24th February, 2012
An English Premier League match at home to struggling Bolton should be an attractive prospect for Chelsea as they seek a return to form.
Andre Villas-Boas’ Chelsea team are without a win from their past five matches in all competitions.
Their barren run includes giving up a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 at home to Premier League champions Manchester United, followed by a frustrating 1-1 draw with second-tier Birmingham in the FA Cup.
The latest calamity arrived in the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday, when Chelsea were outclassed in a 3-1 loss away to Serie A side Napoli.
Poor results and rumours of dressing room discontent have reportedly heaped the pressure on Villas-Boas, but the coach has insisted he requires only the backing of club owner Roman Abramovich to continue his rebuilding project.
What the 34-year-old Portuguese tactician needs most is a win to quieten the voices of unrest, and there can be few more likely targets than second-from-bottom Bolton Wanderers.
FA Cup semi-finalists last season, Bolton have struggled to cope with injuries and the loss of key players in 2011/12.
They were forced to sell Gary Cahill to Chelsea in the January transfer window, and with John Terry sidelined by knee surgery, his young England colleague is likely to line-up against former employers Bolton at centre-back.
There is another connection between the clubs further, forward Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton, and played a key part in their impressive performances under Scottish manager Owen Coyle.
This term, Coyle has had to make do without the services of Sturridge and centre-forward Johan Elmander, who left for Galatasaray on a free transfer in May.