Bolton's reluctant ride on the relegation roller-coaster began again as
Gianluca Vialli brought himself off the bench to condemn them when Chelsea
belatedly cast their flip-flops aside.
The Chelsea boss had watched his side idle through the first 45 minutes with
their minds clearly on Wednesday's Cup Winners' Cup Final in Stockholm.
But Colin Todd's Bolton battlers could not turn their first half superiority
into the goals that would make all the difference.
Per Frandsen came closest with a sensational length of the field run foiled at
the last by Dennis Wise, while Nathan Blake, relegated with Sheffield United
here four seasons ago, missed a sitter after the break.
Yet that was to be the signal for Vialli to come up with the goods for the
19th time this season to ensure a winning send-off for the trip to Sweden with
20 minutes left.
Bolton stood watching as Jody Morris prodded into the box, but Vialli needed
no second bidding.
As Keith Branagan raced off his line, Vialli calmly clipped under him to send
Lancastrian hearts sinking faster than their side.
Coventry's late goal at Goodison meant there was still a chance that the
Trotters could salvage themselves, but the openings would not come.
And right at the death they knew they were condemned to a second trip on the
down escalator in three seasons as Morris went clear to find the bottom corner.
Bolton went off with heads held high, but the 'Great Escape' tune was hummed
no more, the truth hard to bear, all the more so as Chelsea had not been
anything special.
Everton's fears over the Blues' attitude had been made clear all week, even
though Howard Kendall must have known his Toffees had only themselves to blame
for their plight.
Despite the warnings from the Premier League, Vialli left himself, Gustavo
Poyet and Roberto Di Matteo on the bench with an eye on Wednesday's Cup Winners'
Cup final.
But even if they were wearing their 'flip-flops' and shades in the bright
sunshine, Vialli still named a side with seven full and three under-21
internationals.
They included three men certain of being in France this summer - Ed De Goey,
Dan Petrescu and Tore Andre Flo - and, at least coming forward, with Flo and
Petrescu threatening, suggested a businesslike mood.
Not for long, however, and, with deckchairs and feet up at the other end,
Bolton had every encouragement they needed to claim the victory that would
guarantee survival.
Even news of Everton's early strike failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the
travelling fans, and Bolton began to take command.
Blake flicked at Ed De Goey before John Sheridan's shot was blocked, and with
Chelsea going to sleep at the back the openings came.
Bolton could not take them however. Blake was forced wide by Frank Leboeuf,
and from Alan Thompson's corner Sheridan's drive deflected off Leboeuf only to
hit an unwitting Eddie Newton on the line.
Mark Hughes made another unintentional block to foil big Gerry Taggart before
the moment that seemed to be condemning Bolton to their fate on the half-hour.
Thompson stuck a toe in on the edge of the Bolton box and Frandsen embarked on
70-yard unimpeded run through the middle.
Leboeuf was dumped on his backside, Laurent Charvet turned inside out, and
when Frandsen steered past De Goey, everybody expected the net to bulge.
Everybody except Wise that was, the Chelsea captain chasing back 60 yards-plus
to clear off the line, Todd hammering his fists against the top of his dug-out
in disbelief and frustration.
Wise almost compounded that feeling with a shot gathered by Keith Branagan at
the second attempt before the interval, although the skipper did not appear
afterwards as Vialli made a triple change.
The big three came on, Flo and Petrescu also making way, and, with Poyet
controlling midfield and Vialli lively, the tide turned.
Hughes wasted one opportunity, from Vialli's pass, Newton curled wide, Fish
robbed Hughes in the act of shooting and Neil Cox was lucky to escape with only
a booking when he hauled down Leboeuf.
Even so, Bolton survived, their future still in their own hands and on 70
minutes were handed the sort of opportunity you simply have to take.
Jimmy Phillips caught Charvet idling inside his own box and the ball fell to
Blake on his favoured left foot 16 yards out.
The former Chelsea trainee could not have asked for more, but, with the goal
gaping, spooned over the bar.
Instantly Blake's hands went to his head, Todd's likewise, and two minutes
later Vialli struck to put the relegation writing on the Bolton wall.
Desperately the Trotters tried to rally for one last effort, one chink of
light, but their belief had faltered.
Indeed Vialli was twice so close to adding another as Bolton became
increasingly vulnerable on the break.
News of the Everton penalty miss and Coventry equaliser swept round the ground
with three minutes left.
"Attack, attack, attack" urged the Bolton fans. Their team did and
Thompson's chip flicked across the top of substitute Gaetano Giallanza's head.
It was as close as they were to get, as Morris streaked away through acres of
space to claim the killer second goal.
Bolton could only pray for another Coventry goal at Goodison, but those
prayers were not to be answered. Nationwide League again, sadly.
Teams
Chelsea: De Goey, Petrescu (Poyet 46), Leboeuf, Clarke, Hughes,
Wise (Di Matteo 46), Granville, Flo (Vialli 46), Newton, Charvet,
Morris.
Subs Not Used: Lambourde, Hitchcock.
Booked: Charvet, Leboeuf.
Goals: Vialli 73, Morris 90.
Bolton: Branagan, Cox, Fish, Thompson, Phillips,
Bergsson (Johansen 70), Sheridan (Salako 73), Taggart, Frandsen,
Blake, Taylor (Giallanza 65).
Subs Not Used: Jaaskelainen, Todd.
Booked: Cox, Frandsen.
Bolton relegated to Nationwide Division One
Att: 34,845
Ref: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).
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