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Bolton Wanderers 0 Chelsea 1November 30, 2006
JOSE MOURINHO reckons he owns the Reebok these days.
And Chelsea must have felt like taking a little bit of it back home with him to London after making it three wins out of three at Bolton’s fortress.
Michael Ballack bagged the only goal just seconds before half-time.
But the German’s header from Frank Lampard’s cross sparked a furious row as Bolton’s players claimed ref Steve Bennett should have already blown for half-time.
Bennett had allowed two minutes of stoppage time but the Blues’ goal was scored a full 20 SECONDS after the added time was up.
That must surely be the worst piece of nit-picking you will see in the Premiership this season.
Chelsea deserved to beat the clock as well as Bolton.
They created more clear-cut chances, laid siege to the home side’s goal for long periods and keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen kept his team in it with several top-class saves,
The Blues’ back-to-back 2-0 victories at the Reebok were pivotal in their twin Premiership triumphs — they actually clinched the title here two seasons ago.
And with Bolton going into this game in third place, behind Manchester United and Chelsea, Mourinho is entitled to feel his side have taken another significant step towards making it a hat-trick.
The main difference between this win and the previous two — apart from the the scoreline — was Lampard made the goal, instead of scoring it.
Lamps had netted three of Chelsea’s last four goals here but he will not mind having to settle for an assist.
Mourinho paid Bolton the compliment of picking the same 11 players who started Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with Manchester United while the home team made just one change from the side that brushed aside Arsenal.
Tal Ben Haim took over from the injured Quinton Fortune at left-back but right-back Nicky Hunt was fit after also limping off against the Gunners.
Hunt was involved as Bolton immediately gave their visitors a reminder of the threat they pose from set-pieces . . . as if Chelsea needed it.
The defender’s long throw was not cleared and Nicolas Anelka whipped the ball back in to Kevin Davies. The striker was unmarked and should have at least hit the target, but headed over.
With El Hadji Diouf staying on his feet and giving Geremi a hard time down the Chelsea right, Bolton caused the champions a few early problems.
Diouf’s driven cross was begging for a final touch until it was claimed by a grateful Carlo Cudicini.
But it was not long before Lampard set the alarm bells ringing at the other end.
There should have been no danger when he lined up an ambitious free- kick from fully 30 yards. But it found a gap in the wall and Jaaskelainen scooped away the dipping shot.
Jaaskelainen threw himself all over his goal as he again denied Lampard and Didier Drogba, but it was clearly only a matter of time before Chelsea made the breakthrough.
It almost came when Ricardo Carvalho, who hit Chelsea’s equaliser at Old Trafford, headed Lampard’s corner against a post. The reprieve was shortlived, however, as Andriy Shevchenko took the indication of two minutes stoppage time as an alarm call.
The Ukrainian hitman’s powerful run from halfway was followed by a screaming shot which flying Finn Jaaskelainen tipped over.
Bolton were pleading with ref Bennett to call a halt to the half — but Ballack nipped in front of Davies to glance a header past the stranded keeper.
Lampard was convinced he had added to his personal goal tally against Bolton as he cut inside from the left and unleashed a dipping drive. But the over-worked Jaaskelainen again threw himself and clawed it to safety.
Bolton finally seemed to sense they needed to get forward themselves.
Abdoulaye Faye missed an outrageous back-heel while Anelka and Davies also failed to connect with a curling free-kick from Diouf — although it nearly crept in at the far post until Cudicini got his fingertips to it.
The Italian followed up with two point-blank saves from Diouf as Bolton finally built up a head of steam, but it was too late to deny Mourinho the Reebok title deeds.
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