Daws ready for Bridge test

Michael Dawson says the squad is full of confidence ahead of Saturday's huge clash at Chelsea.

The mood is buoyant after back-to-back home victories following a rare blip on the road at Norwich City last time out on our travels - our first away defeat in eight after winning six and drawing one of the previous seven in the Premier League.

Chelsea currently top the Premier League and our record at Stamford Bridge is well-documented.

“It’s been a while since we won at Chelsea but those statistics are there to be broken and we’ll go there in a positive frame of mind,” said Michael.

“We’re looking forward to it. We’ve been really good on the road apart from at Norwich. That was a setback, but we’ve got back to winning ways and we’re full of confidence again.

“Chelsea have players who can hurt you, of course, but we have as well and we have to try to put them on the back foot, force them to defend and stop their attacking players.

“We played well against them earlier in the season, a 1-1 draw, we dominated the first half but to be fair to them, they had a go in the second half and pushed us back. It will be tough, they have top players, sit top of the Premier League and we’ll have to go there and perform well.”

The trip to SW6 kicks-off a mouth-watering run of matches that continues with Portuguese giants Benfica at home in the Europa League Round of 16 on Thursday, Arsenal at the Lane on Sunday week (March 16) and then Benfica away in the second leg on Thursday, March 20. We then face Southampton and a trip to Liverpool.

“These are massive games,” added Michael. “Hopefully we can go to Chelsea and perform well and then you look at Benfica, a top fixture and one we’re looking forward to.

"Then we’re back to White Hart Lane for the North London derby, and there’s no more that needs to be said about that!"