Make-or-break month for AVB

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS, who has only been at Chelsea for 20 weeks after arriving as the prodigal son from Portugal and who has yet to make a real signing of his own, is in serious danger of being home again for Christmas.

The Chelsea boss admitted on Tuesday, following a miserable Carling Cup exit against Liverpool, that the month of December could decide his team’s plight, and ultimately his own, following a frustrating start to the campaign both at home and in Europe.

But he overlooked one crucial factor — a tie against Valencia next week.