Nolan: vital goal for Bolton

Bolton Wanderers twice came from behind in a 2-2 draw with high-flying Chelsea at the Reebok, with Kevin Nolan's goal 11 minutes from time earning a deserved point.

It was the second home match in succession that Nolan had scored a vital late leveller for Wanderers, and it might just make the difference in their relegation fight come the end of the season. 

Chelsea included Jody Morris and John Terry for the second time this week following their off-the-pitch battles for a match that was nothing more than a glorified scrap for the most part.

The visitors should have taken the lead with the first real chance of the game after 15 minutes when Jussi Jaaskelainen spilled a Morris cross when challenged by former Bolton man Eidur Gudjohnsen. The ball dropped to Frank Lampard inside the box, and he tried to place his shot into the corner, but the keeper recovered to block his effort.

Gianfranco Zola was at the heart of everything Chelsea attempted to create, and a brilliantly lofted pass over Gudni Bergsson presented Gudjohnsen with a great chance but he tried to volley when off-balance and sliced the ball wide of goal.

Wanderers then opened-up Chelsea on 32 minutes when Simon Charlton slipped the ball to Kevin Nolan but he shot the ball against Carlo Cudicini with the goal at his mercy.

	Gudjohnsen: scored on Reebok return

Lampard went down in the box under a challenge from Per Frandsen a minute later, but his appeal for a penalty was a half-hearted one.

Bolton almost made the breakthrough on 40 minutes when Frandsen's free-kick at the side of the box was met by Bruno N'Gotty at the near post, but the ball spun wide off Mario Stanic.

Frandsen had another golden chance seven minutes after the break when he get in behind the Blues defence but sliced his shot wide, under pressure from Mario Melchiot.

Bolton were made to pay within a minute when Gudjohnsen linked up with Stanic and shot the ball across Jaaskelainen into the net with some ease.

Wanderers were stung into action and Fredi Bobic was denied a quick equaliser when Terry headed his volley off the line. The ball was never cleared though, and when it broke to Michael Ricketts he kept his composure and walked the ball round Marcel Desailly and Cudicini to level the score.

Bolton had their tails up now, but were stunned nine minutes later when Graeme Le Saux played an angled ball to substitute Mikael Forssell, and his drive from the edge of the box bobbled past Finish compatriot Jaaskelainen and nestled in the corner of the net.

Then came Nolan's vital equaliser when Terry's header broke off Lampard, and the Wanderers ace thumped a half-volley from 16-yards that took a slight deflection off Desailly and spun past Cudicini.

Terry almost stole it for the visitors in the dying seconds when the ball broke to him four yards out and although he beat Jaaskelainen, Charlton managed to clear off his line. There did seem to be some justice in that.

Man-Of-The-Match: Simon Charlton (Bolton Wanderers)
Although this was never a match for the purists, there were some good individual performances, and none better over the 90 minutes than that of Simon Charlton. He was involved in setting up the first Wanderers goal, and his last minute clearance earned his team a deserved point.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Diawara, Bergsson, N'Gotty (Barness 78), Charlton, Southall, Frandsen (Gardner 72), Farrelly, Nolan, Ricketts, Pedersen (Bobic 57).
Subs Not Used: Poole, Johnson.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Terry, Desailly, Le Saux, Lampard, Morris (Jokanovic 76), Dalla Bona, Stanic, Zola (Forssell 65), Gudjohnsen.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Ferrer, Keenan.
Booked: Stanic. 

Att: 23,891
Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).