Premier League - Chelsea back on track

Eurosport - Sun, 07 Dec 07:53:00 2008

Chelsea bounced back from their home loss to Arsenal with a 2-0 victory against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Chelsea Bolton-Chelsea Anelka - 0

First-half goals from Nicolas Anelka and Deco earned Luiz Felipe Scolari's team the spoils, and ensured the Blues remain just a point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

On eight minutes, Jose Bosingwa cut inside from the right and checked before clipping a deft ball into the path of Anelka. The Frenchman threw himself full length and headed past Jussi Jaaskelainen to give the visitors the lead.

It was the Anelka's 13th League goal of the season and arguably among his best, requiring a brave leap and a deft glancing finish against his former club.

Soon after, Chelsea doubled their lead in spectacular fashion. Gavin McCann conceded possession and after Salomon Kalou's shot was blocked by Jaaskelainen, Michael Ballack headed into the path of Deco and the Portuguese midfielder shot first-time over his shoulder and into the bottom corner.

Deco's effort was instinctive and brilliant, illustrating sublime technique to find the target with a flying volley from just inside the box.

Bolton had the first sight of goal, when Kevin Davies met McCann's inswinging corner and thumped a powerful header just over the bar.

And prior to Deco's wonderful effort, they were almost gifted an equaliser when Petr Cech fluffed a routine clearance into the path of Kevin Nolan. The midfielder shot first-time, but his effort lacked power and Cech had time to get across and gather.

The remainder of the opening period saw Chelsea grow increasingly dominant and Bolton were reduced to long-range efforts.

Bolton manager Gary Megson was forced to act and he introduced Ricardo Gardner for the second half hoping the midfielder go galvanise his troops.

Megson's decision had the desired effect. Bolton came out of the blocks with renewed belief and Gardner's busy work signalled the first real spell of pressure for the home side. But genuine openings were not forthcoming.

As Bolton pushed forward space began to appear at the back and on 56 minutes Deco found himself clean through after a flick-on from Kalou. Jaaskelainen rushed out to narrow the angle, and for once Deco showed a lack of composure to stub his chipped effort wide.

Minutes later Frank Lampard wasted an even better chance, shooting straight at the Bolton goalkeeper from just six yards out.

But Bolton escaped, and on the hour mark had claims for a penalty turned down after John Terry appeared to block Johan Elmander's effort with his upper arm. Referee Howard Webb said no, but replays showed Bolton had cause for disappointment.

The home side were growing in confidence. On 70 minutes Davies flicked on a long throw from the right and Gary Cahill's diving header drew a fine reaction save from Cech. McCann reacted first to the loose ball, but Cech once again came to Chelsea's resuce to deny the midfielder's acrobatic effort.

For all Bolton's second-half pressure, Megson's team paid the price for failing to create clear-cut chances and Chelsea were able to sit back on their two-goal cushion and coast to all three points.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

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  1. Chelsea, are top divers and drama artists, Why do the­ chelsea players have to dive on the floor screaming­ then get up straight away, faking injuries, to gain­ pocession..

    No foul has been made, their not­ injured.. for example.. Bosingwa and Deco throw them­ selves on the gound... rolling around. Quickly jump up­ take there free quick and run on at race pace..­ Cheats.. if your so good why do you have to CHEAT...­ its because your not
    And as for John Terry he just­ likes playing Net ball, Bad decisions, poor sportsman­ ship.. Chelsea are DUMP...iF YOU CANT SEE THAT GO TO­ SPEC SAVERS

    From Richard, on Wed 10 Dec 11:32AM

  2. CLIVINIO well said but you forgot about HILLSBROUGH­ & that last year UEFA named liverpool as the worst­ supporters in europe

    From U R SOLES, on Mon 8 Dec 8:52AM

  3. MARION (45)(46)

    It's the owner's money u­ bozo.

    ....and by the way, looking at your avatar, u r­ definitely the ugliest m'fckr on the planet.

    From Jim V, on Mon 8 Dec 3:50AM

  4. Guys chelsea is the best in the world and we play nice­ and clean football. New Boss Luis Filipe Scolari is the­ best to replace former boss Jose Mourinho and u gunners­ and red devils are just jealous at leastwe losy 2­ strong teams such as liverpool but arsenal and man u­ are beating by small clubs such as stoke city, man­ city, hull city'etc and 4 u liverpool fans we are­ coming back 2 be at the top and dont dream of ever­ lifting the premeir league trophy. blues 4 life just­ try 2 work on ur home record i love u blues player and­ Luis Scolari u are the best coach ever. Dont mind them­ they are just jealous

    From ONE LOVE, on Sun 7 Dec 7:02PM

  5. yep , zenith cup . a trophy !! thats all youre about ,­ so you are a pathetic little glory hunter !! must be a­ "fan" of liverpool , they win trophies , was­ that your little mindset f**kwit ?
    you ,pathetically,­ tried to apologise for heysel , over 20 years too late­ , and the juve fans turned their backs on you. good for­ them , thats your history !
    hows your uncle sam owners­ , 18 months ago , you were all kneeling at their altar­ , now you want them out , why ? they wont give benitez­ more MONEY !!!
    truth hurts baby !!

    From clivinio, on Sun 7 Dec 5:09PM

  6. Guys cheers!Blues back.the return of the king,

    From yagmurdan_sonra, on Sun 7 Dec 12:09PM

  7. here we go again , boring ! "you aint got history­ " , liverpool , dont want yours , its tainted !­ history is not about trophies , if so does that mean­ youll dig out rochdale fans for their lack of trophies­ , so eder11 (?) and marion (you do look like a scouser­ , wheres your prison suit ?) , what did attract you to­ your club, was it the trophy cabinet ?then you are­ glory hunters of the lowest degree !
    and r a buying­ any players , managers . torres a good birkenhead lad­ is he ? reina from bootle ? every club buys success ,­ its the way football has gone , its not ideal but its a­ fact.
    liverpool clear ? 1 point ? hardly need snookers­ to catch you !!
    bored with you liverpool "fans­ " now , tara !!!

    From clivinio, on Sun 7 Dec 12:00PM

  8. you operate as company in the red over 100 million year­ on year, in any other proffesion you would go BUST!!!

    From , on Sun 7 Dec 9:02AM

  9. ANELKA LIVERPOOL AND ARSENAL REJECT,,MAKE ME LAUGH

    From , on Sun 7 Dec 9:01AM

  10. LOVELY TO SEE PLASTIC CHELSKI FC IN 2ND PLACE

    From , on Sun 7 Dec 9:00AM

  11. I am a Chelsea Fan...Anelka and Deco are scoring­ goal...well i'm happy the team is winning and­ keeping paste with the leader..but its unfortunate to­ see that during big matches they failed to reproduce­ their qualities required to win... May that the team­ work on that part of big play

    From Bernard, on Sun 7 Dec 8:50AM

  12. Anelka and Deco are good players. They Usually Score in­ games. Both are very very class player`s , wonderful­ tricks , wonderful power and strength.

    From Nathan, on Sun 7 Dec 6:44AM

  13. Go Chelsea carry on the good work.....

    From Abhishek, on Sun 7 Dec 4:45AM

  14. @#$% off who said to chelsea "you cant buy­ success"...Man u are verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry­ lucky to win the champion league last year.....I can­ tell to man u fan club , u are not to win the trophy­ again....when man u win that trophy in 1999 i told my­ friend that man u not win that trophy again by ten­ years....Then man u won last year 2007..its ok...but­ man u cant win that trophy at 2017 because alex­ ferguson are to0 old n going to die­ hahahahahahahhahaha...man u win the trophy because of­ fergusennnnnnnn n luckyyyyyyyyyyyyy in their own.....

    From Muzamil, on Sun 7 Dec 2:52AM

  15. chelsea like the other football club buying some­ player.But the different is chelsea owmner is a­ billionaire...so the other club when selling their­ player to chelsea by a different price...Then people­ said that chelsea buy high rate player like salomon­ kalou but kalou is not a high class player like­ ronaldinho.people cant say chelsea club like "­ Chelsea can buy players but cant buy trophy ."­ Thats nothing u said like that, rubbishhhhhhhhh.Take a­ look the other club like liverpool who did the same­ like chelsea buying some players....why u not comment­ to the liverpool by say like " can buy players but­ cant buy trophy " ??? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy????? U­ can see all liverpool players are a new face accept­ gerrard n carragher....

    From Muzamil, on Sun 7 Dec 2:43AM

  16. Cheslki are over rated fat pigs.

    the only teams they­ can beat are small teams ...pfff...andthe so called­ experts makes this bunch of all lads loosers their­ favourite ..
    I predict they'll finish 3 rd in PL­ and blown out of Europe in the second round coz­ they'll finish second and hopefull play­ barca.

    Abramovic can buy players and managers but he­ can noy buy a team, he can not buy history and­ titles.
    Only small teams are affarid of Cheslki today

    From eder11, on Sun 7 Dec 12:09AM

  17. THE BLUE MACHINE MARCHES ON

    From Dave S, on Sat 6 Dec 9:58PM

  18. Give us a break guys chelsea are playing top football.­ The best inform team at the moment

    From fred_mat1980, on Sat 6 Dec 9:56PM

  19. Who is this @#$%.... rc-alcock?

    From david b, on Sat 6 Dec 9:55PM

  20. WHats going on with these looserpool fans

    From fred_mat1980, on Sat 6 Dec 9:55PM
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