Chelsea hand off Bolton

Chelsea 1 Bolton W 0:CHELSEA WERE bloodied and bruised here last night, yet their challenge to secure this club's first Double has never appeared healthier. There was to be no swashbuckling dismissal of Bolton Wanderers to propel the Londoners four points clear of Manchester United at the top.

Grit, and a deal of good fortune, ultimately proved sufficient: this team will take victories of any kind from now on in.

Their resilience was epitomised by Yuri Zhirkov, who had four stitches inserted to close a head wound by the time he teased and toyed space from Bolton’s back-line in the build-up to the game’s decisive goal. Other home players limped away from the fray, John Terry and Mikel John Obi nursing ankle knocks. The luck centred upon apparent handballs from Didier Drogba and Terry, that might have earned the visitors penalties in either half.

That the referee Lee Probert thought otherwise had Owen Coyle and his coaching staff livid in the dug-out. Even so, Johan Elmander’s inability to convert a Matt Taylor cross was just as critical as nerves gripped the Londoners late on, but the title contenders survived.

This had been Chelsea’s great opportunity, the chance to prise open a lead over United that, at this advanced stage of the season, might yet prove unbridgeable. Carlo Ancelotti had stressed as much in the build-up, imploring his players to guard against complacency in a match Sir Alex Ferguson had provocatively deemed would be “easy”. Yet Chelsea have stumbled when they were supposed to stride ahead too often this season. Standing gloomily on the edge of his technical area as this game spluttered almost up to half-time, their manager must have been haunted by an unwelcome sense of deja vu.

He will not have been entirely at ease even with a narrow lead established by the break. So much of this team’s ability to unnerve hinges upon generating an upbeat tempo. Denied Michael Essien’s dynamism, their forward thrust has become reliant upon the scuttling runs of Zhirkov from left-back or, more consistently, the gliding menace of Florent Malouda further forward. Yet the Frenchman, so impressive in recent weeks, started this contest on the bench alongside Joe Cole and Deco, a similarly resurgent force over the last month. Without them, too much of this was laboured.

A Drogba free-kick aside, which Jussi Jaaskelainen palmed on to Salomon Kalou and was relieved to see the rebound dribble wide, was the sum of their efforts until Bolton’s concentration lapsed, marginally but critically, just as the interval approached.

Zhirkov had been becalmed after a shuddering clash of heads with Kevin Davies early on that had soaked the turf with blood in the Chelsea goalmouth. The heavy bandaging applied failed to stem the flow but, having had his scalp stitched and greased, the Russian returned to make a more lasting mark.

The home side had resorted to a patient build-up, ignoring the desperation mounting in the stands, with Zhirkov collecting possession and cleverly dragging Fabrice Muamba and Chung-Yong Lee out of position to grant Drogba space down the left. The Ivorian’s centre, veering viciously into the area, was glorious. Nicolas Anelka could not miss.

How the France international has been craving a chance so simple. His last goal had opened the scoring against Burnley at Turf Moor back in January.

Kalou, liberated by Drogba’s wonderfully slipped pass between Paul Robinson and Gary Cahill, should have justified that optimism only to strike Jaaskelainen’s legs with his low attempt.

Jack Wilshere was busy, flitting in a free role, while Lee was capable of providing quality from the flank. It was the South Korean’s cross that appeared to strike John Terry on his left arm on the hour-mark, the ball bouncing down to a grateful Petr Cech, with the officials denying Bolton their penalty. Fortune favoured the title contenders.

CHELSEA: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou (Joe Cole 77), Drogba, Anelka (Malouda 67). Subs not used: Hilario, Deco, Sturridge, Bruma, Van Aanholt. Booked: Alex.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee (Klasnic 82), Muamba, Ricketts, Taylor, Wilshere (Elmander 82), Kevin Davies. Subs not used: Al Habsi, Samuel, Mark Davies, Cohen, Weiss. Booked: Steinsson, Robinson, Kevin Davies, Elmander.

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).