For tonight’s game we have teamed up with Russell from the Chelsea blog Bridge Views.

His answers to our questions are below, the answers I gave him can be found here.

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How do you think we are doing this season? Why?

Without wishing to seem patronising – much better than I would have expected. The run of fifteen or so games without defeat is pretty impressive – most teams in the league would be very happy with that and I guess that has to come down to a combination of a well-balanced squad and a good manager.

Everything seems to have gelled, but I wonder if it’s any coincidence that results have really improved since Karen Brady and co. left the club. Perhaps it’s been a happier camp since they’ve gone…

Who would you see as our player(s) to watch for on Wednesday?

Overall I think it’s been team performances that have made your season so far. If I was to pick out particular players though, Bowyer seems to have been pretty immense up until now, and McFadden is pretty solid. I’ll be looking to Ballack and whoever’s playing at the base of Ancelotti’s diamond to prevent them – particularly McFadden – from linking up with your front line.

The defensive discipline Birmingham showed against us on Boxing Day was immense (although we played into your hands a little), and I suspect it’s there that Birmingham’s main strength lies. If Johnson, Dann and Joe Hart have good games we won’t be carving out too many dangerous chances.

Realistically what do you think we should aim for, and where will we finish?

The recent run means you might be aiming higher, but I still think the main aim for you this season has to be to stay in the league. The Premier League is pretty fickle – one week everything can be going to plan and the next it all goes to pieces. Stay in the league this season – anything more is a bonus – and look to build on it next year, when it looks like there will be more money to invest in the team. All that said, I reckon anywhere between 10th and 15th would be pretty realistic.

And maybe we’ll be playing you again at Wembley in May…

Have you been to St Andrews before, what was your experience?

I actually haven’t been to St. Andrews, but mates who have been say it’s ‘nothing special but ok’. They also suggested Birmingham fans aren’t as intimidating as they used to be – has the atmosphere got a bit more sedate in the last few years?

Is there a priority of the Champions League over the Premier League as some suggest?

We have never won the Champions League before so to lift the trophy in Madrid this year would be pretty special. But, despite that, I think you would be hard-pressed to find a real Chelsea fan who would prioritise it over the league. Being crowned the best team in England is where it’s at.

Who is your biggest competition for the title, United or Arsenal? Why?

Arsenal have embarked on a pretty good run since we beat them 3-0, when it looked like they wouldn’t be able to get back into the title race. They obviously play some great football at times but there are some big flaws in that team that Wenger seems unwilling to solve.

Ever since I’ve started watching football Man Utd have been winning titles – them being up there is just one of those dull, monotonous things you can rely on. People complained that we were dominating English football when we won the league in 2005 and 2006, but how often have Utd picked up the title in the last twenty years?

Without Ronaldo they’re not nearly as threatening going forward, but Rooney is finding some form, they have huge experience and, when they get their defence sorted, they will stop hemorrhaging points. They are more physically and mentally resilient than Arsenal and, if Chelsea win the title, I’d wager it will be with Utd finishing a close second.

Was the 7-2 beating of Sunderland the best Chelsea performance of the season or were Sunderland just really poor?

If you score seven goals, it’s a special performance. Saying that, Sunderland’s defence had clearly taken the day off.

If I was to pick the best performance of the season, it would have to be the three nil win at the Emirates. The media was bigging up Arsenal as potential title challengers, and it felt like most were championing the cause of Wenger’s supposed young footballing geniuses. As it was, the game was a Chelsea masterclass in power, skill and effectiveness from front to back, and Drogba was simply unplayable. A good day.

Who’s been your player of the season so far?

No question really – it would have to be Didier Drogba. He might not have had much of a game up at St. Andrews, but there’s barely been a game this season where he hasn’t been the best player on the pitch. I think in total he’s scored 19 goals and made 7 assists. Overall, before he went off to the African Cup of Nations I think he had single-handedly scored or created 49% of the team’s goals.

Most won’t believe this too, but he’s cleaned up his act a little this season. Aside from Terry and potentially Lampard, there isn’t a player in the squad who takes half as much personal responsibility for getting a result than Drogba.

Prediction for the Birmingham game?

I’d be pretty confident – if it hadn’t been for the game on Boxing Day when we never really looked like getting all three points. But most teams don’t come away from Stamford Bridge with one point, let alone three, so perhaps we’ll steal it. A closely fought one nil.