Lampard Bags A Hat-Trick As The Blues Run Riot (Bolton 1 Chelsea 5)

FRANK LAMPARD netted his fifth hat-trick in a Chelsea shirt as Bolton were torn apart at the Reebok. Lampard, widely written off by the critics earlier in the season, netted twice in the first half before wrapping up his treble in the 59th minute. The England midfielder opened his account for the afternoon after Daniel Sturridge had broken the deadlock with just two minutes played. Sturridge enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Trotters last season and the striker wasted little time in reminding the home fans exactly why Owen Coyle tried so hard to re-sign him during the summer. He was on target again after 25 minutes and Lampard notched his second to leave Chelsea home and dry before the half-hour mark. Bolton pulled one back early in the second half through Dedryck Boyata but Lampard combined with Didier Drogba to wrap up an impressive victory for the Londoners. Rock-bottom Bolton were stretched early on when David Luiz released Jose Bosingwa with a defence-splitting pass. The full-back's cross was safely put behind for a corner but Juan Mata's delivery was met by an unmarked Sturridge, who made no mistake with a downward header. Sturridge kept his celebrations muted in respect to Bolton but was clearly in the mood to make an impression, firing just wide after the restart. Chelsea continued to boss possession but were guilty of overplaying the ball when Ricardo Gardner was allowed to break away. He left John Terry in his wake but Luiz was quickly across to snuff out the danger. The hosts were then presented with a decent opportunity to get back on level terms when Raul Meireles fouled Darren Pratley, only for Martin Petrov to fire his free-kick straight into the wall. Chelsea doubled their advantage after 15 minutes when Lampard swept home Sturridge's pass to round off a stunning team move. And the England midfielder came close to doubling his tally just moments later with a left-foot effort which tested stand-in keeper Adam Bogdan's reflexes. Mata should have made it 3-0 after 21 minutes but blazed his effort over after more good work from Sturridge, while at the other end Pratley came agonisingly close to connecting with Petrov's corner. But the Blues did not have to wait long for a third as Bogdan failed to keep out Sturridge's low drive. The stopper's day went from bad to worse just 60 seconds later when he failed to hold a long-range Luiz effort and Lampard was on hand to gobble up the rebound. Bolton were rocked by the goal blitz but dug in and made it to the interval without falling further behind, although Bogdan had to be alert to get behind Mata's half-volley as half-time approached. The Trotters attempted to shore things up at the break, sending on central defender Zat Knight in place of Gretar Steinsson. And they were immediately thrown a lifeline when Boyata headed home Petrov's curling free-kick. The goal knocked Chelsea out of their stride and Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas responded to his side's poor defending at the set-piece by sending on Branislav Ivanovic for Bosingwa. A quick throw by Petr Cech released Sturridge and Knight had to throw himself into a last-ditch tackle to prevent Drogba adding to the score. Ramires was next to be hooked after firing over as Villas-Boas summoned John Obi Mikel from the bench, allowing Meireles to play further up the field with the Nigerian slotting into the holding midfield role. Chelsea regained the upper hand after the changes in personnel and Drogba played the ball back across the box for Lampard to round off another flowing move. Knight was on hand again in the 72nd minute to deny Sturridge his hat-trick with a fine defensive header before Mata was replaced by former Bolton man Nicolas Anelka. Coyle made his last roll of the dice shortly afterwards, hooking David Ngog and Ricardo Gardner for Tuncay and Chris Eagles. The changes galvanised the hosts once again and Kevin Davies thought he had scored nine minutes from time after Petrov broke free down the right. Davies' effort from the winger's cutback was blocked by Ivanovic but TV replays appeared to show the ball had crossed the line before it was cleared. Sturridge dragged a late opportunity wide before play raced up the other end, where Cech was forced to tip a rasping Eagles effort onto the post. Bolton continued to plug away and hit Chelsea on the counter but the visitors held firm to give their goal difference a welcome boost.