Oscar strike spares Chelsea’s blushes

Chelsea 2 Bolton 1

Goalkeeper Petr Cech was captain, starting for the first time this season after being displaced as first choice by Thibaut Courtois, but his services were barely required as the Blues dominated.

Andre Schurrle spurned a host of chances and Bolton goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan was in fine form to deny the hosts.

French defender Kurt Zouma, on his debut, struck from a corner after 25 minutes to break the deadlock but the anticipated flood of goals did not materialise.

Chelsea’s profligacy was punished and their defensive frailties exposed when Bolton captain Matt Mills headed in an equaliser six minutes later with their only real opportunity.

Oscar saved his side’s blushes by striking from 25 yards out after 55 minutes for what proved to be the winner.

Still Didier Drogba, who came on as a substitute 18 minutes from time, must wait for the first goal of his second spell.

The Ivory Coast striker did not have an opportunity of note on a night when Chelsea were left to ponder how fearsome their strikeforce is without Diego Costa, whose hamstring problem currently limits him to one game a week.

Drogba’s most telling contribution was in his own box, clearing a Bolton corner in the final moments.

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 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.

CHELSEA: Cech, Filipe Luis, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Mikel, Oscar, Schurrle, Salah (Hazard 80), Ake (Matic 91), Remy (Drogba 72).

BOLTON: Lonergan, Mills, Moxey, Dervite, Herd, Danns (Mason 83), Pratley, Kamara, Feeney (Spearing), Davies (Lee Chung-yong 52), Beckford.

Referee: Graham Scott.