BATTLING Bolton almost pulled off the greatest Premier League comeback of all time before Chelsea survived an amazing Wanderers onslaught.

Gary Megson’s side was heading for its heaviest defeat of the campaign as the title chasers led 4-0 after 63 minutes.

But complacency set in and the Trotters hit back with three quick goals to force a thrilling finale.

However, despite their best endeavours, Bolton came up just short after a memorable match.

Bolton boss Gary Megson said: “It has given us great heart, which is the important thing.

"We’ll probably get more credit for losing 4-3 at Chelsea than we did for winning 4-1 against Middlesbrough last week.

“We went through the whole range of emotions. There was anger at times with the way we defended but for the first 25 minutes we looked quite secure.

“For the last 25 minutes we bossed the game and scored three goals. I think we are the only team to come to Stamford Bridge and do that this season and yet we still lost 4-3 which is where the disappointment comes in.

Drive

“The introduction of young Chris Basham was more to do with the fightback. Because he is a youngster and has never played at Stamford Bridge before, he gave us the enthusiasm, the desire, the drive and the tenacity to go and have a real good go.

“That got an extra 10% out of everybody else. At 4-1 it is no big deal, at 4-2 you have got a little bit of momentum and at 4-3 you saw what was happening. We had one kicked off the line at the end but Chelsea are a quality side.

“As much as we are pleased to come and score three goals to give away four to a team like Chelsea, you are not going to pick up too many points.”

It took German midfielder Michael Ballack 40 minutes to break the deadlock.

However, the floodgates well and truly opened after the interval with Andy O’Brien replacing the injured Danny Shittu at the break.

Didier Drogba doubled Chelsea’s advantage after 48 minutes before Frank Lampard converted a dubious penalty awarded against Gary Cahill for hand-ball.

When Drogba slotted home number four, it was seemingly match over.

Instead, O’Brien netted his first of the season after 69 minutes to begin the recovery.

With Kevin Davies striking fear in the home defence, Chris Basham added number two after 74 minutes.

Still Bolton had much to do. Then, Matty Taylor struck his 10th of the campaign after Davies created more mayhem and Wanderers had 11 minutes to salvage the unlikeliest of draws.

Ricardo Gardner had a half-chance for the equaliser but Chelsea hung on.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen 6, Steinsson 6, Shittu 6 (6 A O’Brien 46), Cahill 7, Samuel 6, McCann 6 ( Cohen 83), Muamba 6, Gardner 6, Taylor 7, Davies 8, Elmander 6 (7 Basham 66). Subs not used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Puytrenier, Smolarek.

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