The German midfielder nodded home Frank Lampard's inswinging corner to continue the Blues fine record against the Wanderers but in all fairness the hosts should have had something out of the game.

Chelsea tested Trotters keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen from range on a number of occasions throughout the evening, whilst El-Hadji Diouf missed two late chances to give Sam Allardyce's men a share of the spoils.

The two Abdoulaye's, Meite and Faye, at the heart of the Bolton defence limited the opportunities for the likes of £30 million Andrei Shevchenko and his £24 million strike partner Didier Drogba.

Throughout the contest the forward pair recorded just three efforts on target between them with former Milan goalgetter Shevchenko forcing a good save out of Jaaskelainen and Drogba having his free kick pawed away by the Finnish custodian.

Bolton themselves didn't have much in front of goal to speak of as Kevin Davies headed over Nicky Hunt's deep cross in the early moments of the game and Tal Ben-Haim flashed an effort just wide of Carlo Cudicini's post just after the re-start.

England regular Frank Lampard had a couple of trademark efforts from distance which Jaaskelainen was equal to and neither Geremi with a long range thunderbolt or Ricardo Carvalho's header off the post could break down the Bolton resilience.

Ballack however did manage to breach the Wanderers rearguard from a set-piece which Trotters manager Sam Allardyce will be fuming with as the player was poorly marked.

El-Hadji Diouf could have given Bolton a deserved point but of his two efforts on goal, one he took to long with when bringing it down off his chest and the other he rushed when trying to flick it past Cudicini.

Saturday sees the Wanderers make their first trip to the Madejski Stadium for a clash against this seasons surprise package Reading. Both sides are going well in the top ten of the Premiership so the game in Berkshire is billed as a real six pointer.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Faye, Abdoulaye Meite, Tal Ben-Haim, Kevin Nolan, Ivan Campo, Gary Speed, Kevin Davies (Ricardo Vaz-Te), Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf

Subs Not Used: Stelios Giannakopoulos, Henrik Pedersen, Idan Tal, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

Chelsea: Carlo Cudicini, Geremi, Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Andrei Shevchenko (Saloman Kalou), Didier Drogba (John Obi Mikel)

Subs Not Used: Khalid Boulahrouz, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Henrique Hilario (GK)

Referee:

Steve Bennett

Attendance:

23,559

Booked:

Ivan Campo (Bolton)

Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)

Abdoulaye Faye (Bolton)

Kevin Nolan (Bolton)

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