Ballack seals Chelsea victory

Jose Mourinho may not enjoy facing Bolton but he does like the Reebok Stadium as the Chelsea manager saw his team keep the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the table with a 1-0 win.

A goal from Michael Ballack was enough to seal victory on the ground where the Blues boss celebrated his first Premiership title two years ago.

However, Chelsea were grateful to goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini who made a crucial block from El-Hadji Diouf in stoppage time.

Chelsea were guilty of slack marking in the second minute when Kevin Davies ghosted in at the far post after Nicky Hunt clipped the ball forward but the chance went begging. Then Diouf whipped in a low cross from the right after nine minutes that was taken cleanly by Cudicini.

Chelsea responded in the 14th minute after Claude Makelele released Frank Lampard. He thumped in a shot from 25 yards but goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen got his body in the way.

Didier Drogba skipped away from Abdoulaye Meite four minutes later only for his cross to be deflected to safety.

There was another scare for Bolton in the 19th minute when Lampard rattled in a free-kick that Jaaskelainen parried to safety. Then the Finnish goalkeeper did well to block Drogba's effort from an acute angle before Ricardo Carvalho saw his effort come back off the post.

Jaaskelainen tipped over a thunderbolt from Andriy Shevchenko in stoppage time. Ballack peeled away from Davies as Lampard delivered the corner and headed home at the near post.

Tal Ben Haim strode forward in the 47th minute and sent in a shot from distance that went narrowly wide.

Bolton almost drew level in the 78th minute but Cudicini made a good block from Diouf's half-volley before denying the same player late on.