Chelsea defeat Bolton

Fourth-place Chelsea boosted their English Premier League title defence with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium yesterday.



Didier Drogba gave the visitors an early lead against the run of play with an audacious shot from 30 yards out.



Matt Taylor almost levelled with a bullet header but Petr Cech saved well before Florent Malouda scored at the other end from a tight angle.



Nicolas Anelka hit a third with a left-foot shot in the corner and Ramires finished it with a side-foot volley.



It was a night to forget for Bolton, who failed to draw inspiration from the tributes paid before the match to club legend Nat Lofthouse, who died aged 85 on January 16.



Chelsea now sit seven points behind leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand but travel to Blackpool today, while Bolton drop to tenth below Stoke on goal difference.