Bolton 1 Chelsea 5
Frank Lampard scored a classy hat-trick as Chelsea trounced bottom side Bolton with a clinical display at the Reebok Stadium.
Daniel Sturridge set the Blues on their way with a coolly taken downward header inside two minutes.
And although Sturridge also fired his second and Chelsea’s third courtesy of a goalkeeping error by Adam Bogdan, Lampard stole the show.
The England midfielder, who retained his place in the starting line-up after an impressive goalscoring display in the midweek Champions League draw with Valencia, turned in his first from Sturridge’s cross.
He made it 4-0 just before the interval when he followed up David Luiz’s strike to shoot home, and a composed finish – after Dedryck Boyata had headed a consolation for the hosts – sealed his treble after the break.
Chelsea’s margin of victory, which takes them up to third in the Premier League table, reflected their dominance and was mainly down to a devastating first-half display.
The damage was done down the home side’s left flank with Sturridge, Jose Bosingwa and the marauding Luiz causing havoc.
Chelsea’s opener came inside 90 seconds when, after one of Bosingwa’s countless rampaging runs earned a corner via a hurried clearance from Boyata, Sturridge lost his marker to confidently head the resultant Lampard set-piece into the net from six yards.
Number two quickly followed, with Lampard getting on the end of a delightful passing move involving Juan Mata, Ramires and Sturridge to sweep the ball home beyond Adam Bogdan.
Chelsea were now rampant and needed little encouragement – but nevertheless they found it in the form of the unfortunate Bogdan.
Sturridge was the beneficiary in the first of two goalkeeping errors, adding the visitors’ third when he cut inside and hit an awkward shot that bounced in front of Bogdan and squirmed through the Hungarian and in at the near post.
Again the former Trotters loan star refused to celebrate out of respect for the team where he spent such a happy stint last season.
But Lampard, whose love of Bolton is well known for very different reasons having regularly scored crucial goals in previous title-winning campaigns, had no reason to hold back after grabbing his second of the game.
Lampard showed his trademark drive and desire, and his willingness to gamble was rewarded when he carefully slotted the ball past Bogdan after the keeper failed to hold Luiz’s speculative shot.
Boyata gave the hosts the dream start to the second half when he headed home Petrov’s enticing cross.
And although that roused the home fans and gave Wanderers a glimmer of hope, the Blues quickly regained their composure and regained control.
Lampard completed his hat-trick after another delightful team move, stroking the ball beyond Bogdan after great work and interplay involving Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba.
Both sides had chances in an open final quarter, with Sturridge shooting from all angles as he chased his hat-trick and Drogba, who replaced the suspended Torres, eager to get on the scoresheet.
But Bolton came closest with Chelsea substitute Branislave Ivanovic having to make a stunning clearance to deny Kevin Davies in the final minutes – although the ball did seem to cross the line before the big defender intervened.
Chris Eagles also struck the post with a fierce long-range effort that Cech will have probably have expected to tip wide.
However, Chelsea survived unscathed to see out their biggest victory of the season.
This post was last modified on 03/10/2011