Nicolas Anelka scores as Blues beat bolton 1-0 to go four points clear of Man United on top of the epl table
Nicolas Anelka scores as Blues beat bolton 1-0 to go four points clear of Man United on top of theu00a0EPL table |
| Chelsea's French striker Nicolas Anelka (centre) celebrates with teammates Frank Lampard (left) and Salomon Kalou after scoring against Bolton pics/afp |
Chelsea seized control of the EPL title race as Nicolas Anelka's goal clinched a 1-0 win over Bolton last night to leave the Blues four points clear at the top of the table.
Anelka's header late in the first half at Stamford Bridge was enough to ensure the Blues extended their lead over second-placed Man United, who drew at Blackburn on Sunday.
Chelsea kicked off in their best form of the campaign, having scored 17 goals in their last four matches. But the Blues looked a little less convincing at the back and South Korean midfielder Lee Chung-Yong fashioned a chance for Bolton with a clever turn and cross towards Matthew Taylor at the far post. Petr Cech spilled the ball under pressure from Taylor's challenge, but Paulo Ferreira scrambled the shot to safety. Terry then needed treatment after tangling with Taylor before Kevin Davies left Yuri Zhirkov with a bloodied head wrapped in bandages following an aerial collision. Zhirkov was twice forced to leave the field to patch up his bleeding wound but the Russian returned to help Chelsea take the lead in the 43rd minute. He rolled a pass wide on the left to Drogba, who whipped a perfect cross that Anelka met with a close-range header. It was Anelka's first goal in 14 matches (since January at Burnley) and a perfect response to this week's claim from Bolton striker Davies that his ex-Wanderers teammate wasn't happy playing alongside Drogba.
