bolton 1-0

The Times

Nicolas Anelka header takes Chelsea four points clear at the top

Tom Dart


Who would be a pundit in a season such as this, a capricious campaign that has rejected the routine and scorned the expected? The only thing it is safe to assume is that nothing is safe to assume.
Although Chelsea moved four points clear of Manchester United at the head of the Barclays Premier League table, their passage past a sprightly and bold Bolton Wanderers was far less serene than Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, had publicly anticipated when he claimed this match would be “easy” for his rivals.
Some analysts used the comment as proof that the Scot is a fiendish master of mind games, though history and the form guide suggested it would have been equally valid to describe him as a man who states the bleedin’ obvious.
Of course a home game against Bolton should be simple for Chelsea. The two previous fixtures between the clubs — one in the league, one in the Carling Cup, in the space of three days last October — were 4-0 wins for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Bolton last won at Stamford Bridge in December, 2003 — thanks to a 90th-minute own goal from John Terry.
Yet this was far from comfortable, even after Chelsea seized the lead. The result suggests the title is near-certain; the performance tells another tale. It was nervous, not imperious.
Near its conclusion the match was even poised to echo a nightmare from two years ago today. On April 14, 2008, Chelsea were labouring to a 1-0 win over Wigan Athletic when that lethal predator, Emile Heskey, struck in injury time to steal Wigan a point that severely dented Chelsea’s hopes of catching United and taking the title.
As Bolton menaced, a similarly late jolt looked possible right up until the moment that Lee Probert, the referee, ended the contest. A surprise might have come sooner had Probert accepted either of two strong Bolton penalty shouts for handball — the first against Didier Drogba in the first half, the second against Terry after the break. For the second successive match, Chelsea benefited from some laissez-faire officiating.
Chelsea have risen from third in the table and four points behind United three weeks ago — albeit with a game in hand. However, there are trips to White Hart Lane and Anfield ahead and near the end, as Johan Elmander and Ivan Klasnic, two Bolton substitutes, put decent chances narrowly wide and the Stamford Bridge crowd bayed and begged for the final whistle, this seemed less a march towards the title than a tip-toe on tenterhooks.
It transpired that the most dubious piece of pre-match pontificating came not from Ferguson but Kevin Davies, the Bolton striker, on the lack of rapport between Nicolas Anelka and Drogba. “There doesn’t seem to be a great bond when they play together,” Davies said. As Drogba crossed for Anelka to score the winning goal in the first half, theirs did not exactly seem a “bond” in urgent need of repair.
While Chelsea were fluent in attack, their play nearer their own goal was pockmarked with slack passing and poor positioning that gave the visiting team cause for optimism.
Jack Wilshere — on loan at Bolton from Arsenal and therefore especially motivated to stop Chelsea — hinted at the dynamism and delicacy that makes him such a hot prospect. Bolton’s best opportunity of the first half came after 15 minutes. Lee Chung Yong crossed from the right, Petr Cech advanced out of his goal to collect but collided with Matt Taylor. The ball went loose and Taylor directed it towards goal. However, the angle was against him and Paulo Ferreira recovered to clear.
Five minutes later, Davies and Yuri Zhirkov clashed heads as the Chelsea defender made a crucial aerial clearance. Bashed and bloodied, the Russian continued after lengthy treatment, although his head was bandaged to such an extent that he looked like someone in the early stages of mummification.
After 25 minutes, a Drogba free kick was struck firmly but straight at Jussi Jaaskelainen, the Bolton goalkeeper, who parried it straight at the onrushing Salomon Kalou. The forward had no time to react and the ball cannoned off him and just wide.
A Chelsea header did drop between the posts two minutes before half-time, as Anelka, three yards out and central, converted Drogba’s sumptuous left-footed, left-wing cross.
Relief for the team as a whole and the scorer in particular: it was Anelka’s first goal since January 30, ending a barren streak of 13 successive games.
While the perfection of the pass left Bolton bamboozled in central defence, the goal perhaps implied a degree of tactical looseness on Chelsea’s part since Anelka was nominally deployed on the left wing while Drogba was designated as the central striker.
No less strange was the incident that led to Bolton’s first penalty claim, earlier in the half. Drogba seemed to use his hand as he cleared the ball under pressure from Davies in his own box, but why was he so far back in the first place?
Chelsea pressed with more focus in the early stages of the second period and should have doubled their lead after 54 minutes. Drogba put Kalou clean through, but Jaaskelainen rushed out smartly and deflected the shot wide with his outstretched left leg.
Yet while Chelsea’s lead was so narrow, they remained on edge. Just after the hour, the Bolton bench furiously and fruitlessly claimed that a Lee cross struck John Terry on the upper arm inside the penalty area. Then, seconds after a drilled effort from Zhirkov forced Jaaskelainen into another decent stop, Taylor almost surged clear at the other end.
Frank Lampard, hitherto as quiet as a Trappist, hit the post from distance inside the final 15 minutes, and Joe Cole came on for a lively cameo, but it was Chelsea, not Bolton, circling the wagons around their penalty area at the end.
In this week of manifestos, Terry issued his own via his programme notes: “We haven’t won the league for the last three years. We’ve won the FA Cup twice in that time. We’ve never won the league and Cup double. In my lifetime only Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have. Let’s make history.”
A powerful rallying cry, but while few games remain, there is still a fair way for Chelsea to go.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): P Cech — P Ferreira, Alex, J Terry, Y Zhirkov — J O Mikel — S Kalou (sub: J Cole, 77 min), M Ballack, F Lampard, N Anelka (sub: F Malouda, 67) — D Drogba. Substitutes not used: Hilário, Deco, D Sturridge, J Bruma, P van Aanholt. Booked: Alex.

Bolton Wanderers (4-5-1): J Jaaskelainen — G Steinsson, C Cahill, Z Knight, P Robinson — Lee Chung Yong (sub: I Klasnic, 82), F Muamba, J Wilshere (sub: J Elmander, 82), S Ricketts, M Taylor — K Davies. Substitutes not used: A Al Habsi, J Samuel, M Davies, T Cohen, V Weiss. Booked: Steinsson, Robinson, Elmander, Davies.

Referee: L Probert.

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 0
By Henry Winter

Chelsea made hard work of the “easy game" in Sir Alex Ferguson’s estimation but they still inched closer towards taking the title off Manchester United. Nicolas Anelka’s first-half header, elegantly created by Didier Drogba, lifted Carlo Ancelotti’s side four points clear with four games remaining.
Chelsea seemed plagued by final-lap nerves, although they were simply not allowed to settle by Owen Coyle’s energetic, well-organised Bolton side. Kevin Davies and Jack Wilshere troubled Chelsea’s defence and when the final whistle blew, the roar around the Bridge could have been heard in a certain Wilmslow household.
Sport on television Ancelotti had elected to rest Florent Malouda, who at least had the consolation of receiving the Barclays Player of the Month award for March before joining Deco and Joe Cole on the bench. Anelka assumed Malouda’s role attacking down the left, tucked inside as Chelsea used a Christmas tree formation, although his first-half goal arrived when momentarily switching positions with Drogba.
Until that productive, if temporary swap, Drogba had charged through the middle, given an early chance after Yuri Zhirkov glided past Chung-Yong Lee and Frank Lampard dummied. The ball sped through to Drogba, whose shot flew over.
For a while Chelsea seemed distracted after John Terry went down, and stayed down for a minute after taking a knock on his ankle in making a block tackle on Matty Taylor. Swift attention came from Lee Probert, who had replaced Chris Foy after the latter was named referee for the FA Cup final involving Chelsea and Portsmouth. Probert checked on Terry, who eventually limped back into the fray, much to the relief of the watching Fabio Capello.
The Double-chasers lacked concentration for a 15-minute period, allowing Bolton moments of hope. Coyle’s visitors were far from overawed, far from parking the bus. Two banks of four blocked Chelsea’s path towards Jussi Jaaskelainen’s goal for 44 minutes but there were some inventive touches from Wilshere off the target man, Davies.
For a speck of a player physically, Wilshere lacks nothing in heart, flying into a tackle on Lampard, nicking the ball and then charging upfield only to be knocked over by Drogba. His night’s work also entailed attempting to close down John Obi Mikel whenever Chelsea’s anchorman sought to launch attacks from the deep.
Before Chelsea regained their composure, Bolton almost scored. When Lee, lively throughout, clipped a cross to the far post, Petr Cech fumbled, allowing Taylor a glimpse of goal until Paulo Ferreira slammed shut the window of opportunity. Back came Bolton again, Taylor’s shot diverted by Terry.
Chelsea’s captain was not the only one of Ancelotti’s defenders in the wars. Zhirkov took the full force of Davies’ forehead in the back of his head, sending blood spilling down his face. A bandage briefly staunched the flow, Zhirkov resembling the Butcher of the Bridge.
Bruised and bloodied, Chelsea showed their character, building towards goal. Drogba’s free-kick drew a strange response from Jaaskelainen, who punched the ball straight at Salomon Kalou’s head and was relieved as the ball rebounded wide.
Zhirkov then disappeared down the tunnel for stitches, requiring Terry, then Lampard, to slot in at left-back. Zhirkov stormed back on, minus the bandage, just a smear of Vaseline covering the wound, and charged upfield as if back on the wing during his formative years at Spartak Tambov.
Yet the best piece of wing-play came from Drogba a minute from the break, helping sweep Chelsea ahead. After a lengthy period of debate over whether Drogba and Anelka can play together, an understandable discussion point after Anelka’s prolific prominence during Drogba’s absence at the African Cup of Nations, the pair combined brilliantly.
Drogba’s cross was a gem, the ball struck to fade away from Jaaskelainen and onto the head of Anelka, who scored with ease. It was Anelka’s first goal since Jan 30 against Burnley and certainly injected some calm into home hearts. If Anelka’s goal delighted the Bridge, a cheer almost as loud erupted at half-time when Peter Bonetti was presented on the pitch, looking as sprightly as ever.
Coyle has instilled belief into Bolton and they kept worrying Terry’s defence. Davies imposed himself physically, and nastily when catching Mikel. Wilshere’s shimmering presence alarmed Chelsea. Lee was a constant outlet down the right.
Never giving up, Bolton screamed for a penalty when Lee’s cross appeared to be handled by Terry, although the linesman indicated that it had struck the defender’s chest and shoulder. A major call, and one could almost hear the growl of disapproval emanating from Cheshire.
Sensing the threat of a turning tide, Ancelotti sent on Malouda, Chelsea’s most impressive performer this season, although Anelka looked mildly perplexed by his removal. Joe Cole soon arrived but it was his England team-mate, Lampard, who almost scored the second, a low drive that hit the post.
Chelsea seemed invigorated, particularly with Cole scampering at Bolton’s defence, creating a chance that Michael Ballack, otherwise anonymous, headed straight at Jaaskelainen.
Terry then drove just wide before Coyle unleashed all his strikers, sending on Johan Elmander, who immediately headed a Taylor cross wide, and Ivan Klasnic, who shot wide. Chelsea should have ended any anxiety but the ball stuck under Cole’s feet with the goal at his mercy. No matter. However unconvincingly, Chelsea took another step towards the title.

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Independent:

Anelka finds his touch to fire Blues
Chelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 0
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent

It was almost five years ago at the Reebok Stadium that Chelsea's players climbed onto the roof of their team bus to celebrate the club's first league title in 50 years with their travelling support. They can only hope that last night's victory over Bolton Wanderers will prove similarly historic.
As has been the way under Carlo Ancelotti this season, Chelsea did it the hard way. They never definitively put Owen Coyle's team away, they survived two very promising penalty appeals from the away team and left their manager watching anxiously from the touchline with his hands plunged deep in his pockets counting away the seconds to the final whistle.
In the end Nicolas Anelka's first goal since 30 January was enough to win the game and Chelsea approach Saturday's meeting with Tottenham at White Hart Lane four points clear at the top of the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson's prophecy of an "easy" victory was not fulfilled but there was enough shakiness about Chelsea to suggest that this title race may yet have another twist in it.
There was a spectacular post-match rant from Coyle whose Glaswegian is so rapid that he should be fitted with a rewind button. The Bolton manager had a point about the handballs from Didier Drogba and John Terry in either half, both of which were turned down by referee Lee Probert, and his team did not embarrass themselves as Ferguson had predicted.
After Tottenham, Chelsea must negotiate Stoke City, Liverpool and Wigan if they are to deliver the fourth title in the club's history. When Jose Mourinho's double title-winning side revved up for the run-in there was a sense of inevitability about their progress. Ancelotti's team are much less predictable and consequently a lot more entertaining when it comes to seeing off the smaller clubs.
In his matchday programme notes, John Terry tried to conjure up some of the epic rhetoric that Mourinho liked to espouse at crucial stages of the season. Terry normally sticks to chronicling the training ground tomfoolery but yesterday he came over very serious. "When the opportunity arises, you have to seize it. When you seize it you can make history," Terry wrote. "Let's make history."
After the kind of season that Terry has had it would be fair to say that he has already made history himself – certainly no player has lost the England captaincy in such spectacular fashion. But he was talking about the possibility of a Premier League and FA Cup Double that has opened up for his team.
It was the sense that, despite their early Champions League elimination, Chelsea stand on the brink of an unprecedented achievement. It was a brave decision by Ancelotti to leave out Florent Malouda, but by the end he had the winger on the pitch in search of the elusive second goal.
Coyle picked a Bolton team that was not entirely defensive, selecting the Arsenal loan signing Jack Wilshere in the hole behind the main striker Kevin Davies. It was a brave way to go and the fairytale scenario that Wilshere had surely envisaged – scoring the goal that thrust Arsenal back into the title race box seat – never materialised.
Wilshere is a fascinating prospect, although he got so exasperated so often when the ball was not delivered direct to his feet that it made you wonder if he read the brochure before agreeing to join Bolton. Nevertheless, he did sell Drogba a delicious dummy that drew a clumsy foul from the Chelsea striker.
There was a first-half scare for Chelsea when Terry twisted his right ankle blocking a shot from Matt Taylor. For a few minutes it looked as if Terry, who could barely put any weight on his right foot, would find it impossible to play on but, for all his faults, the Chelsea captain does have a remarkable ability to shrug off the discomfort and carry on.
Yuri Zhirkov also clashed with Davies in a challenge that left a deep cut in the back of the Russian's head and blood everywhere. Patched up like a survivor from The Battleship Potemkin he was eventually ordered off by the referee Probert to get some treatment to stop him bleeding. He returned with four stitches in his head in time to play a part in Chelsea's goal.
Two minutes before the break, Zhirkov scurried after the ball and retrieved it in front of the Bolton area. He found Drogba on the left who struck a beautiful outswinging cross that Anelka headed past Jussi Jaaskelainen from close range. It was his 13th goal of the season – his previous one was 13 games ago.
In the first half, Drogba had appeared to punch Taylor's free-kick away as Davies went to head the ball. Terry's crafty block of Chung-yong Lee's cross looked equally blatant. Nevertheless, Bolton launched an impressive late onslaught. The substitute Johan Elmander should have done better with a back-post header from Taylor's cross that he steered just a few yards wide.
In injury-time the substitute Joe Cole got another inviting Zhirkov cross stuck under his feet when all he needed to do was tap it in for Chelsea's second goal. It was not quite what he would have wanted in front of the watching England manager Fabio Capello. It did not do Ancelotti's nerves any good either and you suspect he may have a few more experiences like this before 9 May.

Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Cech; Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov; Mikel; Kalou (J Cole, 67), Ballack, Lampard; Anelka (Malouda, 67), Drogba. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Deco, Sturridge, Bruma Van Aanholt.

Bolton (4-4-1-1): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Chung-Yong (Klasnic, 82), Muamba, Ricketts, Taylor; Wilshere (Elmander, 82); K Davies. Substitutes not used: Al Habsi (gk), Samuel, Elmander, M Davies, Klasnic, Cohen, Weiss.

Referee: L Probert (Wiltshire).
Booked: Chelsea Alex; Bolton Steinsson, Robinson, Davies, Elmander.
Man of the match: Zhirkov.
Attendance: 40,531.

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Guardian:

Nicolas Anelka strikes as Chelsea beat Bolton and extend lead at summit
Chelsea 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea always believed they boasted the quality to regain their title. Now they might be convinced fortune is with them as well. A stubborn Bolton side were squeezed out here but the victory that has opened up Chelsea's four-point advantage at the top of the table was gleaned only amid the visitors' livid protestations as penalty appeals were turned down.
The officials' failure to award spot-kicks for handballs by Didier Drogba and John Terry, one in each half, provoked Owen Coyle to confront the referee, Lee Probert, as he left the pitch on the final whistle to seek an explanation for the oversights. Sir Alex Ferguson may share his compatriot's frustration. "I know Drogba is a world-class player but he could play world-class volleyball for anybody on that evidence," said the Bolton manager. "And if it hit Terry on his shoulder then, in that case, he must have a shoulder that stretches down to his ankles."
Given the controversy, Carlo Ancelotti's assertion that "the Premier League is now in our hands" felt oddly appropriate. Probert had been officiating only because the original appointment, Chris Foy, has been selected for next month's FA Cup final involving Chelsea. The Gloucestershire referee might have benefited from more accurate guidance from his assistants here, none of the officials having spotted Drogba paw away Matt Taylor's quickly taken free-kick as he leapt to challenge Kevin Davies.
Coyle was still smouldering from that oversight when Terry appeared to knock down Chung-Yong Lee's cross just after the hour mark with his left arm, the ball falling kindly for Petr Cech and the linesman immediately waving away Bolton's appeals to indicate it had struck the defender on the shoulder. "We didn't need any luck tonight," said Coyle. "We only needed the officials to get the big decisions right. I can accept it if they've not seen it if they're out of position but, for the second one, he says it's hit Terry's shoulder. That's not happened, so that's a poor decision.
"I can't recall any favourable decisions going our way since I came to Bolton. I can recall a few that have gone against us. It's hard to take, but there you are. Chelsea are big favourites now and, if they keep getting decisions like that going their way, then Carlo will be rubbing his hands." Drogba's might still be stinging this morning, though any vague sense of guilt will have long since subsided.
Chelsea can sense the title is within reach now. A further 10 points from their final four games, starting at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, will be enough to secure them their first league title since 2006. If this never threatened to be a swashbuckling dismissal of a relegation-threatened side, it still drew upon Chelsea's reserves of patience and resilience. Where their rhythm was never entirely upbeat, they remained relentless and the game's most jaw-dropping flash of quality ultimately proved sufficient to secure a fifth consecutive victory in all competitions.
The first period had apparently been drifting to a scoreless conclusion, Chelsea comfortable in possession as Bolton retreated, when the visitors' concentration lapsed. Yuri Zhirkov, left bloodied in a gruesome clash of heads with Davies early on, had just returned from having four stitches inserted into the gaping head wound – the bandaging having proved utterly insufficient to stem the bleeding – to drift in-field with the ball. Lee was dragged after him, opening up space for Drogba on the flank to collect and dispatch a glorious cross into the six-yard box. Nicolas Anelka could not miss.
How the former Bolton forward had been craving a chance so simple. His last goal came against Burnley at Turf Moor back in January, the 13-game barren run since having anchored the forward's confidence. "He and Didier worked very hard and their goal was fantastic, great movement from Didier on the left and Nicolas was ready in the box," said Ancelotti. "It was a tough game because we didn't have a lot of possibilities to play as we want but it was a good time for Nicolas to score."
The Chelsea manager pointed to the number of chances his team had generated as evidence that the victory was merited, even if few were clear-cut. Salomon Kalou should have converted from Drogba's precise through-ball between Paul Robinson and Gary Cahill, and Frank Lampard fizzed a low attempt on to a post late on, but anxiety had gripped long before the end. Had Johan Elmander been more accurate with a header from a looped Taylor centre then Coyle might not have departed quite so furious with the officials.
"The Premier League is in our hands and we have to stay focused and calm, play game by game," added Ancelotti. "We are excited to see where we are at the moment but we know that we will have to fight again." This win was born of grit and good fortune. Chelsea's luck may just be in.

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Mail:
Chelsea 1 Bolton 0: Anelka on target against former club as Blues go four points clear at top
By Matt Barlow

Not quite as easy as Sir Alex Ferguson had tried to make out - not by a long way. But Carlo Ancelotti was able to arch an eyebrow in quiet satisfaction as he inched closer to the title in his first season.
Nicolas Anelka scored the only goal as Ancelotti survived his first mind games with Sir Alex and moved clear at the top.Ten more points will secure the title, fewer if Arsenal slip at Tottenham on Wednesday night.
Excitement bubbles at Stamford Bridge but this was far from routine. There were scares, notably two penalty appeals for handball, 'stonewallers' in the eyes of Owen Coyle.
The first was against Didier Drogba and then a more obvious one against John Terry which prompted Coyle and his coaching team to leap from the bench in unison.
Referee Lee Probert, a late replacement for Chris Foy - selected for the FA Cup final and unable to take charge of Chelsea or Portsmouth games before next month's Wembley date - remained unmoved.
There was defensive panic, a header missed by Johan Elmander after he eluded Terry and a sliced clearance by Didier Drogba which allowed Ivan Klasnic a late chance which he dragged wide.
There were cuts and bruises, generally distributed by ramrod striker Kevin Davies, who cut Yuri Zhirkov in a clash of heads and left John Mikel Obi in such apparent agony on the halfway line that it was a miracle he sprang to his feet to play on.
When Joe Cole picked up the ball on the right, three minutes into added time, Ancelotti was pointing him furiously towards the corner flag. Forget entertainment, waste time and win. When Cole jinked inside, looking to thread a pass to Florent Malouda, and lost possession, the manager threw up his arms in exasperation.
They may not be the slick machine they were when they last won the title four years ago but Chelsea's veterans are battle-hardened and they retain enough of their old resilience and desire for a domestic arm-wrestle like this.
Bolton boss Coyle had done his homework. Fabrice Muamba and Sam Ricketts were deployed as midfield markers, sticking tight to Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack respectively in an effort to choke Chelsea and allow Jack Wilshere to push forward in support of lone striker Davies.
For 44 minutes, the plan went well. Chelsea were limited going forward to a couple of Drogba free-kicks, one of which was parried by Jussi Jaaskelainen straight on to the head of Salomon Kalou and then looped just wide.
At the back, the home team were forced to defend bravely. Petr Cech fumbled a low cross from Chung-Yong Lee under pressure from Matt Taylor but dived among the boots to smother it. Zhirkov needed treatment for a nasty cut after a clash of heads with Davies.
The Russian was bandaged and sent back on but the bleeding did not stop and he needed more treatment before half-time, which saw Lampard fill in as an emergency full back.
Strangely, the blow had a positive effect on Zhirkov, who came back out with his head stitched to play a key role in Anelka's goal, which eased the nerves around Stamford Bridge just before the interval.
Having spent most of the season looking like an £18million waste of money, the man dubbed the 'Russian Ronaldinho' in his homeland, produced an outstanding performance at left back.
Anxiety was rippling around the stadium when Zhirkov charged up the flank and cut inside. He stopped, turned and rolled a pass to Drogba on the left. Drogba delivered a wonderful cross with his left foot, which was headed in from close range by Anelka, pulling away from defenders Zat Knight and Gretar Steinsson.
It was his first since January and his first since Drogba returned to the team after the Africa Cup of Nations. It went some way towards answering questions about whether the two strikers can prosper in the same team.
Chelsea went after a second. Kalou was put clean through by Drogba but was denied by Jaaskelainen's legs and another Kalou effort drifted over moments later. Lampard lashed a 20-yarder into the foot of a post and Terry fired a volley narrowly wide.
Joe Cole came on to set up Ballack for a header which he planted straight at the goalkeeper. Then Cole missed a sitter at the death.
Just as Stamford Bridge started to relax and songs about winning the title were contemplated, Chelsea became tense but Bolton could not find the net.
Defeat leaves Coyle with work to do before he can look back on a successful escape from relegation. As for the Blues, they could reflect on a victory against Bolton buoyed by superstition.
A win at the Reebok clinched their first Premier League title in 2005 and victory at the same venue the following season propelled them into a nine-point lead at the top as they defended their trophy.

MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 6; Ferreira 6, Alex 7, Terry 7, Zhirkov 8; Ballack 5, Mikel 6, Lampard 6; Kalou 5 (J Cole 77min), Drogba 7, Anelka 7 (Malouda 67, 6).Booked: Alex.

BOLTON WANDERERS (4-4-1-1): Jaaskelainen 6; Steinsson 5, Cahill 5, Knight 6, Robinson 5; Lee 6 (Klasnic 82), Muamba 7, Ricketts 6, Taylor 6; Wilshere 7 (Elmander 82); K Davies 6.

Booked: Steinsson, Robinson, Davies, Elmander.
Man of the match: Yuri Zhirkov.Referee: Lee Probert.
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Sun:

Chelsea 1 Bolton 0
From SHAUN CUSTIS at Stamford Bridge

NOT so easy after all - in fact decidedly twitchy.
Squeaky bums were everywhere at Stamford Bridge last night as Chelsea did just enough to take a stranglehold on the title race.
At this stage it's the points not the performance that matter and ex-Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka's close-range header proved the difference.
But the Blues survived strong penalty claims for handball against Didier Drogba and skipper John Terry and sub Johan Elmander's late header, which flew just past the post.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle was furious at the end complaining at the incompetence of the officials.
And Chelsea, now four points clear of Manchester United at the top, were well aware they had got the breaks at a crucial stage.
Boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted he intended to rest players and relegated Joe Cole, Deco and the in-form Florent Malouda to the bench.
United rival Alex Ferguson provoked the desired response from Bolton after claiming this was an "easy game" for Chelsea. And he must have been cursing that his attempted mind games didn't quite come off.
Fergie's comments riled Coyle's men and though they did not create too much they were strong and determined in a defence well-marshalled by Gary Cahill, who has hopes of making a last-gasp bid for England's World Cup squad.
Bolton have work to do to avoid relegation but on this showing they should survive with games to spare.
Perhaps skipper Kevin Davies will reflect it wasn't the best idea to suggest Drogba and Anelka could not play in the same side.
Davies was once Anelka's strike partner and said before the game: "I'm not sure they get on very well. There doesn't seem a great bond when they play together."
Well they certainly got on OK two minutes before the break.
Yuri Zhirkov had just returned to the pitch having been off to have four stitches in a head wound following a clash with Davies when he collected the ball and fed Drogba who had pulled away to the left.
The Ivory Coast ace's cross was an absolute peach curving away from keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and Anelka read it perfectly to head home.
It was the Frenchman's first goal since January 30 at Burnley and a huge relief for a Chelsea team who toiled away throughout.
The closest they had come up to that point was when Drogba's free-kick was punched out by Jaaskelainen, hit Salomon Kalou and rebounded past the post.
And they survived Drogba's sneaky handball which prevented a cross reaching Davies.
Kalou was not having a good night. He was one-on-one with Jaaskelainen on 54 minutes but his shot was too close to the Finnish keeper.
That failure to bag a second could have cost them dear had ref Lee Probert not been in such a generous mood again when Chung-Yong Lee's cross clearly hit Terry's left arm.
The Bolton bench, led by boss Coyle, were on their feet screaming for a penalty but the linesman, who had a good view, was pointing to his shoulder. An eye-test is in order for that particular official.
Bolton would have been doubly cheesed off had Zhirkov's strike a minute later gone in rather than being well saved by Jaaskelainen.
The keeper was also alert to deny Kalou again and was grateful to see Frank Lampard's strike hit the inside of the post and bounce away to safety.
Chelsea poured forward in the last 10 minutes with sub Cole - looking to impress watching England boss Fabio Capello - behind much of their good work.
But a second goal would not come. Michael Ballack headed at Jaaskelainen from Cole's cross and Terry's effort from a corner was deflected inches wide.
It was heart-in-the-mouth time as Elmander's header flashed past the post with Petr Cech beaten. Then another Bolton sub, Ivan Klasnic, shot across goal.
Cole had the chance to finish it off but trod on Zhirkov's cross - which certainly would not have impressed Capello.
It was that sort of evening. Not very pretty, not very entertaining, but very rewarding for the home side.
The finishing line is in sight. A couple more cracks of the whip should do it.