Chelsea survive Bolton backlash

Chelsea survived an extraordinary late fightback from Bolton to register a jittery 4-3 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Guus Hiddink’s side looked certain to chalk up one of their most comfortable wins of the season after romping into a four-goal lead thanks to strikes from Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard’s penalty, but that was simply the start of the drama.

Wanderers, who had looked bereft of ideas, suddenly stormed back into contention with three goals in nine minutes from Andy O’Brien, Chris Basham and Matt Taylor and Hiddink, having been a picture of relaxation earlier in the day, could only wipe his brow in relief at the final whistle.

The win keeps Chelsea on the fringe of the English Premier League title race, albeit four points behind leaders Manchester United having played a game more, but the most intrigued observers of the late carnage in the home penalty area will have been Liverpool’s scouts.

The Merseysiders need to overturn a 3-1 deficit in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final decider at Stamford Bridge and the shambolic nature of Chelsea’s defending might persuade Rafael Benitez that his European hopes could yet be revived, against all the odds.

Chelsea, for their part, will just be grateful that they avoided one of the most embarrassing capitulations of the season against a side mired in mid-table. Having weathered an early Bolton storm, when Taylor came close with a free-kick and flashing header, they assumed control with ease, with Ballack at centre-stage.

The German saw one long-range drive scream just over in the 35th minute but he was not to be denied five minutes later. After wriggling into space on the edge of the area, a canny pass released Salomon Kalou and Ballack, bursting forward, arrived just in time to slam home the Ivorian’s cut-back.

Bolton hinted that they remained an attacking force to be reckoned with when Davies slashed wide when well placed, but their defence remained alarmingly wobbly and Chelsea doubled their lead just after half-time through an immaculately-worked free-kick.

Bolton’s back-line were braced for a fizzed cross from Florent Malouda but, instead, the Frenchman dummied and Frank Lampard clipped a square pass across the six-yard box to Drogba, who had the easiest job of all in crunching high into the net.

Chelsea smelled blood and Bolton barely had time to clear their heads before they fell further behind. Lampard’s chipped cross into the area was handled by Gretar Steinsson and referee Peter Walton immediately awarded a penalty, which Lampard converted with ease.

When Drogba completed his brace moments later – bundling in from close range after Ballack’s corner had been nodded down by Branislav Ivanovic – Bolton would surely have been content simply to keep the score at four.

Hiddink certainly appeared to consider the points secure, the manager taking off Drogba and Lampard with one eye on Chelsea’s defining week, but it was a move which backfired spectacularly.

In a chaotic nine-minute spell, Bolton plundered three goals: first O’Brien, on as a half-time substitute, stabbed in after Davies had caused chaos at a corner; then, in the 74th minute, Basham, another replacement, volleyed in from close range following a header back across goal from Davies.

Stamford Bridge was suddenly on edge and the ripples of anxiety became full blown waves with 12 minutes remaining when Jaaskelainen punted downfield, Davies flicked on and Taylor headed into the top corner.

The final minutes bordered on the lunatic. Nicolas Anelka saw a shot cleared off the line and Jaaskelainen saved brilliantly from Malouda, but the real drama came in the last of the four minutes of stoppage time when Bolton defender Gary Cahill’s effort was scrambled around the post. Chelsea could breathe again.