Lampard (pen) 45 + 2

                                                                                                                                       Deco 61

                                                                                                                                       Knight (og) 82

                                                                                                                                       Drogba 90

Chelsea completed their second 4-0 trouncing of Gary Megson’s Bolton side in three days.

But they were made to work hard in this encounter, until the Trotters were reduced to ten men shortly before half-time, leading to a second-half procession by Carlo Ancelotti’s table-toppers.

Both sides made significant changes to their line-ups from their midweek Carling Cup clash, with Chelsea surprisingly dropping Joe Cole to the bench despite his starring role three days earlier.

The Blues did create a number of first-half chances. And not for the first time (or the last, one suspects), the hosts were grateful to keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen for a number of fine saves.

He denied all the usual Chelsea suspects, including Didier Drogba twice, tipping the Ivorian’s header over the bar having just saved a rasping drive form Nicolas Anelka..

The hosts had moments of their own, notably through much-criticised striker Johan Elmander, who was narrowly off target with two efforts

But Jlloyd Samuel clipped a goalbound Drogba in the box right on half-time. And his sending-off and Frank Lampard’s subsequent penalty left Bolton a goal and a man down at the break.

Portuguese midfielder Deco made it 2-0 on 61 minutes with a lovely run and left foot finish, after Lampard had nearly split the crossbar in two with his shot from a well-worked corner.

And two goals in the last ten minutes gave the scoreline a sheen which was perhaps a little unfair on the hosts.

Zat Knight turned a near-post cross into his own net under pressure from Branislav Ivanovic on 82 minutes, and Drogba finally got the goal his powerful display merited, finishing neatly after Lampard’s and Deco’s party-pieces had set up the chance.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti called this a “very dangerous” result, because people will think we can win four-nil every week. We still have to work hard.”