Chelsea edge closer to the title

Bolton 0 Chelsea 2:   Jose Mourinho saw his Chelsea side put one hand on the championship trophy at the ground where they clinched…

Bolton 0 Chelsea 2:  Jose Mourinho saw his Chelsea side put one hand on the championship trophy at the ground where they clinched the title last season. It could all be decided on Easter Monday after this crucial victory which came after Manchester United could only secure a point against Sunderland.

Should Alex Ferguson's side fail to beat Tottenham at lunchtime at White Hart Lane then Chelsea can wrap it up against Everton later at home. It certainly looks like Mourinho's title and the way the players went to their fans at the end, they believe it too.

The Chelsea boss made one change from the side that dismantled West Ham with Joe Cole replacing Maniche, who was suspended. Bolton went into the game on the back of four straight defeats and manager Sam Allardyce made three changes to the side that went down to Liverpool.

Ivan Campo, Jared Borgetti, Ricardo Vaz Te came in for Nicky Hunt, Stelios Giannakopoulos and Jay-Jay Okocha. Campo played in the holding role while Abdoulaye Faye switched to central defence with Tal Ben Haim at right back.

READ MORE

Despite Bolton having a poor run their home record remains formidable. They had lost two league games at the Reebok Stadium this season going into this game.

Chelsea were slow coming out of the traps and it was the home side who set the pace of the game. Vaz Te should have put Bolton ahead in the 23rd minute after a neat one-two with Jared Borgetti. The 19-year-old Portuguese striker got goal side of Claude Makelele only to see his effort come back off the post.

It was a let-off for Chelsea but they continued to look slightly vulnerable at the back for a change.

Chelsea awoke from their slumber to take the lead a minute before the break with their first real assault on the home goal. Frank Lampard drove in a free kick from the left that caused confusion in the Bolton defence. Didier Drogba and John Terry went up together and Terry seemed to get the final touch for his seventh goal of the season.

The visitors extended their lead and edged closer to retaining the title when Lampard got his 19th goal of the season. He raced forward to get on the end of a short cross from Hernan Crespo and his finish was clinical. Lampard wheeled away in delight - it was his double here last season - that steered Chelsea to the title. PA