Record-breaking Chelsea back on track

Nicolas Anelka scored on his return to Bolton as Chelsea put their recent troubles behind them with a comfortable 2-0 win at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team showed they remain serious title contenders after goals by former Wanderers striker Anelka and Portugal’s Deco kept them within one point of leaders Liverpool who won 3-1 at Blackburn.

It was a performance to silence the critics after last weekend’s defeat to Arsenal as Chelsea set a new record for 11 consecutive away wins in the English top-flight – eclipsing Tottenham’s previous total of 10 set in 1960.

Having won just twice in seven league and cup outings, Chelsea had arrived at the Reebok with their title credentials being questioned for the first time this season.

The damaging run had seen them concede pole position in the Premier League table yet Scolari’s side responded with an impressive performance after Kevin Davies had spurned a glorious chance to give Bolton the lead.

Three of Davies’s four goals this season have come against London opposition and the 31-year-old forward was presented with an opportunity to add to his tally following Gavin McCann’s eighth minute corner.

After outjumping his marker Alex, Davies directed his header narrowly over the bar.

Bolton had moved into the top half of the table after winning three of their previous four games, but they were dead and buried inside the opening 21 minutes as they found themselves trailing 2-0.

It was inevitable that Anelka would make his mark. Having left the Reebok in January as the Premier League’s leading scorer, he demonstrated why he is currently top of the scoring charts after connecting with a pin-point cross by Portuguese full-back Jose Bosingwa in the ninth minute.

At this stage Chelsea continued to make life hard for themselves. What should have been a routine clearance by Petr Cech fell straight at the feet of Kevin Nolan, but the Bolton captain returned a tame effort straight back into the arms of Chelsea’s Czech keeper.

From then on it was all Chelsea.

They doubled their advantage through Deco’s stunning volley after Salomon Kalo’s effort had been kept out by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

It was Deco’s first goal since his spectacular free-kick sunk Wigan in August yet this finish was just as eye-catching.

Chelsea ought to have punished Bolton again when Jaaskelainen spilled an inswinging free-kick by Frank Lampard. The ball fell to Anelka but this time he failed to find the target.

Deco should have made it 3-0 when clean through with only the keeper to beat before John Terry shot straight at Jaaskelainen after good work by Anelka.

Bolton had a 60th minute penalty appeal rejected after Johan Elamander’s effort struck Chelsea captain Terry while Cech produced the save-of-the-match to keep out a close range header by defender Gary Cahill.

But Chelsea continued to create chances of their own, Bosingwa blazing over after a powerful run when a pass to the unmarked Anelka would have capped a fine performance ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League home game with CFR Cluj.