Chelsea vs. Sunderland: Lineups & Game Thread

Spring has sprung! Chelsea (and Delta) have even seen fit to entertain the match-going public with stilt walkers. Because all good football matches need a stilt walker or two, right?

And there's random crap like this, too. Sigh.

So, any actual football today? Maybe...

But first, a report from the frontlines, courtesy of Jonathan Wilson. Inverting the buffet spread!

Whoever else is suffering fatigue from 3 games in a wk at Stamford Bridge, the chef isn't. A season's best from the always superb buffet.

— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) April 7, 2013

Well hurray for that.

...

Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
Petr Cech | Ryan Bertrand, David Luiz, Branislav Ivanovic, Cesar Azpilicueta | John Obi Mikel, Ramires | Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Oscar | Demba Ba

Substitutes form: Ross Turnbull, Paulo Ferreira, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Marko Marin, Yossi Benayoun, Fernando Torres

Sunderland starting lineup (4-4-1-1):
Simon Mignolet | Danny Rose, John O'Shea, Matt Kilgallon, Phil Bardsley | Adam Johnson, Alfred N'Diaye, Craig Gardner, Seb Larsson | Stephane Sessegnon | Connor Wickham

Substitutes from: Keiren Westwood, Danny Graham, Jack Colback, James McClean, Kader Mangane, Mikael Mandron, Jordan Laidler

First choice lineup, with the statistically uber-superior defensive pairing, arguably the best pivot, and of course the Three Musketeers behind Demba. Let's do this.