Oct 31, 2009 - 2:37 PM
0 shoutsBy MICK ROBERTS STATS European Football Writer=
LONDON (SE) - Chelsea kept their Premier League title charge on course by beating Bolton 4-0 for the second time in four days at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.
England midfielder Frank Lampard scored from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time after Jloyd Samuel had been sent off for a foul on Didier Drogba.
Second half strikes from Deco and a Zat Knight own goal put the visitors in complete control before Drogba put the gloss on an empathic victory in the dying seconds.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti afterwards warned his side against complacency, saying: "Our results have been good, but we know it's not possible to win every game 4-0.
"It's dangerous to think like that, it can't happen. We must keep our concentration and try to play well for 90 minutes, that's all that matters.
"Right now we're doing very well, we're top and we want to win every game.
"It has been a very good day because we played well and won. There is a good atmosphere in the team and we are playing good football, which is important."
Chelsea, who thrashed Bolton 4-0 in the League Cup as recently as Wednesday, dominated from start to finish but had to wait until the final minute of the first half to take the lead.
Drogba raced onto Michael Ballack's centre before being scythed down by Samuel. Referee Peter Walton brandished a straight red card before Lampard stepped up to slot home the penalty.
Lampard afterwards admitted he felt sympathy for the unlucky Samuel, saying: "It was a penalty, that was clear for everyone to see and Didier is still a bit injured from it.
I don't quite agree with the rule that if you give away a penalty you get sent off. In these situations I think the penalty is punishment enough.
"We had it ourselves earlier in the season when Petr Cech was sent off and I think it is a bit harsh. It ruins the game as a contest but unfortunately those are the rules and the ref played it by the book."
Jussi Jaaskelainen twice saved brilliantly to deny the lively Drogba before Deco doubled Chelsea's lead 17 minutes after the interval.
Anelka played through Deco and the Portugal international turned neatly inside the penalty are before picking out the bottom corner.
Lampard rattled the crossbar before Knight turned Ricardo Carvalho's centre into his own net under pressure from Branislav Ivanovic in the 81st minute.
Drogba compounded Bolton's misery in the last minute, slotting home from close range after Deco's knockdown was back heeled into his path by Lampard.
Bolton manager Gary Megson was pleased with his side's effort despite the one-sided scoreline.
Megson said: "The way we have competed and the way we went about the game was much better than Wednesday.
"I am bitterly disappointed we have been beaten but the manor was the complete opposite."
Chelsea travel to Atletico Madrid in midweek, needing a win to book their place in the Champions League knockout stage.
