Fifty years of hurt are finally over - and as Chelsea celebrated the club's
first title triumph since 1955 after a hard-fought victory at Bolton, the wait
seemed almost worth it.
Above all, it was entirely fitting that the three players who have underpinned
their triumph were at the heart of this final step.
Frank Lampard struck his 17th goal of a season in which he has been the
attacking catalyst before soon adding his 18th as he made certain of victory.
John Terry, meanwhile, led by example at the heart of the defence, finishing
with a black eye and only partial sight for his troubles.
Petr Cech was also inspirational, colliding with the goal-post in making one
save and otherwise denying Bolton's gallant efforts as they gave Chelsea a
thorough examination of their credentials.
It was nevertheless a test which Jose Mourinho's side passed with flying
colours, adding the title to the Carling Cup and with the Champions League still
to play for against Liverpool on Tuesday.
It has already been an historic season, given that it was 1955, when the
maximum players' wage was still £20 and Coca-Cola introduced a new-fangled
device called a can when they were last champions.
In contrast, this success has cost Roman Abramovich well over £300 million,
not only in buying the club, wiping out the debts and rebuilding the entire
squad.
The Russian's investment had nevertheless paid off.
Then again, that the triumph should come at Bolton was entirely fitting, given
that the club's previous benefactor, Matthew Harding, was killed in a helicopter
crash on his way back from a League Cup tie there in 1996.
Indeed, it was also at Bolton that Chelsea scraped a 1-0 win in 1983 to save
themselves from relegation to the old Third Division. The metamorphosis is now
complete.
Mourinho was without his two attacking artists, Damien Duff and Arjen Robben,
while Joe Cole was left on the bench.
He opted instead for the artisans - previously peripheral figures, such as
Geremi and Jiri Jarosik, who were brought in to add steel to Chelsea's defence
of set-pieces.
Mourinho had learned the hard way from Bolton's fightback to draw 2-2 at
Stamford Bridge earlier this season and the aerial bombardment immediately
resumed.
When a long throw-in was not properly cleared, Stelios' snap-shot was held by
Cech, while Claude Makelele - another stalwart - was booked for his attempts to
stop Jay-Jay Okocha's next delivery.
Cech also saved a header from Gary Speed and a shot by Fernando Hierro, while
El-Hadji Diouf was Bolton's main danger down the right flank.
The visitors managed only a long-range effort by Lampard in the opening 20
minutes, with the England midfielder shaking off a worrying knock sustained in
the process.
Otherwise, Kevin Davies was left unmarked to meet a lofted free-kick, only to
direct his header straight at Cech, who was a relieved man.
Terry manfully played on despite having a black eye that was restricting his
vision in one eye following his clash with Davies just before half-time.
Chelsea needed their captain for his leadership, as much as his defensive
resolve, as Bolton were allowing them precious little respite.
Tempers were becoming frayed, especially when Geremi went down easily under a
tackle from Diouf, which earned the Senegal international a booking.
However, Bolton were livid when, from the ensuing free-kick, Chelsea seized
the lead against the run of play.
Lampard showed great composure in cutting back inside around Vincent Candela
as he seized on Didier Drogba's knock-down before picking his spot past Jussi
Jaaskelainen.
The Bolton keeper was booked for his protests, but Lampard was at it again
soon afterwards, this time delivering a low cross which Ricardo Carvalho and
Terry just failed to reach at full stretch.
Mourinho was nevertheless more concerned with protecting his side's advantage,
with the towering figure of Robert Huth soon replacing Drogba.
That left Gudjohnsen up front on his own, while Chelsea formed a five-man
defence, but Cech still needed to claw the ball around the post, hurting himself
in the process.
Bolton rallied once again, but they were caught on the break with 14 minutes
left as Lampard raced clear.
The midfielder had Carvalho bursting his lungs to provide an option to his
right, but he instead used him as a decoy before dipping his shoulder and
skipping past Jaaskelainen.
His finish was assured and that sparked delirium on the touchline, with
Mourinho dancing for joy and Drogba even seizing an inflatable Premiership
trophy from the crowd in expected triumph.
He had to wait just 15 minutes longer to repeat the feat, this time for real
as Chelsea's path back to becoming champions was completed.
Two down, one to go. The treble is potentially on.
Teams
Bolton Jaaskelainen, Candela (Jaidi 77), N'Gotty, Ben Haim,
Gardner, Hierro, Giannakopoulos (Pedersen 63),
Okocha (Nolan 63), Speed, Diouf, Davies.
Subs Not Used: Poole, Fadiga.
Booked: Candela, Diouf, Jaaskelainen, Nolan.
Chelsea Cech, Geremi, Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Gallas, Tiago,
Makelele (Smertin 90), Lampard, Jarosik, Gudjohnsen (Cole 85),
Drogba (Huth 65).
Subs Not Used: Kezman, Cudicini.
Booked: Makelele.
Goals: Lampard 60, 76.
Att: 27,653
Ref: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).
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