Blues dismiss Bolton

Chelsea put a halt to their recent troubles with a comfortable win over Bolton Wanderers who suffered their 18th defeat of the season.

David Luiz’s sumptuous finish after a drab first half set the tone, with Didier Drogba’s header and Frank Lampard’s volley sealed the important win, leaving Bolton in trouble at the bottom.

The visitors rarely threatened, with on loan Arsenal winger Ryo Miyaichi’s pace providing the only outlet for Owen Coyle’s side as the day belonged to Chelsea, who provided the ideal repost after their Champions League defeat at Napoli amid the increasing pressure on Andre Villas-Boas.

Neither side could make their mark in the first 45 minutes, with David Wheater’s header, which looped over Petr Cech’s goal, the best opportunity of the half.

But after the interval, it took Chelsea just three minutes to hit the front, as Luiz finish off a sweeping Blues move, curling past Adam Bogdan.

Nigel Reo-Coker should have equalised, but shot wide, and Drogba punished the midfielder’s lack of accuracy, doubling the hosts’ lead after the hour with a flicked header.

And the icing on the cake came with just 10 minutes remaining when Lampard volleyed home after Branislav Ivanovic’s cross.

The England international becomes just the second player to score 10 goals in nine successive league seasons, as Chelsea celebrate breaking a league run of four games without a win.