Independent:
Malouda lifts cloud hanging over Ancelotti
Chelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 0
By Sam Wallace at Stamford Bridge
It was the narrowest, most nerve-racking of victories but for Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea's win last night looked just about enough for him to appease his exacting Russian master. It took a controversial goal that Owen Coyle said should not have stood, it required a certain good fortune in their own penalty area but Chelsea have finally won their first Premier League game since 10 November. Ancelotti can only hope that somewhere in the Caribbean, Roman Abramovich considers a tight win over Bolton Wanderers as an acceptable result. The game turned on a very tight decision by World Cup linesman Darren Cann who ruled that Didier Drogba was not off-side when Michael Essien played him through on goal on the hour to cross for Florent Malouda to score. "Ultimately, we've been done with a huge decision that I believe was off-side," said Coyle who, like most in the stadium, had not had the benefit of a replay.
In real time, Drogba looked onside and it should be said that Cann is the best in the business when it comes to the tough calls. His mistakes are rare although there was one in Bolton's 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic in October in the build-up to Hugo Rodallega's goal and Coyle had not forgotten it. Coyle said "I've just seen it [last night's decision] in real time. But if I'm wrong, I'd be the first to hold my hands up. I know who he [Cann] is because I had him earlier in the season at Wigan and their goal was clearly offside. There you go. He is a fantastic official." For Chelsea the details did not matter, it was enough that they moved back to fourth place and, for all those dreadful results this month, they are just four points off the leaders Manchester United, who have played one game fewer. Most importantly it lifts the cloud over Ancelotti who has looked like a man tap-dancing on the brink for some time. Booed off at half-time by some elements in the crowd – more frustration than derision – Ancelotti's players showed great character to turn the game around. Drogba hit the post four minutes after half-time and rather than that moment derailing Chelsea, it proved the stepping stone to their win. Ancelotti acknowledged that his team are a long way from their best. "We know the game was not easy. We needed to fight the long ball, we did very well to control [Kevin] Davies and [Johan] Elmander. We lost some passes in the first half. We were a little bit afraid but this is normal because there was pressure in this game.
The second half was better. "It is normal [to be nervous] when the moment is not good. It is impossible to stay calm. If you are a little bit nervous, you have motivation to win the game. We are not at our best: the best condition, the best confidence, the best atmosphere. We can improve. We have to improve and I hope 2011 will be the same as 2010 [in terms of trophies]." In the first half, the nerves showed. The nadir was a dreadful free-kick hit by Drogba that was so off target it did not even go out for a goal-kick. Nicolas Anelka, back in the side having missed the Arsenal game, could not get in the game. Coyle's team had the better chances in the first half. Then after the break Frank Lampard threaded a beauty of a ball through to Drogba on the right and his shot hit the post. In the build-up to the goal, Essien bulldozed through Elmander and Stuart Holden before splitting the Bolton defence with a pass. It was a very marginal decision to call Drogba onside but it looked right. He crossed to Malouda to score. Holden had a shot against John Terry's arm which would have been a very harsh penalty. Coyle thought it was. "I was here last year and we had two stonewall penalties. I think one of them, Didier Drogba was playing volleyball with it so I certainly wasn't going to get that one [last night]." Holden had a header tipped over by Cech. The goalkeeper dropped the subsequent corner and Drogba dribbled Elmander's shot off the line. Dramatic stuff, but not half as dramatic for Chelsea as it could have been had they not won this game.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa (Ferreira, 90), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Essien, Lampard; Anelka (Kalou, 90), Drogba, Malouda. Substitutes not used Turnbull (gk), Van Aanholt, Bruma, Kakuta, McEachran.
Bolton Wanderers (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Moreno (Klasnic, 72), Muamba, Holden (M Davies, 82), Taylor (Petrov, 78); K Davies, Elmander. Substitutes not used Bogdan (gk), Blake, Alonso. Referee M Jones (Cheshire) Attendance 40,982.
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Telegraph:
Chelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 0
Henry Winter
After the big chill, a welcome thaw spread through the Bridge shortly after 9pm on Wednesday. After all the frustrations, the six Premier League games without a win, and too many misplaced balls here, Chelsea finally escaped the icy grip of a midwinter crisis of confidence. They may never find Didier Drogba’s almost comically bad first-half free-kick, last seen hurtling towards Parsons Green, but they found some things far more precious on Wednesday night: a goal, a belief, a brighter future. Florent Malouda supplied the moment of nirvana on the hour, stroking home Drogba’s cross to howls of “offside” from Bolton, and suddenly Carlo Ancelotti’s team resembled more the Chelsea of old. Suddenly there was a greater purpose in their movements, greater precision in their passing. Bolton, who will play worse and win, tried to equalise, pressing hard, but Chelsea stood firm until a final whistle greeted wildly by the home fans. If this was a victory for the players, it was also a deserved triumph for the supporters, who seemed intent from the very first whistle to lift the spirits of nervy players who had not won in the League since Nov 10. A few boos seeped out at the break but the mood was one of unity, the terraces showing their backing for the team throughout. When Ramires, occasionally castigated for failing to settle quickly in the Rollerball world of the Premier League, made a vital clearing header shortly before Malouda’s goal, the Bridge erupted in a huge cheer. You could see the Brazilian grow in confidence, finishing strongly. If this was a success for players and supporters, it was of particular poignancy for Ancelotti. For the past few weeks the Chelsea manager has cut an increasingly isolated figure, losing his No 2 Ray Wilkins and seemingly undermined. People have forgotten too quickly that Ancelotti masterminded the Double last season, has won the Champions League twice as a coach and has had to work within straitened times at Chelsea this season. A dignified man, the Italian has never complained about the closing in of the walls around him but these past few weeks have been dispiriting, testing his character. For an hour on Wednesday night, Ancelotti resembled a man with all the woes of the world on his shoulders. As his defence struggled to keep Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies at bay, as passes were overhit, Ancelotti stood there, arms folded, looking helpless at the stuttering performance unfolding in front of him. The Italian’s body language was unconvincing, echoing his programme notes in which he thanked fans “for your support in a year I will never forget”. Here is a man who needs more support from on high, who had needed senior players like Malouda and John Terry to stand up for him on Wednesday night. They did. Frank Lampard made a welcome return to Bridge duties, his mere presence drawing a delighted response from Chelsea fans, one of whom waved a banner declaring “Lampard Is A Legend”. Still short of sharpness, still shaking off the rust following injury, Lampard is feeling his way back to fitness but the eye for a pass remains. Lampard and company had to negotiate an awkward hour first.
Sensing the uncertainty, Coyle’s side played slightly more direct than usual. At one point, Bolton really sped down Route One. Jussi Jaaskelainen drilled a long ball forward, Davies beat Branislav Ivanovic in the air and Elmander suddenly had the ball. Only Terry’s refusal to yield any ground rescued Chelsea, the centre-half throwing his head in where Elmander’s studs were glistening under the floodlights. Still Bolton kept pressing Chelsea, kept forcing mistakes. Sam Ricketts’s angled delivery to the far post completely bemused Jose Bosingwa, gifting a chance to Matthew Taylor, who shot just wide. Still Chelsea struggled. Ivanovic was cautioned for tugging back Elmander, although Bolton were hardly shrinking violets. Paul Robinson went in late and hard on Michael Essien, catching the midfielder’s trailing leg. Another sign of Bolton’s belief came when Ricketts ran at Ashley Cole and calmly nutmegged the England left-back. Chelsea had to improve. A hint of their raised tempo came when Drogba struck a post shortly after the re-start. Chelsea fans willed their players on, giving that vote of confidence to Ramires and others.
Finally, they stepped up a gear. Nicolas Anelka released Essien through the middle, the Ghanaian swapping passes with Lampard before unleashing a low shot saved by Jaaskelainen. And then a moment of pure joy for Chelsea. Lampard ushered Essien to charge through the middle again. Essien released Drogba as Bolton screamed for offside. Darren Cann, the World Cup final linesman whose reading of offsides was hailed by Fifa in South Africa, kept his flag down. On Drogba raced before playing it across for the unmarked Malouda to tap home. As Chelsea celebrated, Bolton’s players vented their anger at Cann. Taylor and Robinson raced across to berate the linesman. Coyle, hiding his frustration, reacted with dignity, nipping down the touchline to wave his players away. Bolton soon channelled their anger more legitimately, pouring forward towards Chelsea’s goal. Cech tipped over a header from Holden, whose shot then appeared to hit Terry’s hand. Chelsea responded. Essien’s powerful header was cleared off the line by Zat Knight. Ivanovic, usually so deadly in the air, headed the loose ball over. Cole then forced Jaaskelainen into a sprawling save. And then came the final whistle, allowing Chelsea to look forward more confidently to 2011.
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Sun:
Chelsea 1 Bolton 0
IT was not pretty and it certainly was not convincing. But it is any port in a storm for Chelsea right now and a case of 'never mind the quality, look at the scoreline'. Even if the winning goal did come with a slice of good fortune. Florent Malouda's 61st-minute strike brought some much-needed breathing space for Carlo Ancelotti and ended any idea of Roman Abramovich cutting short his New Year celebrations in the Caribbean. It was just about enough to secure Chelsea's first win in seven games and end their worst run of results since Gianluca Vialli was sacked back in 1999. But it certainly was not the resounding victory the club were crying out for as they edged their way back into the top four. Ancelotti's men are still four points behind leaders Manchester United and have now played a game more than their rivals. That is by no means an unassailable lead considering all the crazy results we have seen already this season. Yet it will still be a huge test of Ancelotti's managerial skills to retain the Blues' Premier League crown from here. It was not so long ago that this fixture would have been a guaranteed home win. After all, Bolton had not won in their previous 14 games against Chelsea and had lost their last five in a row. But there is no such thing as a foregone conclusion at Stamford Bridge any more and the days when opponents were beaten before Chelsea even kicked off are a distant memory. No wonder Ancelotti's neck is on the block and it is hard to feel too much sympathy for the Italian.
Ancelotti has made a very lucrative career out of never rocking the boat, surviving eight years under the overbearing Silvio Berlusconi at AC Milan before signing his £6million-a-year contract at Chelsea. And he has adopted a similar line of passive resistance with Abramovich, barely raising an eyebrow when the Russian decided to decimate his squad in the summer, then sack assistant manager Ray Wilkins last month. But if Ancelotti thought he was settling for the easy life, he is now paying the price as he tries to get his team back on track with the weakest squad of all the title challengers. For even with the likes of Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Malouda all desperately out of sorts, Chelsea simply cannot afford to take their stars out of the firing line. Abramovich has spent an absolute fortune on the club's youth academy but, with the exception of 17-year-old Josh McEachran, the production line has been pitifully slow. So he is understandably reluctant to bankroll a return to the crazy days of spend, spend, spend - particularly with a new World Cup stadium to pay for in Russia. With such a pall of gloom enshrouding the Bridge, it was no wonder the Trotters could hardly wait to roll up their sleeves and get stuck into the fading champions. And Ancelotti was never going to get any sympathy from opposite number Owen Coyle, whose resources are so stretched that he could name only six substitutes last night.
If Chelsea are the Premier League's great under-achievers this season, there can be no doubt that Bolton are exceeding all expectations. They arrived in London breathing down Chelsea's necks and aiming to finish the year higher in the Premier League table than their illustrious rivals. And it was clear right from the off that they fancied their chances of snatching that fifth place. They were certainly the better team in a dreadful first half, memorable only for Drogba's comical free-kick which flew out for a throw-in on the far side of the pitch without even bouncing. But at least Ancelotti's men emerged after the interval with a renewed sense of purpose and finally got their act together within four minutes of the restart. Inevitably, it was a superb through ball from Frank Lampard which finally opened up the resolute Bolton defence. Chelsea have been pinning so much hope on Lampard's long-awaited return from injury that it is surprising the England midfielder has not buckled under the weight of expectation. But there was nothing laboured about his pass to Drogba which ended with the striker rolling a shot against the far post with Jussi Jaaskelainen beaten. It was the sort of blow which could have crushed Chelsea's fragile confidence. Yet, to their eternal credit, they refused to accept their fate and finally took the lead just after the hour mark with a touch of fortune that could just turn around their own luck. Essien shrugged off two meaty challenges in the middle of the park and threaded a ball through for Drogba to chase. Bolton's defence momentarily paused in the hope of an offside flag - and TV replays showed they had a point. But the linesman kept his flag down and the Ivorian had time to calm himself and roll a pass across goal for Malouda to thump home.
The roar of relief almost lifted the roof off the Matthew Harding Stand but there were still plenty more anxious moments before Chelsea could celebrate a long-overdue victory. Petr Cech was forced into a flying save to keep out Stuart Holden's header and Drogba scrambled the ball off the line from Johan Elmander. Gary Cahill headed just wide and the visitors also had a late penalty shout rejected when Holden's shot struck John Terry on the arm. But Chelsea could also have had more in the closing minutes, with Fabrice Muamba clearing off the line from Essien and Jaaskelainen saving well from Ashley Cole. It might not be crisis over. But at least it is crisis delayed.
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Mail:
Chelsea 1 Bolton 0:
Carlo Ancelotti gets lucky as Florent Malouda ends the champions' year on a winning note
By Matt Barlow
Offside? Who cares. That was the look on Carlo Ancelotti's face after Chelsea stopped a run of six winless games with a very streaky victory. Owen Coyle and his Bolton players cared quite a lot, judging from their furious reaction to Florent Malouda's 61st-minute winner. World Cup final linesman Darren Cann might have raised his flag to halt the attack which led to the winner because Didier Drogba looked offside as he burst clear and crossed for Malouda. Instead, he kept it down by his side. Paul Robinson, booked as he disputed the goal, was still ranting about the decision after the final whistle and Gary Cahill was busy in the referee's ear as the teams came off the pitch. On such tense occasions the tiniest fractions can prove significant and, when things are starting to look desperate, you need an element of fortune.On a high: Florent Malouda skips over Bolton keeper goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen after scoring the only goal of the game at Stamford Bridge As the visitors fumed, relief washed around Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had won in the Barclays Premier League for the first time since November 10. They were back in the Champions League places, four points behind leaders Manchester United, and Arsenal had been held at Wigan. There were also signs in the final half-hour that Ancelotti's team were starting to find their stride again and they finished the game with a flurry which could have brought more goals. Nevertheless, he reacted with caution. 'We have to wait for the next game,' said Chelsea's Italian manager. 'This victory was a very important step but I am not sure everything will now be OK. We have to improve. We have to play better. We needed the win. The most important thing was to change the atmosphere, to change the trend, get back to winning. The League is open again.
'I try to give confidence to the players. They are fantastic players. They have done fantastically here. This was the last game of this year. We have to have very good memories of this year. We did a fantastic job and it is good to finish this year with a victory.' Despite the encouraging signs, Ancelotti can reflect on a first-half struggle against Bolton, when nerves plagued his players and the performance was littered with errors. They were jeered off at half-time when they were lucky to be level. John Terry had made two brave interventions in his own penalty area to thwart the visitors and Jussi Jaaskelainen had barely had a save to make. One moment from Didier Drogba summed it all up when he took aim with a free-kick on the left, intending to curl it at goal, but fired it out of touch on the opposite flank.
Added pressure comes from a yellow card for Branislav Ivanovic, his fifth of the season, which means he will be suspended against Aston Villa on Sunday. Ancelotti will have to choose between teenager Jeffrey Bruma and full-back Paulo Ferreira to fill the void.
He is right to fear his problems may not end with 2010 and it is hard to believe it is only seven months since the Blues won the title by thrashing Wigan 8-0 at Stamford Bridge. But Ancelotti will be heartened by the consistent form of Terry since his return from injury and signs last night that Frank Lampard and Michael Essien were finding some rhythm again. It was Lampard, on his first appearance at Stamford Bridge since August, who brought Chelsea to life with his wonderful vision and precision pass to release Drogba early in the second half. It looked a certain goal as the Ivory Coast striker side-footed the chance first time past Jaaskelainen but the ball thudded into the base of the post and Zat Knight hoisted it clear.
Ancelotti looked to the sky but the near-miss injected his team with greater urgency, a quicker tempo and more control. Then his luck turned when Drogba darted on to Essien's pass and Malouda converted his low cross at the back post. Malouda raced down the touchline in frenzied celebration as Bolton went berserk. 'Ultimately, we've been done with a huge decision that I believe was offside,' said Coyle. 'My players were frustrated by the decision. I had to go down to the touchline to get them away because the decision had been given. We had to concentrate.'
The Bolton manager had left Stamford Bridge after a 1-0 defeat in April in similar mood, branding Drogba 'a world-class volleyball player' after two strong penalty appeals had been turned down. His frame of mind did not improve when Stuart Holden crashed a shot into Terry's arm and referee Mike Jones played on. Then Holden was denied by a fingertip save by Petr Cech in the final minutes. 'I thought the shot was going in,' said Coyle. 'All I would say is that sometimes they are given and sometimes they are not. Did John Terry intentionally try to handle the ball? I'm not so sure but what I do know is that if that had happened at the other end, it might very well have been a penalty.'
Coyle had criticised Cann after disputing a decision in a 1-1 draw against Wigan in October. 'I know who he is because I had him earlier in the season and their goal was clearly offside,' said the Bolton boss. 'He's a fantastic official. And I don't envy them their jobs but the reason they are in charge of World Cup finals and everything else is because they are believed to be real quality. 'But I just look at the progress we have made. If somebody had said to me that we'd be coming to Chelsea with a chance to leapfrog them, they'd have probably taken me away in a straitjacket. There's a lot to be pleased about.'
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Guardian:
Florent Malouda lightens Chelsea's mood with winner against Bolton
Chelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 0
David Hytner at Stamford Bridge
The nightmare is by no means over for Carlo Ancelotti but at least the cold sweats might not have gripped him tonight. Having said that his faltering Chelsea team needed to "wake up", in light of their dismal recent run, he watched them sleepwalk their way through the first half of what was a must-win game. When the boos grumbled around the ground at half-time, it was easy to fear the worst for Ancelotti, despite the club's desire to stand four-square behind him. His team had looked creatively bankrupt, their confidence seemingly in tatters. Yet a second-half revival cut through the tension. Florent Malouda's tap-in sparked fury in the Bolton Wanderers camp, who argued that Didier Drogba had been offside in the build-up. Yet it was priceless to the champions as it provided a first league win in seven and lifted them back up to fourth place. There had been wobbles before the goal and there was time for a few more after it, with Bolton claiming they should have had a penalty for a handball by John Terry following Stuart Holden's shot, but Chelsea got the job done. The convincing performances can wait. This was a night when the result meant everything. "Obviously we needed to win because we needed to change the atmosphere, change the trend," Ancelotti said. "We were a little bit afraid but this is normal because there was a lot of pressure on the players. We are not at our best in terms of condition, performance and atmosphere. We can improve and we have to improve. "The victory was a very important step but I am not sure that everything will now be OK. We have to wait. The important thing was to come back to winning. The goal took a weight off our shoulders. I don't know if it was offside and I am not interested." Bolton's manager Owen Coyle felt that his team had "controlled the game for periods", and there was little doubt that they had been in charge for the bulk of the first half. Terry, the man of the match and an inspiration for Chelsea when the chips were down, was required to make last-ditch interventions to deny Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander while Matthew Taylor dragged a clear-cut chance wide of the far post.
Chelsea groped for ideas and inspiration in the first half. It was not pretty. With Gary Cahill standing up strongly to Drogba, and Nicolas Anelka and Malouda peripheral, Ancelotti endured that helpless feeling. Chelsea's first-half efforts were summed up by a Drogba free-kick, close to the left-hand corner of the area. He ballooned it high and so wide that it rolled out for a throw-in on the far side. Chelsea stepped on to the front foot as the half wore on, but they were one-paced and laboured. Jussi Jaaskelainen was a virtual spectator in the Bolton goal. Darkening the mood further was Branislav Ivanovic's booking for a foul on Elmander, his fifth of the season. He will be suspended for Aston Villa's visit on Sunday. But Ancelotti could take heart from the showing after the interval. He and his players were desperate for any sort of touchstone. The fervent hope at Stamford Bridge was that the second 45 minutes contained one. Chelsea sparked when Frank Lampard released Drogba and he sent a low, first-time shot against the far post. Shades of purpose and urgency returned as Chelsea's midfielders imposed themselves, particularly Michael Essien.
Then it happened. Essien bulldozed through two challenges and rolled the ball through for Drogba. As Darren Cann, a World Cup final linesman, kept his flag down, Drogba squared low across the box and Malouda stabbed home. His frenzied celebrations highlighted the relief. "Ultimately we've been done by a huge decision that I believe was offside," said Coyle, who also felt Cann had wronged him in October by allowing Hugo Rodallega's goal in a 1-1 draw at Wigan Athletic, despite claims that there had been an offside in the build-up. "We could also have had a penalty," Coyle continued, "but we were here last season and we had two stonewall penalties [turned down]. Drogba was playing volleyball on one of them so I certainly wasn't going to get that tonight …" Sam Ricketts skied a glorious chance to equalise and Holden forced Petr Cech into a finger-tip save while at the other end Fabrice Muamba cleared an Essien header off the line and Ivanovic headed the rebound over.
Chelsea had done enough.
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Mirror:
Chelsea 1-0 Bolton:
Chelsea 1-0 Bolton:
By Darren Lewis
Chelsea were desperate for a win, any kind of win, to remind them of what it felt like to emerge from a Premier League contest as the better team. That run of just six points from an available 24 - eight games - was their worst since December 1999 and had chipped away steadily at their title chances. Suddenly, however, they are just four points behind leaders Manchester United with a home game against Aston Villa - the side that everyone likes to beat - to come on Sunday. And if that doesn't continue the Blues' resurgence then nothing will. Boss Carlo Ancelotti spoke after this win of the victory being like a weight being lifted off his shoulders. The Italian, one of only two managers to have survived an entire season in charge of Chelsea since Roman Abramovich took over in 2003, spoke of needing the points to change the atmosphere around the club. He also stressed the importance for his players of remaining calm and staying focused to continue their recovery. The failure of both United and Arsenal to pile on the pressure over the past 48 hours will have placed a greater emphasis on what would be a remarkable comeback if - having dropped so many points - Chelsea seize on this lifeline to reel in the leaders. Not since United in the 1992/3 season has a team stumbled so many times and yet gone on to lift the coveted trophy.
Victory last night, however, has given Chelsea at least a sliver of a chance of doing so with Ancelotti almost certain to go into the January transfer market to sign a defender and another striker. It is incredible to think that Ancelotti's men hit 21 goals in five fantastic games to kick off the season yet had scored just 11 in their subsequent 13 going into this contest. Ancelotti must now move for the quality up front that will give his squad the depth and the competition they need not to make this another false dawn. Bolton's Gary Cahill remains a live candidate to reinforce the backline that has dropped five points at home in the League so far - as many as they did in the whole of last season. The 25-year-old was again polished last night and was unlucky to end up on the losing side as Bolton fell victim to a controversial decision that cost them the match. Didier Drogba looked miles offside as he was found by Michael Essien's through ball on 61 minutes. Linesman Darren Cann kept his flag down. Drogba raced clear and squared the ball for Florent Malouda to tap into an empty net. Cue pandemonium. The Bolton players remonstrated with Cann and refused to calm down. TV replays, however showed Drogba to be marginally on. Malouda's celebration, meanwhile, said it all. Wild and impetuous, he raced to the Blues' bench, hugged anyone that threw an arm around him then punched the air. Yet there was still work to do for him and his fragile team-mates. Indeed, Sam Ricketts would have equalised from inside the box had he kept his composure on 63 minutes.
Stuart Holden should have had a penalty two minutes later when his goal-bound effort hit the arm of John Terry with the Chelsea captain turning away. Cahill headed a Taylor free-kick from the left wide of the post shortly after that. And minutes later Petr Cech pushed a spectacular Holden header over the bar. Drogba was even forced cleared off the line from striker Johan Elmander after Cech flapped at the resulting corner. But this was one occasion on which Chelsea stood firm. Their relief at full time, at their first win in seven games was palpable. Ancelotti later declared the title race wide open. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea can return to the side that made it a procession early on.
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Star:
CHELSEA 1 - BOLTON 0 -
CARLO ANCELOTTI GETS LIFT AS BLUES SNEAK HOME
By David Woods
FLORENT MALOUDA brought some desperately-needed cheer to Chelsea last night. The out-of-touch Frenchman struck in the 61st minute with the Blues’ first serious attempt on goal. It was also Malouda’s first league goal in 10 games – and how boss Carlo Ancelotti needed this first win in seven league games since the November 10 victory over Fulham. Winger Malouda tapped in after Michael Essien sent Didier Drogba bursting clear down the right. Angry Bolton felt Drogba was offside, but replays suggested he timed his run to perfection. His square ball for Malouda to sidefoot home was spot-on, too. Until then Chelsea had been pretty dismal. Ancelotti has had trouble sleeping lately and for long periods last night watching his team was enough to send you into a deep slumber. This is one Italian with a real job on his hands – to bring some colour back to the Blues. The mental scars from Monday’s 3-1 humbling by Arsenal were apparent as the champs continued to play like chumps. Having dropped out of the top four 24 hours earlier after Tottenham beat Newcastle, John Terry and Co knew a defeat by Owen Coyle’s Bolton would send them down to sixth. You would never have guessed it as Ancelotti’s team produced a tepid first-half display in which they failed to trouble Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Christmas is a time for big-production mysteries on TV.
It would take the combined talents of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot to get to the bottom of what has happened at Stamford Bridge. How can a Double-winning team start the season scoring 21 goals in five league matches, then manage just 11 in the next 13 going into this game. Ancelotti made three changes to the team who lost at the Emirates, bringing in Ramires, Jose Bosingwa and Nicolas Anelka for John Obi Mikel, Paulo Ferreira and Salomon Kalou. But Chelsea were unimpressive from the start, with their nerves being typified by a sliced Terry clearance in the 12th minute which was perilously close to teeing up Stuart Holden. Terry had to be at his alert best to stoop down to block Johan Elmander after he looked set to pounce on a Kevin Davies knock-on. In the 18th minute their awful football was illustrated perfectly by Drogba trying to bend in a free-kick from an acute angle on the right. Instead he sliced it away from goal, with the ball soaring high to the other side of the pitch for a throw-in. With nothing going right it was easy to see the champions as a side packed with ageing talent with their best days behind them – Drogba, Terry, Anelka, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard are all over 30. Chelsea were fortunate to escape in the 23rd minute when Sam Ricketts delivered a cross from the right and Bosingwa’s attempted clearance was woeful, glancing straight to Matt Taylor. The midfielder had a sight of goal and drilled just wide. Seconds later another Jaaskelainen punt found Davies’ head. He set up Elmander, who only half- connected with an attempted volley, allowing Essien to block. Branislav Ivanovic was booked for pulling back Elmander, giving the home support a little something to shout about.
The atmosphere was so quiet it was easy to hear Terry telling a team-mate to be ‘on his heels’ for a Bolton throw. Ricketts nutmegged Cole, with the move leading to another chance for Taylor, whose left-foot curler would have proved difficult for Petr Cech had it dropped earlier. A second Malouda pass went for a goal-kick sparking more groans. Ancelotti, wearing a black raincoat, kept his hands dug into his pockets and more resembled a mourner at a funeral, rather than a manager on the touchline. Taylor was booked for a foul on Ramires, sparking a cheer by Chelsea fans. In the 49th Chelsea did at least look dangerous. A defence-splitting Lampard pass put Drogba in the clear and his side-footed shot looked all over a goal. Instead it clipped the inside of Jaaskelainen’s right post and was booted clear by Zat Knight. After Malouda struck Chelsea still looked jittery and Bolton had claims for a penalty when a Holden shot hit Terry’s arm.
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