazard.
Excellent stuff pitchside from Jake Humphrey!
The boss...
Gives some motivational words in his pre-match interview.
"We're buoyed by the week we've had, and hopefully we can finish that off today. On our day, we're a match for anyone."
Well said!
Our team...
There's two changes from Stoke.
It looks like we'll play a similar way to the game against Spurs from the looks of the formation.
JD returns to play his first game since that Spurs game, his first start since the home game with Leicester City.
Benik keeps his place after an impressive performance against Stoke City, with Steve Cook returning to the starting XI.
Begovic; Francis, S.Cook, Ake; A Smith, L. Cook, Surman, Daniels; Stanislas; Afobe, Defoe.
Team news...
Who's going to start for the visitors?
Well, there's a few selection dilemmas for Antonio Conte.
Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko have been the combination Conte has used in recent weeks due to injuries in that position.
Elsewhere, Michy Batshuayi could be in contention from the off, after impressing against Watford.
He scored twice, meaning that since the start of last season, only Olivier Giroud (seven) has scored more goals as a substitute in the Premier League than the Chelsea man (five).
An update from the camp...
Andrew Surman did the pre-match Premier League interview against Stoke City.
So, being superstitious, he's done it today!
Here's what the vice-captain had to say...
"Wins create confidence that's for sure. Hopefully if we can create chances like we have done this season and take them, then we have every chance against Chelsea tonight."
Well said, Surs.
One to watch...
Is Pedro the key man for Chelsea this evening?
The former Barcelona man has been directly involved in more goals for Chelsea in all competitions in 2017 than any other player – he’s been involved in 21 goals, with nine assists in total.
Playmaker.
The finishing touches...
We're supporting Poppy Legion today!
With this being our closest home game to Remembrance Sunday, we're supporting the Poppy Legion today on our shirts and around the ground this afternoon.
What can we expect from today?
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer took the time to speak to afcb.co.uk this week to assess where tonight's opponents Chelsea are at.
From what Mark says, we should be confident!
"It’s definitely been a challenging time for Chelsea, for Antonio Conte and for his players. It’s been well documented that there were a lot of people unsettled at the club.
"The manager has been a bit frustrated over the lack of dealings in the transfer window and he’s also said that he feels that they’re quite a bit off the pace in terms of strengthening and trying to compete with the likes of Manchester City.
"All of a sudden, after two bad results, there’s almost like a mini crisis at Chelsea and that’s the nature of being a big club in the Premier League."
In the dugout...
A shameless programme plug here, but if you're around the ground, you have to read Italian football expert James Horncastle's feature on Antonio Conte.
Here's a snippet...
"People in Italy were not surprised last season, because they think Antonio Conte is the best manager in the world - not just out of pride but because they've seen it with their own eyes."
High praise.
Team news...
The manager kindly provided us with some early team news yesterday.
He confirmed that a very late decision will be made on Joshua King, who has a back injury following illness, while fellow striker Jermain Defoe is back in contention.
There's some headaches for the boss for sure - we'll bring you the team news before anyone else at 4.30pm!
It's matchday...
Lets do this! Welcome to our matchday blog, where we'll bring you all the build up and match action as Eddie Howe's man take on the current Premier League champions, Chelsea!
As it stood