Premier League Match Time: Chelsea vs Bolton
It’s time for the Premier League game 20 game, when Chelsea host Bolton, at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 29 December.
Chelsea’s last home game was on Matchday 16, when they drew 1-1 against Everton. Ancelotti’s men took the lead from Dragba’s penalty, minutes before the break. But they had been without a resilient Everton who fought back valiantly in the second half, to level the score through an 86th minute Beckford goal, to steal a point from the game.
Essien and Mikel were out of sorts and the Blues’ resulting loss of control in midfield gave Everton the opportunity which they seized with both hands. Good news for Chelsea, their back line looking more solid than it had in weeks, with John Terry reporting back to duty. With Lampard also back, Chelsea could be in top form against Bolton. Chelsea clearly cannot rely on their young bench, and that was evident against the Toffees, who have gone unbeaten against the Stamford Bridge side for four games in a row. That said, Ancelotti’s men will appreciate Drogba’s return to the path of goal.
Bolton’s final away game against Sunderland on matchday 18 ended in a 1–0 defeat for the Trotters. The scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story and if Bolton had used all their chances they should have taken three points from the game. Where the Wanderers faltered was in defense with Sunderland’s three-pronged attack featuring Bent Wellbeck and Gyan causing confusion as to their intent, though for Bolton’s comfort they often canceled each other out.
But Bolton seemed the more complete side and, as is often the case, the better side lost when Wellbeck scored the only goal of the game, for the Black Cats.
Head to head, Chelsea have established a 13-1 lead against Bolton in the last 20 meetings between the sides. the last time the teams met was at Stamford Bridge, with the hosts winning 1-0 on the occasion.
Currently sitting fourth in the table having spent most of the season as the top dog, Chelsea have enjoyed a good home record this season, with six wins from eight organized games with one draw and one loss each. in the remaining matches. In contrast, Bolton in a respectable seventh place, have lost three games out of nine on the road, winning two and drawing four.
With Lampard’s return, Chelsea will have a point to prove, and the Stamford Bridge side can be expected to throw the kitchen sink at Bolton in an attempt to grab three points from Wednesday’s game.
Chelsea’s starting eleven against Tottenham on matchday 17 consisted of the following players: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Kalou, Anelka and Malouda. Drogba, Sturridge and Lampard played as substitutes.
Bolton had the following men in their starting XI against Sunderland on Matchday 18: Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Taylor, Holden, Muamba, Petrov, Elmander and Davies.
