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Bolton 0 Chelsea 4

Chelsea continued their dominance over Bolton Wanderers with a second 4-0 win over them in less than week. The victory gives Chelsea the lead at the top of the Premier League table as we await the visit of Manchester United next weekend in a game that could go a long way to deciding where the title may well go this season.

Team News - For this fixture Carlo Ancelotti recalled all the big guns he`d rested in midweek with Petr Cech, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba all restored to the starting eleven. Joe Cole, who had impressed in his previous two appearances was only afforded a place on the bench.

First Half - After their mauling in midweek the Bolton manager, Gary Megson, had promised that his team would show a little more application this time around an din the opening exchanges that`s exactly what they did.

Indeed they could have scored early on when a Lee ball into the box saw Elmander head over. Closing, chasing and harassing Chelsea, Bolton stifled our game in those early exchanges but slowly Chelsea began to get on top.

Drogba and Anelka combined well and Jaaskelainen had to react well to save the resulting shot from Anelka. Cahill, tipped by some as a possible England centre half, was out-muscled by Drogba but the keeper did well to save his shot.

Ferreria, pushing forward, saw his tantalising cross clawed away by Jaaskelainen as Chelsea pushed for that breakthrough. Ivanovic thought he`d done just that when his volley flew in but Peter Walton spotted some sort of infringement and the goal was chalked off.

Bolton almost took the lead themselves when Davies volleyed wide an Elmander flick on. However, that crucial breakthrough did come in first half stoppage time. J. Lloyd Samuel brought Drogba down and was shown a red card. From the resulting spot kick Lampard sent the keeper the wrong way and Chelsea were ahead.

Second Half - Megson made two changes at half time bringing on Gardner and Robinson for Basham and Lee and the home side, once again, started the half well. A good Gardner run and ball into the box saw Cech forced to save from Cohen and Essien had to react lively to foil Cohen when a Davies header fell to the player.

Thankfully though Chelsea had a few gears to go up and Drogba forced Jaaskelainen into two good saves before a shot from Lampard rebounded off the bar to safety.

Thankfully though the cushion a second goal provides came just past the hour mark when Deco scored with a left footed shot after an Anelka ball. At 2-0 Chelsea were comfortable and it seemed only a matter of time before the lead was stretched.

But that moment didn`t come until the eighty-third minute when a Carvalho ball into the box saw Ivanovic and Knight combine to give Chelsea third goal. With stoppage time approaching Drogba hit his tenth of the season after a move that could well be described as the best of the match.

The good times are a rolling, let`s see if we can continue this remarkable run in Madrid on Tuesday.

Chelsea - Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalo, Ferreira, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Deco, Anelka, Drogba

Unused Subs - Turnbull, J.Cole, Borini, Malouda, Alex, Belletti, Sturridge

Scorers - Lampard (p), Deco, Knight (og), Drogba

Chelsea Yellow Cards - Ferreira

Chelsea Red Cards - Nil


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Writer: Merlin Mail feedback, articles or suggestions

Date:Saturday October 31 2009

Time: 5:13PM

Your Comments

8 red cards today, what is going on? Ivanovic was awesome, so was Nico, seems to do everything but score these days.
Saf 91
What's that now for Drogba? 10 goals, 6 assists, 3 pens won?
Saf 91
I forgot we had a trip to Athletico on Tuesday! Nico's amazig, but Iva was just great. What a performance from him. I'm serious, Boss Man has to prove himself mighty well to displace him! I think Iva will start against Untied, though.
JT_daniel
true about nico playing well but not scoring im sure they will come. but as a team were playing really well and thats very pleasing. bring on scum united!
MrDax
Drogba is statistically the best player in he PL this season.
JT_daniel
Anelka is on the form of his life.
k_chelski
interesting to see ancelotti didn't make any changes...i was expecting to see joey play a while
mkatsche
phil thompson (anti chelsea, pro liverpool) says thats the best he has seen chelsea play away from home! we must b playing well if that big nose muppet says so. he singled out anelka for extra praise for always creating space and causing the defenders major problems
MrDax
Yeah, Nico has that second striker role down to a tee.
Saf 91
The team was great today..I wud've preferred Joe Cole to Deco though
samuraisuraj
hey is di santo playin?
Cechurself
I think so.
Seabourch
(Quote from Merlin last Wednesday): "Deco is past it!"
Haigh_For_7
United will probably nick a goal in extra time, the way the game is going. What a bore!
JT_daniel
that last goal was unfortunately offside, but a beauty it was
zg2000fs
Iva's goal has been credited to Zat Knight as an og. Damn!
JT_daniel
This is not happening. You have Borini, Studge, Joe Cole looking on as substitutes, while the team's cruising 3-0 with about 20 minutes to spare. Surely he could have subbed off one of the tiring legs for one of the young cadets and given them more first-team exposure. What were you thinking of, Carlo?
Tambling
di santo to score?!
Cechurself
its true he should have taken nic or drog off for sturridge but im not complaining as drogs scored and gets his 9th league goal
MrDax
We should have done it but since no one got injured it is fine yes?
Seabourch
I don't get why/how people are trying to tell Ancelotti to do his job. We're top of the league, 100% in our CL group, still in the Carling Cup - the bloke knows what he's doing. Even when we win 4-0 there's still people on his back. Jeez!
daspecial1
Tambling, we actually scored the third goal in the 83rd minute, so if we were to bring one of the youngsters on in the 70th minute and bolton were to score a couple then what would you be saying about carlo. The main point is that we won the game comfortably, and to question carlo's thinking is a joke as far as im concerned, considering we are 5 points clear at top, 100% record in champions league (still not conceded a goal) and in the quarters of the carling cup. Carlo is rotating the squad well, look at the starting line up against bolton midweek, he gave Hilario, Alex, Ferreira, Cole, Sturridge and Kalou a game. In fact he is the only recent chelsea manager to do this, not even the great Mourinho rested our big players for the carling cup, he used to play our strongest team and never gave the youngsters, or players coming back from injury a chance...
westlondonblue
I still say Deco is past it (past his best!) That's why Barca let him go!
Merlin
Carlo cannot please everyone. As long as he wins, I'm happy. To be honest, given the number of games he has been in charge of, he's already done more for the fringe players than any other coach in our recent past and looks like he will when the time is right.
essienic
we cant run joey to the ground.keep him fit and hungry.iva was unfairly denied 2 goals,B*stards noneless good game boys.drogs shouldve had a hatrick.I cant say anymore about nico.nice to see lamps thriving again.Go team chelsea!
Chelsea24/7
hope poo dont fire tubby the waiter,I'm loving the **** he's in.
Chelsea24/7
I wonder what kind of message does such actions and decisions transpire through to the young cadets. Lack of confidence, enthusiasm about their level of potentials, unsure of their credibility, maybe... Carlo, surely you could have taken off Deco and Anelka and put in Borini and Joe in place of them for an odd 15 minute run in. 3-0 crusing, Bolton with one man less, I don't know...
Tambling
All-Bran Ivanovic says he got a touch on the ball for our 3rd....
Saf 91
Just seen Hughes at the Barca game.... Henry on his way to eastlands? Swap for Robinho maybe.
Saf 91
Carlo is responsible for the rise of Pato have you guys noticed how he brought him along and Pato has prospered. Give him the time to work his magic with our youth. Heck, he's the only manager who has even given them a serious look in.
kdnachi
TOP O THE LEAGUE AVIN A LARF!!!!!!
Blue is the colour
Barca score an own in the last 30 secs of stoppage to drop two points. Lovely.
Saf 91
hmm a bit stranged what carlo saying about deco i think he is not realy positive about him: Ancelotti also reserved a special mention for Deco, who scored his second goal in as many games this afternoon. 'Deco was man-to-man on the midfielder and changed position with Frank Lampard, on the left a little bit and Lampard went to offensive midfield,' he explained. 'He is doing what he knows, there is nothing special. He can do this and he is doing it for the team, this is important, he is not a selfish player. 'Usually an attacking midfielder is a little selfish but fortunately I found one that is unselfish.'
pascal_blueguy
For me, Deco did nothing until he got his goal. Then he continued to do nothing again. Should I be impressed? MOTM goes to Ivanovic, I think. Save for his miracle night at Liverpool last season in the CL, I can't think of a performance as strong.
RadioactiveD
Ivanovic definitely motm...also what a game by anelka.i cant believe i despised his style not so long ago.
blueogre
Just watched the highlights. The last goal was quality.
londonfc
so you know what to do,vote anelka motm!
Chelsea24/7
The fact Anelka is getting votes when he didn't score means his performance was truly exceptional. Too much to say he is playing the best football of his career at Chelsea?
londonfc
no
mutters
No, definitely not. He IS playing his best footy here. Iva was tremendous, what a performance from the man!
JT_daniel
I'm with Radioactive again. Ivanovic was brilliant, and as some of you know, I'm not often full of compliments...
blues first
I'm sure Ancelotti was made acutely aware of the last time we were a couple of goals to the good against Bolton and decided to rest on our laurels. Remember Scolari bringing off some of the big guns at the Bridge last season, and us almost surrendering three points?
daspecial1
They say you are never happy with what you got! C'mon lads 17 goals for, NONE conceded! Just stop complaining and enjoy the good times. CAREFREE
NordicBlue
* in the last 4 games that is
NordicBlue
That was Hiddink, das.
Saf 91
It would still be nice to see our second string-ers getting more than the odd 5 mins in PL games. think of blackburn the week before, there were 20 mins to go and we were 5-0 up, perhaps carlo's worried about injuries too much.
LifeLongBlue
Lets FIFA10

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