What a bad International break this time round for Chelsea. Forget about the international team, England always flatter to deceive. Nope. Its all about John Terry and Ashley Cole. Terry has been ruled out for a minimum of four weeks with knee trouble and Ash has been ruled out for four weeks with ankle trouble.
With Didier Drogba hogging the headlines telling the World that he wants to leave Chelsea, what else can go wrong?
Chelsea travel to the Riverside with new coach Henk Ten Cate witnessing his first game and the Riverside hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Blues in the last couple of years.
Last season, Sheva scored his first Premiership goal, then Chelsea lost 2-1 with 'Boro scoring twice in the last five minutes. The season before that Chelsea was trounced 3-0.
After today Chelsea return to action at Stamford Bridge for three home matches, first on Wednesday in the Champions League against Schalke 04, followed by Man City in the Premiership, followed by Leicester City in the Carling Cup.
KTBFFH