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Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Chelsea
Match Reports, 17:58, December 6, 2008 ,
Early goals from Nicolas Anelka and Deco sealed the win for Chelsea as they outclassed a hard-working Bolton side.
Chelsea dominated the game at the Reebok Stadium and they were ahead after just eight minutes. Some neat play from a quick free-kick by Frank Lampard resulted in Bolton old-boy Anelka slotting the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Wanderers goal.
Bolton had a chance to even the score almost instantly, from the restart they won a corner which Gavin McCann placed on Kevin Davies' head but his effort flew over the Chelsea bar.
It didn't take long for the away side to increase their advantage. On 21 minutes McCann lost possession cheaply and Salomon Kalou got a shot in, which Jaaskelaien did well to parry. The ball looped into the air and Michael Ballack nodded a pass to Deco who hit a brilliant over-head kick past the Bolton keeper from the edge of the box.
Anelka could have put Chelsea out of sight just a minute later but he scuffed his effort after meeting Jose Bosingwa's free-kick.
To their credit Bolton battled hard and continued to press forward, but for all their endeavour they were limited to just half chances and corners which Chelsea's defence coped with comfortably.
Deco could have capped a brilliant performance with a second goal on 55 minutes when he found himself one-on-one with Jaaskelainen, but the former Barcelona man lifted his shot over the bar.
On the hour mark Johan Elmander unleashed a thunderous shot towards the Chelsea goal and John Terry appeared to block it with his arm, referee Howard Webb didn't see it that way though and allowed play to continue to the frustration of the Bolton players.
Chelsea enjoyed the majority of the possesion but Bolton continued to press and Petr Cech made a great save with his legs to deny Gary Cahill with 20 minutes to go.