Bolton |
1-1 |
Chelsea |
Pedersen 63 |
|
Hasselbaink |
Barclaycard Premiership, November 23 |
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored in the 90th minute
to secure a point for 10 man Chelsea against relegation threatened
Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.
Bolton were within minutes of their second successive victory after
Henrik Pedersen had opened the scoring in the 64th minute.
Thirteen minutes later Celestine Babayaro was dismissed and Chelsea
were left with a mountain to climb. But they refused to crumble and
got their reward when Hasselbaink equalised on the stroke of
full-time.
Bolton began brightly after beating Leeds last week and Paul
Warhurst released Pedersen down the left but the move broke down when
he delivered a poor cross.
The industrious Gianfranco Zola tried to release Eidur Gudjohnsen
with a ball over the top but Warhurst was alert to the danger and
conceded a corner. Zola took it and picked out William Gallas, only
for Warhurst to again display his defensive qualities with a timely
clearance.
Chelsea were beginning to pick up the pace and a driving run from
Frank Lampard took him into the heart of the home defence. He released
Gallas but goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen managed to scramble the ball
clear.
Jaaskelainen was again called into action a minute later when a
20-yard shot from Gudjohnsen ended up in his arms. Bolton almost took
the lead in the 25th minute when Per Frandsen whipped in a volley
following a pass from Djorkaeff that Cudicini did well to turn around
the post.
Bolton found themselves on the back foot when Babayaro picked out
Gudjohnsen but Charlton managed to get a vital touch. The home side
hit back and Jay-Jay Okocha spotted Pedersen at the back post
and delivered a precise cross.
The Danish striker, who scored twice against Leeds, miscued his
shot, however, and the chance was lost.
Bolton were beginning to play some neat football with Djorkaeff at the
heart of things. The former French international thumped in a 25-yard
shot in the 38th minute but Cudicini was equal to it.
The Italian goalkeeper got across quickly to turn the ball away at
the post. Chelsea found themselves pinned back but Jesper Gronkjaer
got clear 30 yards out. However his finish was wasteful. Bolton boss
Sam Allardyce made a switch at half-time, bringing on controversial
Danish midfielder Stig Tofting for Frandsen.
Chelsea also made a change with Hasselbaink replacing the
ineffective Jesper Gronkjaer. Zola was unhappy with a challenge by
Warhurst which left him on the floor and clutching his head. However
referee Mike Dean decided not to take any action against the Bolton
defender.
Then Djorkaeff was left clutching his leg after Gallas won the ball
and released Hasselbaink. He immediately cracked in a shot from the
edge of the area that was smothered by Jaaskelainen.
Chelsea move forward again and Zola delivered a curling free-kick
that was comfortably taken by the goalkeeper. Chelsea posed more of an
attacking threat with Hasselbaink in the side and Jaaskelainen beat
away his fierce drive from just inside the area.
The Finnish keeper then showed good reflexes to divert a shot from
Mario Melchiot to safety at the near post after a cross from Graeme Le
Saux. Bolton were suddenly under the cosh and Charlton hacked a shot
from Desailly off the line.
They could have folded but Bolton re-grouped to take the lead after
64 minutes. Warhurst's superb chip from 25 yards was tipped over by
the ever-alert Cudicini. Djorkaeff took the corner and Pedersen peeled
away before sending a powerful header beyond the goalkeeper.
It was the first goal Chelsea had conceded in six league games and
they could hardly believe it. Kevin Nolan almost added a second, only
for Cudicini to turn away the shot with his out-stretched leg.
Tofting found space down the right for Bolton and sent in a deep
cross that Pedersen latched onto in the 75th minute. However he
couldn't get enough power or direction on his header and Chelsea
breathed a sigh of relief.
Chelsea were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute when Babayaro was
dismissed for violent conduct for a challenge on Djorkaeff. Lampard
strode forward three minutes from time but his 20-yard shot cleared
the bar.
Hasselbaink equalised for Chelsea in the 90th minute when he sent a
glancing header from Zola's cross beyond Jaaskelainen.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen,
Barness, Campo, Warhurst, Gardner, Frandsen (Tofting 45), Nolan
(Ricketts 79), Okocha, Charlton, Pedersen, Djorkaeff.
Subs Not Used: Poole, Holdsworth, Southall.
Booked: Barness, Tofting.
Chelsea: Cudicini,
Melchiot, Gallas, Desailly, Babayaro, Gronkjaer (Hasselbaink 45),
Lampard, Petit,
Le Saux (Morris 72), Gudjohnsen, Zola.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Stanic, Terry.
Sent Off: Babayaro (77).
Booked: Melchiot, Gallas, Hasselbaink, Desailly.
Att: 25,476
Ref: M Dean (Wirral).
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