Chelsea vs Bolton: Match Report, 14th April 2010

Anelka ends his scoring drought.

Anelka ended his 10 week drought in front of goal to send Chelsea four points clear at the top of the Premier League table with only 4 games remaining. But things could have been very different on the night if not for Anelka’s goal. Carlo Ancelotti rested key players like Joe Cole, Deco and Malouda with the trip to Tottenham this weekend in mind. And that nearly backfired because Chelsea huffed and puffed throughout the game without any real purpose to their play. But at this stage of the season all that matters is winning and it never matters how you are winning. Alex Ferguson would have hoped for some help from Bolton and he surely got what he expected as Bolton defended very well.

Owen Coyle seemed to be Alex Ferguson in disguise last night as he started complaining about the officials very much the way Ferguson does. There were two penalty appeals for Bolton against Drogba and Terry. Coyle might have a case against Drogba but he must be a blind man to be saying that the incident
involving Terry is handball. I am very sorry Coyle if you do not know the difference between a hand and an arm. The ball strikes Terry near his shoulder and Coyle is saying that it is handball. Maybe when Terry heads the ball he will be referring it to as handball because the head is near the hand. Bolton were pathetic in attack without managing a single attempt on target and he is expecting that Bolton should have won the game with the help of two penalties.

A Frustrated Carlo Ancelotti

After a few games in which Anelka and Drogba did not play together, everybody started saying that they couldn’t play together. On evidence of this match, they must be right because Chelsea were never fluid in attack. But as irony would have had it, Drogba who was pretty poor until the break crosses the ball for Anelka who was unmarked to head home. Lampard hit the post and Kalou in place of Joe Cole wasted a glorious opportunity by firing straight at Jasskilainen.

This was not a match that will be in the memory of Chelsea fans for the football but for the result.

With just four games to go, Chelsea are 4 points clear and that means that Ancelotti’s men have to win 3 more games to secure the title. Arsenal play Tottenham tonight and no doubt every Chelsea fan will be hoping that Arsenal drop some points at White Hart Lane. Arsenal are without key players like Fabregas, Arshavin and Gallas. Tottenham will be without Wilson Palacios who is suspended for two games for collecting 10 yellow cards.

Man of the Match:

I am struggling to think of any player who was outstanding. So the Man of the Match should be going to Anelka for scoring the only goal which was required and also ending his barren run in front of goal.

Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Anelka (Malouda 67), Kalou (Joe Cole 77), Drogba.

Goals: Anelka 43

Bolton (4-5-1): Jasskilainen, Robinson, Cahill, Knight, Steinsson, Muamba, Ricketts, Lee (Klasnic 82), Wilshere (Elmander 82), Taylor, Davies.

Next Chelsea Match:

Tottenham vs Chelsea, White Hart Lane. 17th April 2010.

Kick off : 17:30 Local Time.