Chelsea look to settle early nerves against Sunderland

Carlo Ancelotti was rewarded with a win in his first Premier League outing as boss of Chelsea, but the Blues left it late as they needed a double from Didier Drogba to defeat Hull 2-1 at Stamford Bridge - the second goal of which was scored deep into injury time. He'll be looking for a more fluid performance tonight as the Blues take on Sunderland.

German midfielder Michael Ballack has said that the players will need time to adapt to Ancelotti's new diamond midfield formation, saying: "Tactically things are different for us but it depends how you implement a new system," and insisted that the players would have to make it work. Ballack, Drogba and Frank Lampard are all likely to start tonight.

Their opponents tonight at the Stadium of Light were also playing their first league game under a new manager on Saturday, and Steve Bruce's charges also got off to a positive start, beating Bolton 1-0 away thanks to a goal from debutant Darren Bent. Bruce is sweating on midfielders Steed Malbranque and Kieran Richardson.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYINGMatt Hughes, the Times: "Carlo Ancelotti takes charge of his first Barclays Premier League away match in the unfamiliar surroundings of Sunderland this evening, but the Italian is likely to be more prepared than many would think. The Chelsea manager began scouting potential opponents in England while at AC Milan last season. 'We have a good scouting network and before the game I will have a lot of information about their team,' Ancelotti said. 'In Italy I have seen Hull and Sunderland play on the television. It’s not new to me. Ray Wilkins said Sunderland is a very particular place. He said there is a lot of passion around this team and we will be ready for a difficult game.'"

Jason Burt, Daily Telegraph: "Chelsea, meanwhile, travel to the north-east later, ahead of their match against Sunderland tomorrow night, with striker Didier Drogba warning that they have to win all their home games this season if they are to regain the Premier League title. Drogba, who scored twice in the 2-1 victory over Hull City on Saturday, said: 'To win the league you need to win all your home games and try to make some good results away. Especially, you need to beat teams like Hull City here. That is how you lose the league. I don’t think you lose the league against Manchester United or Liverpool, you lose the league because you are not consistent and you drop some points.'"

Colin Young, Daily Mail:  "Like the rest of the Barclays Premier League, new manager Steve Bruce is well aware of the Kenwyne Jones phenomenon and the talents of a striker Keane signed only as a last resort after missing out on Alan Smith and Mido. Bruce has no idea why Jones appeared to lose his way last season but Cisse’s presence was the main cause. In his first season at the Stadium of Light, Jones’s performance against John Terry so impressed and terrified the Chelsea captain, who returns to Wearside with his team tonight, that he pleaded with his Stamford Bridge bosses to sign the striker." ·