past Bolton 2-1 at Stamford Bridge as they reached
the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.
The home side broke the deadlock after 25 minutes
when defender Kurt Zouma, making his first
competitive start following his January move from
Saint Etienne, stabbed the ball home from close
range after Loic Remy had flicked the ball on in the
area.
However, the visitors hit back within six minutes
after a deep free-kick was headed in off the post by
captain Matt Mills beyond captain Petr Cech's dive.
It denied the Czech goalkeeper a clean sheet and left
the normally miserly Blues with one shutout in
seven matches this season.
With Chelsea applying the pressure, they eventually
broke Wanderers' resistance 10 minutes into the
second half thanks to a low, skimming strike from
25 yards by Oscar.
Despite some late pressure from the Championship
club, it was the Premier League leaders who
advanced.
Andre Schurrle spurned a host of chances and
Bolton goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan was in fine
form to deny the hosts.
Bolton are opponents who come with some
nostalgia for Chelsea, who made nine changes with
only Cesar Azpilicueta and former Wanderer Gary
Cahill retained from the side which draw at
Manchester City.
Two goals from Frank Lampard at Bolton secured
the 2-0 win which confirmed Chelsea's first
championship in 50 years in 2005.
The Blues also won the League Cup nine years ago,
in Jose Mourinho's first season in English football,
and, as the first silverware on offer in the season, it
can provide a boost at a crucial stage in the
campaign.
The visitors have one win in eight Championship
matches and made five changes from the side which
lost at Wolves, including a debut for Chris Herd, a
loan signing from Aston Villa, who visit Stamford
Bridge on Saturday.
Chelsea's fringe stars were told to seize their
opportunity to impress and they could have put the
game out of sight in the opening quarter.
World Cup winner Schurrle had a wickedly
inswinging free-kick clawed behind by Lonergan
before his weak header from Mohamed Salah's
cross.
Lonergan saved from Oscar, Salah prodded wide,
Remy headed off target and Schurrle had a free-kick
tipped on to the bar by Lonergan as Chelsea
bombarded the visiting goal.
Schurrle, again, went close, before Chelsea took the
lead from a corner, when Cahill's header was
blocked and Remy headed the ball back into the six-
yard box, where Zouma pounced.
Schurrle found the top tier of the Shed End from
Remy's cross and Salah curled wide from Oscar's
pass before Chelsea were made to pay for their lack
of precision.
Troy Deeney's deep free-kick from the right found
Mills on the edge of the hosts' box.
Mourinho would have been concerned to see a
journeyman defender at his ninth club climb
highest to convert from 16 yards, the ball glancing
off the post and in.
Schurrle again fired off target, Nathan Ake was
denied from 25 yards by Lonergan and, after the
restart, Oscar had a header saved.
Even the less than prolific John Obi Mikel tried his
luck, shooting straight at the goalkeeper, before
Lonergan was beaten for a second time.
A direct Remy run ended with a blocked shot, but
the rebound fell to Oscar, who emphatically drilled
in with the Bolton defence backing off.
Schurrle headed over and Oscar curled a free-kick
narrowly over before Remy was denied by Lonergan
after neat build-up play by Salah and Schurrle, who
then again curled wide.
The German forward fired a free-kick off target after
Didier Drogba's introduction.
Eden Hazard was introduced 11 minutes from time
in a further indication that Mourinho did not want
extra-time and of the Portuguese's concern at his
side's wasteful evening.
Schurrle came closest when he turned Dean Moxey
inside and out before firing a shot which Lonergan
claimed, but only after palming it on to the post.
Cech was called upon to save from Bolton substitute
Lee Chung-yong five minutes from time before
Drogba cleared from a corner as Wanderers pressed
to force extra-time, but, to the relief of much of
Stamford Bridge, the hosts held on.
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