35) Chelsea Fc 2 - 2 Bolton Wanderers

Sat, 28th Apr 2007 Chelsea followers were put through the emotional mill as games at Stamford Bridge and Goodison Park swung back and forth in fortunes. At the end of Saturday lunchtime's matches, our rivals had made a significant break ahead in the title race. Chelsea knew, as did all Premier League watchers, that Bolton would pack a set-piece threat, even despite their considerable injury problems - but proved powerless to do much about it. Salomon Kalou's first brace for the Blues was matched by goals from centreback Lubomir Michalik and striker Kevin Davis, the latter equalising after Chelsea had gone in at the break 2-1 up. Before kick-off, José Mourinho decided that it was finally time to give those twin workhorses Drogba and Lampard a rest from the starting line-up. Both were on the bench. Lampard would not start a league game of any significance when fit for the first time since Boxing Day 2002. Rotation at left-back continued with Bridge in for Ashley Cole. Gérémi was at right-back and Diarra was given an opportunity in midfield. On a bright day, the Blues started brightly. Kalou, the natural replacement for Drogba, skinned stand-in Bolton right-back Campo on the bye line but failed to pick out anyone in the centre. Then when Wright-Phillips raced onto Gérémi's pass, his low cross was a yard or two in advance of Shevchenko. Just past quarter-of-hour, news filtered through of Everton's opening goal against Man United and the sun-baked Stamford Bridge crowd erupted into song. We were well on our way - or so we thought. But then Bolton won a free-kick on the left - swung in and headed down by a high-leaping Meite. Kalou attempted to clear as he fell back but the ball dropped in front of Bolton's second towering centre-back, Michalik, to prod in for the game's first goal on 18 minutes. It felt a deflating blow - but the team didn't take it that way, responding within three minutes - Bridge crossing superbly for Kalou to glance a headed equaliser across Jaaskelainen. There followed a couple of minutes of madness from Bolton left-back Gardner, red carded early in this fixture last season. There followed a couple of minutes of madness from Bolton left-back Gardner, red carded early in this fixture last season.

First he almost turned the ball into his own net, the keeper making a full length diving save. Then the Jamaican entered the notebook for almost removing the ear of WrightPhillips with a high challenge. It was the seconds after that foul tackle that may prove more significant over the coming days. Unaware that the whistle had gone, Carvalho challenged for the ball and emerged with an injured knee. He tried to continue but after a minute signalled to be replaced. Mourinho chose the Essien into defence route rather than opting to introduce Boulahrouz. Lampard's rest had been short-lived as he joined the action on 28 minutes. Two minutes later, Shevchenko expertly volleyed another Bridge cross with the outside of his boot but Jasskelainen equally adeptly tipped over. The corner that followed reached Essien at the far-post but having controlled it, he sliced wide. Then came the relief of the second goal. From a corner from the same side as the one minutes earlier, Kalou was the man at the far-post this time. He jumped high and headed goalwards, the ball striking the crossbar, bouncing down and then flicking off the knee of the keeper into the net. Kalou's second or an own-goal? On the basis of Ballack keeping his goal at Everton that similarly ricocheted between keeper and woodwork, our man now needed one for his first Chelsea hat-trick. Thirty-three minutes had gone and the Blues looked good for more goals although halftime arrived with the score 2-1. Chelsea made a change at half-time - in every likelihood a pre-planned one with Drogba on for Shevchenko. Bolton also made a switch - Vaz Te for the pretty anonymous Thompson - the visitors changing to a 4-3-3 shape. On 53 minutes came another big twist in the afternoon. Just as the first news of Everton's second goal started to arrive, Chelsea allowed Bolton to equalise. Whether it was wise to foul Davies 40 yards from goal (as had also happened two minutes earlier) is a bone of contention - but Terry did. So another set-piece needed defending and Chelsea did anything but - allowing two white shirts to run free - Davies heading past Cech from close range. Michalik was booked for pulling back Drogba after he had been turned, the Ivorian taking the free-kick himself but landing the ball on the top of the net.

Joe Cole came on for Diarra just before the hour was up and five minutes later rocketed a 25-yard volley a few yards wide after a corner was cleared his way. On 71 minutes, Andranik took on Cech from a full 35 yards - the shot flicking off the top of the goal. A moment that had the visiting manager pumping fist into palm in frustration. Big news may have broken about Big Sam jumping the Bolton ship in the summer but he was not looking a lame duck manager as his side contested hard in their own fight for Europe. On 74 minutes there was a handball controversy for the second game running when Meite clearly palmed down Drogba's flick beyond him. The players stopped but the whistle never came. It had been just outside the area. By now, everyone knew Man United had levelled it at 2-2 at Goodison. The title race was balanced on a knife edge. Essien pushed into midfield to leave three at the back. 'Attack! Attack!' chanted the crowd. The team tried, but nothing would fall for them. Terry joined the frontline as Bolton were asked to survive four minutes of added time. Everton meanwhile were collapsing to a 4-2 defeat and when the final 30 seconds in London SW6 were played out deep in the Chelsea half, Stamford Bridge sighed, turned and went home. This 2-2 draw matched the one by Bolton here during José Mourinho's first Chelsea season. On that occasion, it ultimately didn't damage our championship dream. This time, that does not look so likely. Chelsea(4-1-2-1-2): Cech; Gérémi, Carvalho (Lampard 28), Terry (c), Bridge; Diarra (J Cole 59), Mikel, Essien; Wright-Phillips; Shevchenko (Drogba h-t), Kalou. Scorers Kalou 21, 33. Bolton (4-1-2-1-2): Jaaskelainen; Campo, Michalik, Meite, Gardner; Speed (c); Andranik, Tal (Sinclair 77); Thompson (Vaz Te h-t); Davies, Anelka (Martin 90+1). Scorer Michalik 18, Davies 53. Booked Gardener, Michalik.