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Chelsea 1-0 Bolton




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Updated Dec 29, 2010 5:09 PM ET
Chelsea ended their worst Premier League run for more than a decade by beating Bolton 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Florent Malouda scored his first league goal for more than two months to send the faltering champions back into the top four and ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Man City 4-0 Aston Villa | Recap
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Birmingham 1-1 Man Utd | Recap Chelsea 1-0 Bolton | Recap
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Didier Drogba also hit the post but was forced to clear off the line as Bolton had more than enough chances to snatch a point.
Chelsea's first league win in seven lifted them back to within four points of leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.
Despite his side having thrown away a five-point lead in the last two months, Ancelotti retained the backing of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich ahead of tonight's game.
The Russian would not have liked what he saw from his Caribbean retreat as the Blues struggled to string two passes together in a miserable first half at a sodden Stamford Bridge.
They did not manage a single shot on target and of the two they did muster, one of them was a Drogba free-kick that embarrassingly screwed out for a throw-in.
Bolton were typically combative and John Terry needed to produce a desperate challenge to prevent Kevin Davies stealing in, while Matthew Taylor drilled wide after latching onto the recalled Jose Bosingwa's attempted clearance.
Branislav Ivanovic was booked for felling Johan Elmander and Chelsea's frustration increased as captain Terry harangued referee Michael Jones after the official elected not show Paul Robinson a yellow card for a foul on Michael Essien.
Taylor sent a sweet left-foot curler narrowly over as Bolton continued to look the more threatening and there was more bad news for the home side when Drogba began limping.
The striker played on as Chelsea began to wrest a semblance of control and Taylor was booked after clattering into Ramires.
But the home side were not even close to a goal before being booed off by some of their fans at half-time.
They looked no better in the opening four minutes of the second half until, out of nowhere, Frank Lampard produced a wonderful defence-splitting pass for Drogba, whose finish hit the inside of the far post and was cleared to safety.
Chelsea suddenly looked a different side and Nicolas Anelka was flagged narrowly offside racing onto Ramires' through ball before they finally put together a sweeping passing move that ended with a tame Essien finish.

WHAT A YEAR!

Take a pictorial look back at an incredible year in soccer with the 2010 Year in Pictures gallery.

The pressure finally told in the 61st minute when Essien released Drogba down the right and the striker squared for Malouda to tap home his first league goal since October.
The jubilant celebrations from both fans and players told their own story but Chelsea's confidence remained fragile and Sam Ricketts blazed over from 12 yards as Bolton hit back.
Stuart Holden then had a handball appeal turned down after smashing a shot at Terry inside the box.
Sensing blood, visiting boss Owen Coyle withdrew Rodrigo Moreno - impressive on his full Premier League debut - for Ivan Klasnic after his side were awarded a free-kick.
Gary Cahill - a reported January target for Chelsea - immediately headed Taylor's centre wide.
Bolton went even closer when Elmander's cross was met by a bullet header from Holden, forcing a wonderful tip over from Petr Cech.
The goalkeeper made a hash of the resulting corner and was grateful to Drogba on the line for clearing the danger.
At the other end, Essien thought he had bundled the ball over the line in between Bolton's final two substitutions but the flag had already gone up.
Malouda was denied twice by Jussi Jaaskelainen late on before Ancelotti ran down the clock by introducing Salomon Kalou and Paulo Ferreira in the closing seconds.

Liverpool 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers




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Updated Dec 29, 2010 5:33 PM ET
Liverpool's lack of match practice cost them as they suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to a Wolves side who climbed off the bottom of the table.
Snowy weather had forced the postponements of games against Fulham and Blackpool, meaning the Reds had not played in the league for 18 days.
That showed as they lacked invention and energy - even with the return of Steven Gerrard from six weeks out - but the visitors did have that spark and ended a run of six successive defeats away from home thanks to Stephen Ward's first Premier League goal.

Man City 4-0 Aston Villa | Recap
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The last time Wolves won at Anfield was 27 years ago next month when Steve Mardenborough scored the only goal of his Wanderers career.
But there could be no complaints from the home side who did not do nearly enough to extend a six-match unbeaten home record stretching back to their fateful loss to newcomers Blackpool on October 3.
Those were the dark days of the Reds' campaign, when they were lingering in the relegation zone after their worst start for 57 years.
Roy Hodgson cannot afford a return to those times with his side 12th in the table and owners New England Sports Ventures still deciding how much money they are willing to give the manager to strengthen the squad in next month's transfer window.
All but Martin Skrtel, Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Dirk Kuyt, had not seen any competitive action since the 3-1 defeat at Newcastle on December 11.
The aforementioned trio had played small parts in the goalless Europa League draw at home to Utrecht but the rest had spent the last two and a half weeks training at Melwood.
It was not apparent from this display as there was a lack of cohesion and fluidity which Wolves were only too happy to take advantage of.
The minute's applause for former Liverpool defenders Avi Cohen, who died aged 54 after a motorbike accident, and Bill Jones - grandfather of Reds right-back Rob Jones - who passed away aged 89 - had barely faded away before Raul Meireles had a chance to put the hosts ahead.
Maybe the lack of match practice contributed to his failure to open the scoring after just seven minutes but it was a poor excuse if so.
Fernando Torres' quickly-taken free-kick left George Elokobi floundering but the Portugal international shot straight at goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and Richard Stearman cleared the loose ball.
Liverpool's strikers fed on scraps throughout - Torres did not have one opportunity - as Wolves pressurised the man in possession and defended solidly.

WHAT A YEAR!

Take a pictorial look back at an incredible year in soccer with the 2010 Year in Pictures gallery.

David Ngog's left-footed shot from 25 yards was easily claimed by Hennessey as Liverpool struggled to break down Wolves, who were enjoying plenty of possession themselves.
With the visitors finding room on their left it prompted a tactical switch, with Gerrard moving to the right and Meireles returning to the centre where he had enjoyed his best performances.
It lasted only until half-time as Gerrard reverted to the middle.
Again the Reds could have taken an early lead as Dirk Kuyt's pass to Glen Johnson inside the penalty area set up Ngog but he hooked wide from six yards.
Wolves defender Ronald Zubar was slightly closer with his shot on the turn as he at least forced Jose Reina, on his 200th Premier League appearance, into a low save.
It was an omen of things to come as in the 56th minute the visitors took the lead after a mix-up between Skrtel and Kyrgiakos allowed Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's through-ball to squeeze between them.
Ward raced in behind to poke home the first goal conceded at Anfield in 478 minutes in all competitions.
Ngog was replaced by Ryan Babel just past the hour, a decision met with derision by the Kop - who not for the first time this season briefly chanted the name of Kenny Dalglish.
Liverpool were wobbling and only a last-gasp block by Johnson prevented Jarvis making it 2-0.
Hodgson's final two substitutions sent on Joe Cole and Fabio Aurelio for Meireles and Paul Konchesky.
Two minutes from time Skrtel headed in Gerrard's free-kick but he was well offside.
Wolves fans sang "How bad must you be? We're playing away" and on the night it was difficult to argue with that.
The Kop appeared to be in agreement, responding with "Hodgson for England".