Bolton 0-2 Chelsea: Away Win Sets New Record

BOLTON 0-2 CHELSEA

Chelsea kept up their 100 per cent away record in the league with a comfortable enough win at the Reebok.

 

First half goals from Nicolas Anelka and Deco proved enough to seal a 2-0 win as Chelsea made it a record 11 wins on the trot away from home.

 

On his old stamping ground, Anelka launched himself at Bosingwa’s cross in the eighth minute to head in off the post and make it nine goals in seven in the league and 99 overall for the Frenchman in the top-flight.

 

Chelsea’s second came courtesy of a spectacular Deco scissor-kick 12 minutes later. Jaaskelainen had kept out a Bosingwa shot with his legs only to see it spin up towards the head of Michael Ballack who headed it down for the lively Deco to finish superbly.

 

Megson had clearly had a few words at half-time because Bolton looked much more up for it in the second 45, which saw Chelsea changing tact as their defence reacquainted themselves pretty effectively.

 

Fortunately a couple of penalty appeals for handball by John Terry came to nothing and Petr Cech’s reflexes were looking pretty sharp to keep out Gary Cahill and a Gavin McCann follow up. It was a valiant display from Bolton in the second half although they were still vulnerable on the break and we had our chances for a third.

 

After the game, a disappointed Megson said: "You can always take positives out of a game once you sit and analyse it but at this moment in time I’m disappointed—not just with the result, but with the way we played in the first half. We always try to push on against teams and take the game to them—get in their face, to use a players’ expression—but we just weren’t intense enough in the opening half.

 

"Ultimately, it has cost us because you can’t expect to give a team like Chelsea a two-goal lead and get away with it. Yes, we did better in the second half, but by then it was too late."

 

A happier Ray Wilkins meanwhile stated: "It was a great win for us. When we needed to fight, we fought, and when we could we played good football and made some very good chances, so we’re delighted.

 

"We’re not too concerned about the record, all we’re worried about is silverware so this was all about three points. Of course our away form is exceptional but no-one here is worried about our home form. That will come, I’m sure."

 

Overall then, Chelsea looked good value for the win, creating another record in the process. And whilst our home form still needs a lot of work, our eight wins away aren’t doing our point tally or goal difference any harm, particularly since another clean sheet means we’ve conceded just one goal on our travels so far.

 

TEAMS

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O’Brien, Samuel (Smolarek 80), Davies, McCann, Nolan, Muamba (Gardner 46), Taylor, Elmander.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Riga, Shittu, Basham, Obadeyi.

 

CHELSEA: Cech, Bosingwa (Ivanovic 89), Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Kalou (Ferreira 83), Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Sinclair, Mineiro, Stoch, Woods.

 

Goals: Anelka 9, Deco 21.