Mourinho inspires decisive moment

Bolton Wanderers 0 - Chelsea

Insights into Jose Mourinho's team talks have been rare this season, but the only cloud that passed over John Terry's face on Saturday came when he recalled his manager's half-time mood. Chelsea had spent 45 minutes struggling against the tide of Bolton attacks and Mourinho, Terry said, was "fuming".

Insights into Jose Mourinho's team talks have been rare this season, but the only cloud that passed over John Terry's face on Saturday came when he recalled his manager's half-time mood. Chelsea had spent 45 minutes struggling against the tide of Bolton attacks and Mourinho, Terry said, was "fuming".

So much so, he added, that Chelsea's manager had told his players that if they were not prepared to take the chance to seal their title then they should give their shirts to him and his assistant, Steve Clarke, to go out and finish the job.

A touch presumptuous from a man who, by his own admission, was a "zero" as a footballer, but the point was made and, from somewhere, Mourinho's players conjured their 27th Premiership victory.

What will be remembered of the day will be its wider significance to Chelsea history rather than the finer details, but this was a win that ranked alongside some of Mourinho's best. Bolton's supporters showed immense grace in applauding the new champions because up until Frank Lampard's 76th-minute second goal they had come close to closing the four-point gap on Everton in the fourth Champions' League place.

Sam Allardyce was incandescent about Jiri Jarosik's block on Fernando Hierro, which prevented the Spaniard from intercepting the ball Eidur Gudjohnsen played to Lampard, via Didier Drogba, for the first Chelsea goal. Even with the ball at his feet, Lampard was still required to dribble past Vincent Candela and Tal Ben Haim before he placed a low shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen that finally settled his team.

Until then, Chelsea had failed to distinguish themselves, especially in a first half in which Kevin Davies could only direct a weak header at Petr Cech after Bruno N'Gotty's free-kick had picked him out. The Bolton striker also appeared, by accident, to poke a finger in Terry's eye that left the Chelsea captain partially sighted for 10 minutes.

It was Claude Makelele who made Chelsea's second goal, striking a masterful through ball to set Lampard free. A shimmy in front of Jaaskelainen and the title was sealed.

On 69 minutes, Cech made a brilliant save from Geremi when the defender inadvertently headed the ball at his own goal. Apart from that, the Cameroonian excelled at right-back and might play there at Anfield tomorrow. "Whoever scores the first goal between Liverpool and Chelsea will win the game," Allardyce said. "There won't be any more goals after that."

Goals: Lampard (60) 0-1; Lampard (76) 0-2.

Bolton Wanderers (4-1-4-1): Jaaskelainen; Candela (Jaidi, 77), Ben Haim, N'Gotty, Gardner; Hierro; Diouf, Speed, Okocha (Pedersen, 63), Giannakopoulos (Nolan, 63); Davies. Substitutes not used: Poole (gk), Fadiga.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Booked: Bolton Hierro, Diouf; Chelsea Makelele, Cole.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Geremi, Terry, Carvalho, Gallas; Makelele (Smertin, 88); Tiago, Lampard, Gudjohnsen (Cole, 84), Jarosik; Drogba (Huth, 65). Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Kezman.

Man of the match: Lampard.

Attendance: 27,653.