Chelsea booked their place in the fourth round of the League Cup by beating Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Kurt Zouma fired the Blues ahead with a strike from close range following a corner.
Bolton levelled the scores soon after, as Matt Mills headed in with their first attempt on target.
Oscar scored the winner for Chelsea 10 minutes into the second half, with a low strike from distance into the bottom corner.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good evening everyone! The third round of the League Cup continues after yesterday's dramatic night of action, with Premier League leaders Chelsea hosting struggling Championship side Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge.
I can't promise that we will see the dramatic events that unfolded at Anfield last night, but there will be some big names on show eager to impress. So, without further ado let's take a look at the starting lineups for each side.
Welcome to Stamford Bridge! #BWFC pic.twitter.com/BDvSqwzLE3
— Bolton Wanderers FC (@OfficialBWFC) September 24, 2014
CHELSEA XI: Cech, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Ake, Salah, Oscar, Schurrle, Remy
BOLTON XI: Lonergan, Herd, Mills, Dervite, Moxey, Pratley, Medo, Danns, Feeney, Davies, Beckford
CHELSEA SUBS: Schwarzer, Ivanovic, Christensen, Matic, Baker, Hazard, Drogba
BOLTON SUBS: Kenny, McNaughton, Spearing, Ream, Lee, Mason, Clayton
Chelsea have made nine changes from the weekend's clash against Manchester City, but there is no shortage of quality players in the team. Let's start with the attack, which is led by Loic Remy. He will receive support from Andre Schurrle, Oscar and Mohamed Salah. In the centre of the midfield young Dutchman Nathan Ake will play alongside John Obi Mikel.
In the defence there is a debut for Kurt Zouma, while Filipe Luis starts at full back. First team regulars Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta complete the back four. There is also a first start of the season for goalkeeper Petr Cech, who comes in for the rested Thibaut Courtois.
Meanwhile, Bolton have named Craig Davies and Jermaine Beckford in their attack as they look to pull off a shock in West London. Chris Herd comes straight into the team after joining on loan from Aston Villa, while fellow recent arrivals Paddy Kenny and Max Clayton are on the bench.
It has certainly been a great start to the season for Chelsea, with their bid for the Premier League title firmly on track. They had won their first four games of the season before Frank Lampard's late equaliser denied them a victory against Manchester City on Sunday. Despite that draw, they are still three points clear at the top of the table.
We're 45 mins away from kick-off here at Stamford Bridge. Here's a look inside the home changing room... #CFC pic.twitter.com/dQ4uGsSvYM
— Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) September 24, 2014
They haven't quite been as impressive in Europe, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Schalke 04 in their opening Champions League match. That was seen as one of their toughest matches in the group and you would expect them to reach the knockout round with ties against Sporting Lisbon and NK Maribor to come.
Tonight marks their first League Cup match of the season, due to their participation in European competition. A year ago today they made it through to the fourth round of the cup after a 2-0 victory at Swindon Town. Fernando Torres and Ramires were the players on the scoresheet that evening.
They went on to beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates in the next round to set up a fifth-round clash against Sunderland. Lampard had given them the lead, but a late strike from Fabio Borini sent the tie into extra time. With the game heading towards a penalty shootout, Ki Sung-yueng scored with two minutes left to play to dump the Blues out.
Perhaps rather surprisingly it has been seven years since Chelsea last won the League Cup. On that occasion they beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium thanks to a double from Didier Drogba. Jose Mourinho also won the cup in 2005 during his first season as Chelsea boss, with a dramatic extra-time victory over Liverpool.
There is no denying that winning this competition is at the bottom of Mourinho's targets this season, but a cup victory always provides a huge confidence boost. They will be confident of getting through tonight and with some of the bigger teams already out, they are very much the early favourites.
Facing them tonight is a Bolton side that have had a testing start to the new campaign. The Trotters have won just one of their eight matches in the Championship this season and sit in 21st place. Only their better goal difference over Huddersfield Town is keeping them out of the relegation zone.
It actually took them seven games of the league season to win their first match. That came last week against Rotherham, when a hat-trick from Joe Mason helped them to a 3-2 win. They were unable to build on that at the weekend though, as a goal from Nouha Dicko saw them lose 1-0 at Wolves.
Despite their struggles in the league, it has been a rather different story in this competition. In the first round they were pushed all the way by League Two side Bury, eventually needing extra time to claim a 3-2 win. An additional 30 minutes were also needed in their round two match against Crewe, which they won by the same 3-2 scoreline.
Over the last decade Chelsea and Bolton have crossed paths on a number of occasions, but this is their first meeting in three seasons due to the Trotters' relegation from the top flight. When they last played each other in February 2012, it was the Blues who came out on top, winning 3-0 at Stamford Bridge with David Luiz, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard scoring the goals.
You have to back all the way to December 2003 when Bolton last beat Chelsea. A John Terry own goal in the last minute handed Bolton the three points that day, but they have not been successful in the 18 games since and are currently on a nine-game losing run against the Blues.
PREDICTION: Despite the changes that Chelsea have made to their team, there is still plenty of quality needed to win tonight's match. Bolton have not had a great start to the season and their poor run of form against the Blues looks to continue, so I am going to go for a 3-0 win for Jose Mourinho's men.
We are just a few minutes away form kick off and the players have just made their way out of the tunnel and onto the pitch. Do remember that we will be bringing you the latest scores and results from all of tonight's matches.
KICKOFF! We are underway at Stamford Bridge!
It's Chelsea who have the first attempt on goal this evening, but after receiving the ball in space, Schurrle fires a speculative effort well wide of the target.
CHANCE! He may have missed moments ago, but Schurrle has almost put the Blues into the lead. It would have been a fortunate goal, as his free kick from out on the left-hand touchline misses everyone in the box and looks as if it's heading into the top corner, before Lonergan sticks out a hand to tip the ball over the bar.
OFF THE LINE! It's all Chelsea at the moment and Schurrle is involved in everything. This time he is picked out brilliantly at the back post by Salah and his header across goal looks as if it may be going in until Mills gets back to hammer the ball out of play.
The Blues are in complete control and you suspect that a goal is not too far away. They are playing the ball around with ease and after a prolonged spell of possession Remy is caught just offside as he tries to lack onto Salah's flick.
By the looks of things Lonergan is going to be in for a busy evening. He is called into action again when Salah lays the ball off to Oscar on the edge of the box and the Brazilian sees his low effort take a slight deflection, but the keeper gets down well to hold onto the ball.
One man who looks desperate to impress this evening is Salah. He has found playing time hard to come by since his move from Basel, and he does well to latch onto Oscar's pass, before driving into the box and poking an effort wide of the target.
The Blues continue to create chances and Schurrle sees an attempt at the near post deflected behind for a corner, before Remy heads just wide after being picked out by Luis. Surely it is only a matter of time that Bolton can withstand this heavy pressure.
OFF THE BAR! Schurrle has had Chelsea's best chances so far this evening and he has just rattled the crossbar with a fine free kick from 25 yards. The World Cup winner looks determined to get a goal, but the luck hasn't quite been with him yet.
At this early stage in the game the stats are heavily in Chelsea's favour. They have seen 60% of the possession and have had 10 shots on goal already. Bolton are yet to test Cech, who has had a very quiet return to the first team.
I keep mentioning Schurrle this evening and the German works yet another shooting opportunity. He has been coming in off the left flank with ease and this time he drives into a central position, before curling a strike just wide of the far post.
This is turning into a training exercise, with Chelsea playing the role of the attacking team. You have to feel for Bolton, who are being pegged back on the edge of their own box and are putting in a great deal of effort just to stay in this match.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Bolton (Kurt Zouma)
Finally the Blues have their lead and it's Kurt Zouma who has his first goal for the club. The Frenchman reacted quickest inside the six-yard box to slam the ball into the roof of the net after Cahill's header from a corner had been blocked. It is no more than the Blues deserve and there could well be a few more goals to follow.
The ball continues to drop to Schurrle this evening and he arrives to meet Salah's low cross into the box, but he can't quite sort his feet out and ends up slamming the ball high over the bar.
CHANCE! Salah has looked very lively this evening and he is inches away from doubling the Blues' lead. He is picked out in space just outside the box and works some room on his left foot, before bending a strike just wide of the far post.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Bolton (Matt Mills)
Stamford Bridge has just been stunned into silence as the visitors level with their first attempt on goal. They win a free kick in a decent position which is whipped into the box by Feeney and headed into the corner by Mills. That goal came out of absolutely nowhere and Bolton can hardly believe it!
The home side look rattled by that goal, but they are still seeing a lot of the ball. They have also tried a couple of attempts on goal, but strikes from Mikel and Remy have gone well over the bar.
YELLOW CARD! Pratley is the first player to pick up a booking this evening for a foul on Schurrle.
CHANCE! Ake is not a player that you would expect to be finding the net from 30 yards out, but the youngster comes close to picking out the top corner with a swerving effort that is pushed behind by Lonergan. The keeper has had a great half and without him the visitors would surely have been breached more than once.
Having scored from their last set piece, the Bolton fans are in full voice as their side win a corner. They put the Blues defence under pressure, but Cech is able to eventually come and punch the ball clear.
YELLOW CARD! The second Bolton player to pick up a booking this evening is Herd, for a crunching late challenge on Schurrle.
YELLOW CARD! The second Bolton player to pick up a booking this evening is Herd, for a crunching late challenge on Schurrle.
We are going to have two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half.
HALF-TIME: Chelsea 1-1 Bolton
The first half is brought to an end with the score rather surprisingly level at 1-1. Chelsea completely dominated the match and deservedly led through Zouma's strike, but Bolton's only attempt on goal from Mills means that they head into the break with everything to play for.
A quick look at the statistics shows that Chelsea have been well on top. They have seen 64% of the possession and have had 18 to Bolton's sole effort. However, only five of those shots have been on target, with their finishing not quite up to their high standards yet.
Mourinho is one manager that will certainly not be panicking about the scoreline and he has plenty of world-class options on the bench. From an attacking standpoint, Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard are the more likely options to find the net and I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one of them come on at some point.
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Elsewhere in this evening's other League Cup ties, there have been no goals in Manchester City's game against Sheffield Wednesday and Tottenham's clash against Nottingham Forest. In the two all-Premier League games Crystal Palace and Newcastle are drawing 1-1 and it is the same scoreline in West Brom's fixture with Hull.
The Chelsea players are out on the pitch and waiting for the arrival of their Bolton counterparts. We should be getting back underway in West London in a few moments.
Chelsea take the kick off and get the second 45 minutes started.
This half has begun very much in the same vein as the first. Chelsea are seeing plenty of the ball and are looking to play their way through the Bolton defence who are sitting on the edge of their own box.
Bolton have put in some rugged challenges this evening and Davies is lucky to escape without a booking when he chops down Azpilicueta on the right. However, It has given Chelsea a free kick which Schurrle will take.
CHANCE! From the resulting set piece Schurrle whips in a great delivery that is met at the front post by Oscar, but the Brazilian's powerful header is brilliantly tipped over the bar by Lonergan.
SUBSTITUTION: Bolton make the first change of the evening, with Lee coming on for Davies.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Bolton (Oscar)
The Blues are back in the lead and it's a fine finish from Oscar. The Brazilian picked up the ball in space around 25 yards out from goal and drilled a low strike into the bottom corner that was just out of the reach of Lonergan. Surely there is no chance of another Bolton comeback this evening?
Oscar found the net moments ago and almost grabs an assist when his chipped ball into the box finds Schurrle, but the German can only direct his header over the bar.
CHANCE! Chelsea win a free kick on the edge of the box when Herd looses his footing, allowing Schurrle to get goal side of him and he brings him down. It's Oscar who takes the set piece and his curling strike is just inches wide of finding the top corner.
CHANCE! The Blues crank up the pressure yet again as they break quickly with Salah slipped in down the right. The Egyptian then plays the ball across the box and it comes to Remy at the back post, who sees his low drive well blocked by the impressive Lonergan.
CHANCE! Mourinho's men are certainly not content with just scoring two goals this evening and Schurrle again works a shooting chance as he drives through the midfield, before firing an effort from the edge of the box wide of the post.
SUBSTITUTION: It's a second change of the match for Bolton, as Spearing comes on to replace Feeney.
As we enter the final 20 minutes, there is certainly no sign that Bolton are going to equalise for a second time. Having said that, their goal came from their only shot on target and if they win any set pieces late on there will be some nerves in the Chelsea backline.
SUBSTITUTION: A huge roar goes around Stamford Bridge as Drogba comes on to replace Remy.
Oscar has been brilliant in this second half and he is unlucky to see his effort from just inside the box take a deflection and go just over the bar. Soon after Drogba wins a free kick that Schurrle takes, but the German's effort curls wide of the post.
Over the past couple of minutes the visitors have put together a decent spell of possession and they are beginning to make headway into the Chelsea half, but they have still not been able to test Cech from open play.
SUBSTITUTION: All of the big guns are on for Chelsea now, as Hazard comes on to replace Salah.
OFF THE POST! Schurrle deserves a goal for how well he has played this evening, but he has been denied by the woodwork yet again. He does everything right, by driving past two defenders and into the box, before seeing his shot tipped onto the post by Lonergan.
SUBSTITUTION: It's a last throw of the dice for Bolton, as Mason is brought on for Danns.
CHANCE! Bolton have their second shot on target and it comes from a set piece again. This time the delivery into the box is poor, but the ball is only cleared to Lee on the edge of the box. He then drills in a low strike, but it is right down the middle and Cech comfortably gathers.
YELLOW CARD! Spearing goes into the book for a tough challenge on Oscar.
CHANCE! It's another chance for Bolton, as a long ball into the box is headed to Mason on the edge of the box. The striker then sees his effort deflect just wide of the far post with Beckford unable to get a final touch on the ball.
We are going to have three minutes of stoppage time.
SUBSTITUTION: Chelsea make their final change of the match, with Ade heading off to be replaced by Matic.
Huge chance for Bolton here, as they win a free kick on the left hand touchline. Everyone is up for this and it is surely their last opportunity to score.
It wasn't the best of deliveries by Bolton and Chelsea head the ball clear with ease. The Blues are just a few moments away from winning this match now.
FULL-TIME: Chelsea 2-1 Bolton
It's all over at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea holding on to beat Bolton 2-1. In truth, the Blues were the far superior side and had nearly 30 attempts on goal. Bolton can be pleased with their efforts this evening and but for goalkeeper Lonergan it could have been far worse.
It was a moment of class that won them the match, as Oscar's precise finish has booked a place in the fourth round. They were extremely wasteful in front of goal and you suspect that if Diego Costa had been playing then he would have seriously punished Bolton.
That's all we've got time for here in London this evening. Thank you for joining us and make sure you stick around for the reports and reaction from each match that took place. Until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
