ISN'T it amazing how quickly fans' expectations about their team change?

Ahead of our battling performance against Liverpool at the Brit, Stoke fans were so down that you felt a narrow defeat would be accepted with little complaint.

In fact we held Liverpool and could have won the match.

Now we have the opposite scenario ahead of our weekend trip to Stamford Bridge, a case of almost too much confidence about our prospects.

Stoke may have a better home record than the Blues, but we have consistently struggled on the road and until recently Chelsea were home bankers for anyone doing the pools.

Those standards may have slipped a little this season, but I hope the confident noises I’m hearing from the likes of Liam Lawrence are not a sign that we’ve underestimated the task at hand.

They are more vulnerable at set pieces, as Southend United proved in midweek in snatching an early lead in their FA Cup tie.

The additions of Etherington and Beattie make us more likely to score from dead ball situations and from open play, which is a reason for a little optimism.

But let’s put this in perspective – it’s Chelsea. Their fans’ dea of worrying is whether a world class midfielder, Deco, can adapt to the English game. Most clubs would love that ‘problem’.

Michael Ballack looked in good form in Wednesday’s 4-1 replay victory at Roots Hall, Nicolas Anelka is banging in the goals and Lampard is hard to keep quiet.

To have any chance on Saturday, Stoke will have to keep the Chelsea full backs busy. They were a major part in the 2-0 defeat at Stoke, Bosingwa getting one of the goals.

Matthew Etherington could do his team a power of good by keeping the Portugese worrying about his defensive duties and exploiting space when Bosingwa goes walkabout.

Beattie’s previous goal scoring record against the Blues is a good sign, but he won’t thrive unless we make the most of the ball when we have it and use the additional pace we have in the team to unsettle Terry and Co.

For purely selfish reasons I need the lads to put in a performance this weekend. Nice as they are, my Chelsea-supporting relatives are bound to rub my nose in it if we suffer a repeat of the thrashing by United.

Do it for me boys…