Scolari determined to stop the rot at Bolton

The league table may suggest otherwise, but Luiz Felipe Scolari takes his side to Bolton this weekend facing a growing crisis at Stamford Bridge.

Lying just one point behind leaders Liverpool – and five points ahead of third-placed Manchester United – Scolari could easily be reflecting on a steady start to his first season in the Premier League.

But with Chelsea's form having taken an abrupt downturn against a backdrop of discontent in the dressing room, all is not well in west London and Scolari previously light-hearted mood has suddenly darkened.

Last weekend's home defeat to Arsenal confirmed the Blues' impregnable home form is a thing of the past and it was only Liverpool's subsequent failure to beat West Ham that prevented the gap at the top being greater.

With just a solitary victory in the last five games, it is clear Chelsea are going through a dip that looked unlikely during the opening weeks of the season.

And Scolari's hopes of regaining control of the situation have been over-shadowed by doubts over the future of Didier Drogba, who is reportedly unhappy at being paid significantly less than Frank Lampard and John Terry, and has been linked with a move to Inter Milan.

Suddenly, and unexpectedly, the Brazilian's side are facing back to back games against Bolton and Romania's CFR Cluj that they must win if they are to maintain their immediate credibility as Premier League and Champions League contenders.

In normal circumstances, Chelsea would expect to win both matches and draw a line under the recent wobble.

But with Bolton in resurgent form and Drogba's situation adding to the sense of instability, things could get worse before they get better for last season's Champions League finalists.

The manager could at least this week draw on the support of Terry, his influential captain and the key opinion former at the club.

“Scolari's been a great signing and brought in a lot of new ideas,” said the centre-back.

“Tactically he's very good. We're doing a lot more tactical work, which has helped us a lot at certain times in games.

“He's a great man, too. He gets on well with everyone. Away from the training pitch he's like one of our friends, but on the training pitch he's got the complete respect of the whole squad.”

More important than the kind words of Terry this weekend could be the form of Nicolas Anelka on his return to his former club.

The Frenchman's form has been outstanding this season and his 12 goals in 14 league starts has gone some way for compensating for Drogba's run of injuries.

He is certain to receive a mixed reception at the Reebok Stadium after quitting Wanderers last January just a few months after signing a new four-year contract.

Equally important, however, will be how the Chelsea defence copes with the continued absence of the injured Ricardo Carvalho in the face of Bolton's attacking force of Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies.

Davies is always a handful, but Elmander's recent burst of three goals in two games has shown promise and helped Wanderers's recent run of four wins in their last five league outings.

“Obviously most of the games Chelsea play they are regarded as the favourites and I don't think that will be any different this weekend,” admitted Bolton assistant manager Chris Evans.

“But we are having a good run of form at the moment and apart from results we are playing very well. The one thing we do have is a terrific spirit a great togetherness and I think if you have that can align that with ability then you have the ingredients for success.”