The Blues Chelsea finally ended their six-game winless run in the English Premier League, beating Bolton Wonderes 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, seven points adrift of Manchester United, but they may finally have turned the corner heading into 2011.
Only in the inaugural English Premier League season has a team gone seven games without victory - and gone on to lift the title. That team was The Red devils Manchester United, but you cannot imagine Sir Alex Ferguson's side would have been so accommodating to Carlo Ancelotti's struggling outfit, who barely created a chance in the opening 45 minutes.
Chelsea had Nicolas Anelka back in their starting XI, but it was Bolton who arguably enjoyed the better moments in a first half that did not produce a single shot on target. Ancelotti responded by sending his team out early from the half-time team talk, and it almost produced instant results as Didier Drogba came as close as anybody to breaking the deadlock.
The breakthrough eventually arrived on the hour and it was Drogba who supplied the assist, rolling the ball into the path of flourent Malouda at the back post for a goal that brought relief around Stamford Bridge. Bolton called for an offside flag against Drogba, but that did not concern Don Ancelotti who greeted the goal with raised arms and pumped fists.
