Blues banish all doubts on title destiny
by Paul WIlson at the Reebok stadium (The Observer)
Sunday April 16, 2006
If it is 2-0 in April at the Reebok then Chelsea must be winning the title. Jose Mourinho's players were not able to uncork the champagne as they did after winning by the same score here last year, but a second successive Premiership crown is now certain.
Even Manchester United accepted that after failing to keep up the pressure at home to Sunderland on Good Friday and this result means the right combination of results could see corks popping at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
Chelsea were not at their most fluent or convincing against Sam Allardyce's sturdy and well-organised side, although they did not need to be. The points comfortably secured, the champagne football might arrive against Everton tomorrow afternoon, especially if United slip up again at Spurs in the lunchtime kick-off.
Ferguson had optimistically asserted that Bolton were unlikely to lose a fifth league game in a row, but they were never likely to win this one. They possessed enough determination and midfield personnel to make life hard for Chelsea without ever suggesting they had the quality up front to really hurt them.
That might not have been the case had Ricardo Vaz Te done better with a great first-half chance when the game was still scoreless, but after collecting a neat return pass from Jared Borgetti the Portuguese striker was unnerved by Petr Cech's prompt dash from his line and could only scuff a shot that rebounded from a post.
The way Bolton are set up they need chances like that to go in; they are not the type of team that can expect another couple of presentable ones to come along in a few minutes. Chelsea simply bided their time after that reprieve and waited for their moment. To Bolton's credit, they made them wait.
You could see Allardyce had done his homework in a first half during which Bolton stifled their opponents. Pushing men up to prevent Cech rolling the ball out to his full-backs, while denying Didier Drogba and Hernan Crespo space in which to collect long balls and turn, Bolton managed to restrict Frank Lampard's running room and limit Chelsea's time in possession.
Coupled with Chelsea giving the ball away far more often than usual -even Claude Makelele was guilty several times - the mood of the two managers must have made a stark contrast as the interval approached. That all changed in the last minute of the first half. Forced to come looking for the ball, Lampard cleanly dispossessed Ivan Campo, only to be clipped from behind as he turned towards goal.
It was a clear professional foul and Mourinho was incandescent on the touchline when Phil Dowd failed to caution Campo, so much so that he shoved away Alan Wiley when the fourth official tried to calm him down. The Chelsea manager could have found himself in trouble for that, although Wiley was apparently satisfied with an apology at half time.
A major reason Mourinho was able to be contrite was that Chelsea were ahead by then. From the free-kick for Campo's foul Lampard had swung over a regulation cross to the six-yard line - it was quick and accurate rather than the undefendable delivery Allardyce would later claim - that found Drogba and John Terry queuing up for a free header. Drogba appeared to make the first contact, though the pair met the ball together and there was sufficient doubt over the last touch for the defender to claim the goal.
'I think both touched the ball, but possibly the most important touch was John Terry's,' Mourinho said. Whoever the scorer, Bolton were behind and the gameplan for the remainder of the match would have to be revised. Bolton sent on Giannokopoulos for the second half but to no one's great surprise were unable to mount anything resembling a fightback.
Cech stayed unruffled in the Chelsea goal, safe behind a backline that pleased Mourinho by pushing up almost to the halfway line at times, and a possibly disheartened Bolton lost some of their limpet-like qualities and allowed their visitors some much-needed space.
Lampard, scorer of the two goals in the title-clinching win last season, was predictably the main beneficiary and his goal after 59 minutes was good enough to win any competition. First playing a one-two with Michael Essien on the left, he moved forward elegantly before releasing Crespo on the left, continuing his run into the penalty area and pointing to the spot where he wanted the return pass played.
Crespo obliged, Lampard collected the ball without breaking stride and poked a shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen with aplomb. Jaaskelainen prevented Arjen Robben adding a third before the end, Tal Ben Haim was dismissed for a second booking in injury time, but these were unimportant details.
The result was everything. 'We had a little bit of luck at the right moment with Vaz Te hitting the post,' Mourinho said magnanimously. 'Of course I am very confident of winning the title now, but I am not chirping or singing and I don't want my players to be happy too early. We need four points to be champions. The supporters are singing we are champions already but you won't catch me doing that. Not yet.'
MAN OF THE MATCH - Jose Mourinho Played a blinder in midweek, correctly predicting United would not win all their remaining games. Calling Fergie optimistic rather than falling for the mind games was also impressive. A sense of humour has returned.
