Premiership: half-time review

Chelsea briefly closed the gap on leaders Arsenal with a barely deserved 2-0 victory at Bolton in the day’s early kick-off.

The home side had nothing to show for their domination in the first half and were made to pay with 19 minutes to go when John Terry volleyed home at the far post.

Three minutes later Damien Duff made the game safe.

Arsenal are threatening to restore their nine-point advantage despite being held 0-0 at half-time at Blackburn.

The home side employed the offside trap at every opportunity to keep Thierry Henry at bay but that tactic is powerless against free-kicks and the Frenchman’s best chance came when drifted one wide midway through the half.

Henry then had a goal disallowed after goalkeeper Brad Friedel rolled the ball out in front of him and the Arsenal striker nipped in to slide it into an empty net only for referee Alan Wiley to rule it out.

Jose Reyes also had a chance to open the scoring after breaking away down the left but after cutting inside he shot wide.

The only goal in the matches kicking off at 3pm came at The Valley where Charlton’s Matt Holland gave them a 25th-minute lead against Middlesbrough after shooting home from long range.

Boro had earlier hit the post through Bolo Zenden, the culmination of a flowing moved involving Juninho and Joseph Desire-Job in the 14th minute.

Birmingham, looking to go fourth, were being held 0-0 by Leicester, who had goalkeeper Ian Walker to thank for saving well from Mikael Forssell.

In a crucial game for Leeds at Fulham Alan Smith wasted the bottom club’s best chance by heading Jermaine Pennant’s cross wide while, at the other end, goalkeeper Paul Robinson was out quick to put off Luis Boa Morte.

Everton’s game at home to Portsmouth was also goalless at the interval with England striker Wayne Rooney squandering the best chance with a mis-hit shot from eight yards.