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LONDON: Carlo Ancelotti remains on course for his first Wembley appearance after Chelsea reached the League Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 demolition of Bolton on Wednesday.
Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda scored to give Chelsea a comfortable half-time lead before Deco's strike and a last minute header from Didier Drogba took Ancelotti's side's tally to 13 goals from their last three games.
And the comprehensive nature of this win will undoubtedly give Chelsea a decisive edge when the two teams meet again at the Reebok Stadium this weekend.
That will provide a more testing challenge for the Blues, who have lost twice away from home this season. But at Stamford Bridge their record is almost flawless and they have recorded nine victories in nine games, conceding just one goal.
Ancelotti made seven changes from the side that beat Blackburn last weekend, preserving the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and for bigger tests ahead while Bolton's Gary Megson adopted a similar approach, resting keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and striker Kevin Davies.
But even without their two most experienced players, the visitors began convincingly with Gretar Steinsson unsettling Branislav Ivanovic after just three minutes, forcing a free-kick that was squandered when Matthew Taylor tried unsuccessfully to catch Chelsea keeper Hilario off guard.
The early chance offered Bolton only false hope and Chelsea quickly took control of the game, picking up where they had left off in Saturday's 5-0 humbling of Blackburn.
Ancelotti had opted for a three-man forward-line made up of Joe Cole, Salomon Kalou and Daniel Strurridge - the youngster making his first start following a move from Manchester City.
Deco fired in Chelsea's first meaningful shot, forcing a save out of Al Al Habsi with a dipping ninth minute drive.
And the opening goal came just six minutes later when the visitors were carved open far too easily on the left where Paulo Ferreira found space to cross and Kalou rose between two defenders to head home at the far post.
To their credit Wanderers responded immediately and Taylor was denied by Hilario's speed in advancing off his line and closing down the midfielder's close range shot.
Unfortunately the Portugese banged his head in the incident and after struggling on for six more minutes, eventually left the field apparently suffering from concussion.
That paved the way for former Middlesbrough keeper Ross Turnbull to make his debut for the Blues, but the upheaval had no effect on Ancelotti's side who where quickly two up, this time from Malouda.
The Frenchman linked well with Kalou in the 26th minute, finding space to meet the Ivorian's cross before receiving a large slice of luck when the ball bounced back to him off Zat Knight and the midfielder finished from close range.
Kalou was replaced by Michael Essien to protect a back problem and while Chelsea continued to create chances, Sturridge was unable to match the finishing of his team-mate and the youngster missed successive openings after being played through by Joe Cole.
The introduction of Johan Elmander at half-time gave Bolton more presence up front but they were unable to apply meaningful pressure on Turnbull's goal and Mark Davies shot straight at the keeper when they eventually found a way through.
But Chelsea were always looked comfortable and confirmed their superiority with a 67th minute third goal when Deco met Cole's left wing cross and drilled the ball past Al Habsi from the edge of the box.
And Drogba completed the win when he met Cole's deep cross with a far post header. - AFP/de
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