Anelka 43

Nicolas Anelka’s first Chelsea goal since January edged his side past Bolton, leaving the Blues four points clear of Manchester United at the EPL summit with four games left.

Anelka’s goal came at the end of a nervy first-half performance but did little to settle Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

And they were grateful to the match officials for not penalising penalty-box handballs by both Didier Drogba and John Terry.

Chelsea came close to breaking the deadlock on 24 minutes when the ball struck an unsuspecting Salomon Kalou’s head and flashed wide after Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had unconvincingly parried a trademark Drogba free-kick.

But they went ahead when Drogba’s sublime left-wing cross was headed home from close range by Nicolas Anelka.

Moments earlier at the other end, Drogba appeared to clear a cross with his hand. And just past the hour mark, Terry leant into a cross by Chung-Yong Lee and the ball struck his upper arm.

Chelsea finished strongly. Yuri Zhirkov, head bandaged after an accidental first-half clash, forced a fine save from Jaaskelainen and Frank Lampard struck a post after neat set-up play by Joe Cole.

But Bolton’s Johan Elmander nearly equalised with a late header which went agonisingly wide.