BOLTON WANDERERS 0 CHELSEA 1 (7/10/07)

MATCH REPORT: BOLTON WANDERERS 0 CHELSEA 1

There were plenty of smiles at the Reebok as the Blues followed up the win in Valencia by recording a first league victory under Avram Grant.

An afternoon that began well with Frank Lampard returning to the side became even better when Salomon Kalou found the net as half-time approached. Against a struggling Bolton side who had their moments, mostly involving a troublesome Kevin Davies, that single strike was always likely to be enough.

We climb the table to sixth place and enter the international two-week break with spirits high.

Although there was the boost of Lampard back, Essien, available in Spain midweek, was again ruled out so with Mikel suspended, Sidwell was given another start in midfield.

Belletti and Ferreira continue to alternate under Grant, the new Brazilian chosen at right-back on this occasion while up front in a three-man attack, Salomon Kalou was the man selected to fill Drogba's boots.

The Ivorian planted a header on target from a Joe Cole cross as early as the first minute, held by Jaaskelainen.

Bolton responded with a Gardener run and cross from the left that needed some scrambled defending at the far post to prevent Davies from capitalising.

Then when the Bolton centre-forward escaped down the right and shot hard, Cech's fisted block fortuitously fell for a colleague to clear rather than a white shirt to fire back at the target.

Bolton, nominally playing 4-3-3, were withdrawing all but Anelka deep when Chelsea had possession, making the midfield a packed place to be.

From a deep position, Lampard unleashed his first shot of the game on 16 minutes, low but straight at the keeper and a minute later, Campo was booked for sliding in on Joe Cole in the centre-circle, the quick-footed Chelsea man having been dumped on the turf by an illegal Diouf challenge minutes earlier.

On 20 minutes came the best chance of the game so far, and it fell Chelsea's way. Joey O'Brien failed to cut out a Kalou pass but although he had time to set his sights, Malouda blasted off target.

Diouf became the game's second caution when he tripped the escaping Malouda who had outsmarted O'Brien.

Malouda did a lot better than his earlier effort on 27 minutes when his snap shot was palmed wide at the base of the post by Jaaskelainen.

Bolton matched Chelsea just a minuite later when Cech was forced to push a Campo shot round the post after Diouf had charged past Makelele and crossed. There was plenty going on to keep the Reebok crowd's attention.

It was Cech again to the rescue on 33 minutes, Anelka's shot catching his legs after Guthrie had intercepted a Lampard pass and sent the Frenchman away to slice through the Chelsea backline.

Seven minutes later, the Chelsea goalkeeper turned into an attacking weapon as the Blues made the breakthrough. His long punt upfield was headed on by Malouda and as Miete allowed Kalou to slip the wrong side of him, the Chelsea striker flicked the ball up and as it fell, rifled it into the net.

Scored at his side's favourite end of the stadium, it was the Ivorian's first league goal of the season.

Just before the break, the home fans were shouting loud, accusing Sidwell of handling as he midjudged a chest trap in the penalty area. Replays suggested they had a case.

There was a Chelsea switch at half-time and it was the goalscorer who came off, Pizarro Kalou's replacement.

Anelka had a heading chance in the first minute after the restart but under pressure, it lacked the power to trouble Cech.

On 53 minutes McCann made it three Bolton bookings to none for Chelsea with an ugly lunge at Lampard.

That moment did not hide the fact that Chelsea were enduring our toughest patch of the game. It needed Terry, Carvalho and co. to be at their blocking best to keep the white-shirted offensive at bay.

Chelsea broke out on 68 minutes for Joe Cole to fire a couple of yards over and then Carvalho became Chelsea's first caution for taking Anelka out from behind. Davies then followed into the book for a foul on Ashley Cole.

Shevchenko was introduced with just over quarter-of-an-hour to go in place of Malouda, a direct replacement wide left.

Bolton were presented with a free-kick chance right on the edge of the area in a central position when a Sidwell handball was spotted. To Chelsea supporter cheers, Anelka planted the chance high into the away end.

Chelsea had weathered the best Bolton had to throw at us and were looking the stronger as the game entered its final stages. Joe Cole shot at Jaaskelainen, his last impact on the game before being replaced by Ferreira with Belletti moving into midfield.

The closing minutes were seen out with just one more moment of concern, substitute Stelios heading onto the top of the crossbar after Anelka had chipped over a cross.

Chelsea had done enough. A fifth straight win had been achieved on what is fast becoming one of our happiest hunting grounds.

Chelsea Cech; Belletti, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Sidwell, Makelele, Lampard; J Cole (Ferreira 84) , Kalou (Pizarro h-t), Malouda (Shevchenko 73).
Scorer Kalou 40.
Booked Carvalho 68.

Bolton Jaaskelainen; J O'Brien (Stelios 84), A O'Brien, Meite, Gardner; McCann, Campo, Guthrie; Davies (c), Anelka, Diouf (Wilhelmsson 66).
Booked Campo 17, Diouf 24, McCann 53, Davies 72, Jaaskaleinen 90+

REACTION: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

It might not have been a perfect performance, but with three points taken from a Premier League game for the first time since August, Avram Grant insists we met our targets as we earned a 1-0 win up at Bolton.

'Sometimes you need the points, especially when you play away, and especially after a long time. The target today was to take the three points,' Grant said.

'It was an important three points after a long time in the league. The second win away from home in four days. I think we deserved to win, created more chances. It was not an easy game to play against a team that play direct, with physical players, but again, a clean sheet and three points, that's what's important.'

On the team's style of play, Grant conceded that the flowing football did not quite come, but this will be a gradual transition as the players become acquainted with his coaching methods.

'It will take time. I think we need to see how we develop from month to month, and the target for long term is to build a style and play good football,' he said.

Grant, when questioned on the matter, again reiterated that it is he who is in charge of the team, saying: 'They pay me to be in charge, I have to be in charge and take the decision for the present and the future. I came to take the team forward and it's good to do it through winning.'

Andriy Shevchenko started the game on the bench, and was introduced with just over a quarter of an hour remaining. Grant was keen to stress this signified nothing but the right tactics on the day, and there is no pressure from the owner to play any individuals.

'We have a long season. Every player has good times and bad times. Sheva is trying hard and I'm sure he will be a great player for Chelsea. In this game we used other players, but again it's a long season.

'When I got the job at Chelsea nobody said to me the friends of Peter Kenyon need to play. I need to make the decision for the good of Chelsea. We have a big squad and need all the players, including Sheva.'

He also conceded that the job of being Chelsea's first team coach brings with it great pressure, but this is something he craves in the job.

'I don't want to live in football without pressure. When you're at a big club, you always have pressure to achieve the best. This is a good pressure.

'It's a big responsibility but I like it. I like to make pressure on myself, but the name of the game in football is pressure from everywhere, so it's not a game for weakness,' he said.

Salomon Kalou's 41st minute strike was enough to give us the points at the Reebok Stadium, our fifth consecutive win there, but the Ivorian was forced off at half-time with a hamstring problem. Grant suggested the substitution was precautionary, saying: 'I don't know yet. We will see.'

There was good news though as Frank Lampard played 90 minutes on his return from injury, and John Terry came through unscathed in his face mask.

Regarding Lampard, Grant said: '[It was his] first game after six weeks, I'm very happy. Of course we don't play with the full squad, and even today we miss a lot of players, but I'm happy we have a big squad. Frank especially, after a few weeks to play 90 minutes it was good for us and good for him.'

There was also praise for his captain: 'I must tell you about JT that I've never seen him not okay, he's always fit to play for Chelsea, for England. I see how he behaves, and he is always available.'

Finally, there was welcome news for England fans, as Grant insisted he would not deny injured winger Shaun Wright-Phillips the opportunity to join up with the national side, as long as he proves his fitness.

'He is almost fit but we need to see tomorrow. I will not stop him playing for England. I was a national coach, and respect very much the national team. He needs to be fit to play. If he is I will not stop him, even though he didn't play the last two weeks,' Grant said.

REACTION: WE NEED A RUN OF WINS

Frank Lampard and goal hero Salomon Kalou have been giving their thoughts on the victory at Bolton yesterday, and both believe it was vital to pick up three points as soon as possible.

It was Lampard's first appearance since the team's last league victory, the 1-0 win over Portsmouth on August 25, and Kalou's first league goal since netting against Wanderers at Stamford Bridge back in late April.

Lampard had kind words for his team-mate, whose 41st minute goal was enough to seal the win.

'I was very pleased with him, he's very quick, very direct and it was a great finish,' said the midfielder.

'In the first half we created many decent opportunities, which could have killed the game. At 1-0 you always fear them coming back into the game.

'If you don't battle here you probably lose points. At times our football was pretty good and we created enough chances to be in the lead, two or three good chances and Salomon stuck one of them away.

'When you come here you have to mix it up, and Sala showed great composure. He's a talented, quick young player who wants to learn,' he added.

'It was very important for us to follow up the Champions League result. Our form has been poor, and it's important we turned the corner sooner rather than later. It's always a difficult place to come and we showed all the qualities we needed to win the game,' Lampard said.

After the win, we are back up to sixth in the table, but Lampard insists this is still not good enough for what we have come to expect from Chelsea.

'There's a long way to go, we need to be up there like the last three seasons. We need to be challenging for the league rather than talking about being in eighth place or sixth place. It's very important we win, and then talk about turning corners.

'We need to stick a run of wins together, five, six or seven, and hope other teams slip up. We've been in positions before where we're up there and you always fear teams coming from behind and putting a run together and we have to be that team.'

Kalou was pleased to be back among the goals, but also pleased to contribute to a winning team.

'I scored last year against Bolton and this year again, but everyone had a good game, and the most important thing is to come back with this winning spirit and it was good for the international break,' said the Ivorian.

'Last time I scored we drew at home and today we won, so it's positive and I hope it's a good time for us. It was a long ball from Petr, it dropped after the last defender and the keeper came out.

'I felt like I could have the ball before him and flicked it up. I could go down for the penalty, but it's always better to score my first goal than the penalty,' he smiled.

Kalou was forced off at half-time with a slight hamstring strain, which he hopes is nothing serious, but Lampard was able to play the full 90 minutes, which left him satisfied with his part in the win.

'I was pleased to get through the game, I haven't trained too much at the intense level of Premier League football so to get through 90 minutes is very pleasing and it was important for Chelsea to get back to winning ways.'

It was our first league win since Lampard's last involvement, but he was able to admit it wasn't simply down to his presence.

'I'd like to take credit for it but it's great being back with the lads and I'll try and give us much as I can to help us win games. Things haven't been going so well and I wasn't able to contribute, so to be able to do that is good', he said.

Lampard now joins up with the England squad for matches against Estonia and Russia, while Kalou's hamstring problem leaves him a doubt for Ivory Coast's friendly against Austria.