It speaks volumes that Chelsea are not shoo-ins to beat Bolton (although they should)

Chelsea v Bolton, Premier League, December 29, 2010

Chelsea 1.35; Draw 5.37; Bolton 10.89

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Have Chelsea blown their chances of retaining the Premier League this season? Not yet, but its getting very nervy in west London.

The negative stats are everywhere for the Pensioners at present. The Blues have won just one match in their last eight a near-meaningless Champions League group match against Zilina on November 23. Moreover, having been five points clear in October, Chelsea now lie six points behind Manchester United (who also have a game in hand) with the champions having collected just six points from a possible 24. Its crisis time at the Bridge as Chelsea slump to their worst run of results for 11 years.

As is usually the case when things are going wrong, the blame game is being played ferociously at Chelsea this Christmas. Carlo Ancelotti is at fault as we apply the simple maxim that the buck stops with the coach. Roman Abramovich is at fault for having summarily dismissed Butch Wilkins. The players are at fault for having not performed to the level which they are so richly compensated for. And the recent transfer strategy at Chelsea is also to blame after Michael Ballack, Joe Cole, Deco, Juliano Belletti and Ricardo Carvalho were all allowed to leave last summer without the club stocking up their squad with requisite replacements.

While it will be left to historians to tease the real issues out of the Chelsea malaise to pinpoint which of the problems have been more and less responsible for this downturn, for now Chelsea just need to get back on the winning trail. And fast.

Arsenals dominant 3-1 win over Chelsea last time out has meant that if Bolton can win in London on Wednesday, the Trotters will incredibly overtake Chelsea in t! he table . Should that come to pass then the Blues top four status will really come into question and it will look nigh on impossible for coach Carlo to survive in the hot-seat any longer.

Chelsea could make a couple of changes for the visit of Bolton.

After missing out against Arsenal through injury, Nicolas Anelka could be reinstated to the Chelsea starting line-up alongside Didier Drogba, which would reduce Salomon Kalou to a place on the bench after failing to take his opportunity at the Emirates. Jose Bosingwa is also expected to start in place of Paulo Ferreira at right back having been brought on as a sub during the defeat at Arsenal.

Elsewhere, Chelsea may well line up with a similar eleven as were rolled over by the Gunners. Frank Lampard will continue to recapture his match fitness alongside Essien and Obi Mikel in midfield, while Terry and Ivanovic will try and lock down the defence. Chelsea will also look to produce more down their left-hand side, fielding arguably the best left-footed twosome in the division with Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda.

While Chelsea are wobbling, Bolton are having one of their best years ever.

Amazingly, just twelve months ago the Trotters were in deep doo-doo having sacked Gary Megson after the club slipped into the bottom three. Owen Coyle was soon installed, and his fresh ideas and take on the beautiful game quickly took hold at the Reebok. Bolton have been flying ever since. Now, on the cusp of breaking into the top four, Bolton are mixing it with the big boys.

Riding their wave of optimism, Bolton will scarcely have a better chance to inflict their first defeat over the Blues in over seven years than on Wednesday. That said, no matter how high Coyles men are in the table, it is important to take stock of the fact that the Trotters have won just twice away from home this term; against strugglers Wolves and West Ham.

Away from the black and white stats, Bolton will also have to contend with the loss of a couple of key player! s in Lon don.

In-form South Korea winger Chung-Yong Lee has now left the club for up to a month to play in the upcoming Asian Games, and his absence will be sorely felt in midfield. In addition, Gretar Steinsson is also touch-and-go having picked up a knee injury in the win over West Brom on Boxing Day. Tamir Cohen will also be unavailable after the Israeli midfielder was forced to head back to the Holy Land after his famous footballing father, former Liverpool keeper Avi Cohen, suffered a motoring accident which has left the legend fighting for his life in hospital.

Away from the sad stuff, Bolton have plenty of positives to focus on. Up-top, battering-rams Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander have been in inspirational form this season and will no doubt be excited at the prospect of roughing up Chelseas defenders. Further, Stuart Holden, who has been earning rave reviews all season for his dynamic and industrious work in midfield, will have an opportunity to steal the limelight in the middle of the pitch.

All in all then, this match has the ingredients of being a cracker. The falling giant comes face-to-face with their up-and-coming challengers, and its a bit of a coin-flip to guess which team will come out on top.

That said, no matter how short on confidence Chelsea are, Stamford Bridge still remains a difficult place to go and get a win. As such, if youre debating having a punt on the match, wed advise you to bet on Blue.

101gg predicts: Chelsea 2 Bolton 1

Chelsea 1.35; Draw 5.37; Bolton 10.89

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