- Julian Dicks hoping to add to his list of victories over Chelsea on Monday evening
- Terminator scored twice in wins over the Blues during his West Ham United playing career
- Hammers have won their previous two home games against the west London club
Julian Dicks is hoping to add to his bank of fond memories of facing Chelsea when the Blues visit London Stadium on Monday.
West Ham United’s first-team coaching assistant enjoyed a 4-1 First Division win over Chelsea in just his seventh Hammers appearance back in May 1988, while he was part of the side which scored a 1-0 League Cup success against the Pensioners in October 1994.
Dicks completed a hat-trick of victories over the west London club when his thumping header secured a 2-1 Premier League win over the Blues at Stamford Bridge in February 1996, before his penalty helped the Hammers to a 3-2 victory at the Boleyn Ground in March 1997.
On returning to the Club in summer 2015, the Terminator saw West Ham defeat Chelsea 2-1 in the Premier League on their final visit to Upton Park, before guiding the Hammers to an EFL Cup victory over Antonio Conte’s side on their first-ever trip to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Unsurprisingly, the four-time Hammer of the Year enjoys derby dates against the men from SW6.
“I remember beating them 4-1 at Upton Park but the one which sticks out for me is when we beat them 2-1 at Stamford Bridge,” he recalled. “Danny Williamson scored and then I scored a header.
“I remember getting some stick from David Mellor in the few weeks before over the John Spencer incident, so I enjoyed scoring that goal and helping us get the win.
“To be honest, I enjoy the derby matches more than any other, especially under the lights. I always enjoyed facing Chelsea and Tottenham during my playing career and, as a coach, it’s no different.”
I remember beating Chelsea 4-1 at Upton Park but the one which sticks out for me is when we beat them 2-1 at Stamford Bridge
Julian Dicks
While Dicks enjoyed getting one over Chelsea as a player, he knows adding to that list of victories on Monday will be difficult, seeing as Conte’s side are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
“Chelsea are top of the division by a long stretch, they are a good team with some very good players,” Dicks observed. “Listen, we’re going to have to be on our game and give 100 per cent for us to have a chance of winning this game.
“Last year, they were blaming Jose Mourinho and it probably was a factor, but you can see they are all pulling together.
“When we played them in the EFL Cup, they brought on Diego Costa and Eden Hazard and the game changed because they have got so much pace and bring the ball forward so quickly.”