EPL Week 38: Chelsea - Bolton

Shevchenko 1-0

Taylor 1-1



Chelsea Held Dramatic Late Equaliser

Bolton managed a last-gasp leveller at Stamford Bridge - not that it mattered...

A late Matt Taylor goal gave Bolton a share of the spoils at Stamford Bridge after a rare Shevchenko goal had put Chelsea ahead. Chelsea who also had their captain John Terry stretchered off after only ten minutes, therefore finished second, two points behind Manchester United who regain their title.

Before the match all the talk had been about goal difference with Avram Grant suggesting a play off might be a better idea when teams finish level on points. However in the end it didn’t matter as a late Taylor goal denied Chelsea victory and saw them finish two points behind the leaders.

The match began quietly, the home side looking nervous against an organised Bolton side keen to keep the game tight and allow their opponents very little time and space on the ball.

However it wasn’t long before Chelsea did manage to create a couple of chances in quick succession. Firstly Ballack crossed a good ball into the box for Drogba who headed across goal but there was no one on hand to slot the ball home for the Blues.

Less than a minute later however Drogba had an even better chance. Another great ball into the box from Ballack found the striker creeping in at the far post. However with the goal gaping and from only a few yards out he conspired to cannon the ball high and wide.

Chelsea were looking good but after only ten minutes were rocked by an injury to captain John Terry. A long ball from Bolton into the Chelsea box was collected comfortably by Cech but in doing so he accidentally collided with his captain.

Although the collision looked fairly innocuous the Chelsea captain was stretchered off with what looked like a serious elbow injury. Grant sent on Belletti who replaced Essien at right back with the Ghanaian moving to central defence to partner Alex.

The injury undoubtedly affected the home side who lost the momentum they had been starting to build. The crowd likewise seemed subdued and the game went rather flat after a promising start.

However Chelsea still managed to dominate possession even if they were struggling to create any chances from open play. Joe Cole and Michael Ballack were looking the most creative players but too often the final ball into the box lacked the quality or accuracy to break down a disciplined Bolton side.

With Bolton defending well, Chelsea’s best chance of success looked to come from a set piece. A thunderous free kick from Drogba flew inches wide with keeper Al-Habsi stranded.

The home side did manage to rouse themselves just before the break with some exerted pressure. Belletti fizzing in a great cross for Ballack but Joey O’Brien just got back in time to clear and the sides headed for half time level, but the home side deprived of their captain when they needed him most.

A far more threatening Chelsea side emerged from the break. Grant choosing to shuffle his pack early by replacing Makelele with Shevchenko as they searched for the vital goal that would keep their title chances alive.

Within a minute of the restart a Malouda shot from fully 35 yards was wonderfully saved by Al-Habsi and then seconds later Belletti had another effort deflected wide. Chelsea were on the front foot and determined not to give up without a fight.

Chelsea began to turn the screw, the tempo raised with almost constant pressure on the Bolton back line. Lampard, Cole and Ballack all lining up to shoot at the Bolton goal but every time finding a white shirt flinging its way and deflected and diverting their shots wide.

Eventually the pressure eventually told and it was Shevchenko, in probably his last game for the club, who claimed it. A corner wasn’t cleared properly and the ball fell to the Ukrainian in the box who scuffed it in from close range. Not one of his best but surely one of his most important.

Yet almost unbelievably Bolton could have been level within minutes. Despite having offered virtually nothing as an attacking force all match, Diouf turned on a loose ball in the box and hit a well struck shot only to see Cech block well.

After taking the lead Chelsea became more cautious, understandably perhaps, and the tempo dropped dramatically as they opted for safety first. Joe Cole had a good shot well saved but chances became few and far between.

Still the Blues were reminded of how narrow their lead was when a looping header was cleared off the line by Ashley Cole after a Petr Cech punch was headed back in by Gavin McCann.

However as news of a second Manchester United goal slowly filtered through the atmosphere fizzled out. And there was to be further disappointment for the home side when with only seconds left on the clock Matt Taylor pounced on the ball to deny Chelsea the victory they had needed.

An afternoon which promised much, ultimately ended in disappointment for the home side and great credit must go to Bolton for the fight they put up. Chelsea meanwhile must now quickly forget about the Premier League and concentrate on the Champions League final.