Chelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 0: Malouda keeps Chelsea in contention

Florent Malouda scored his first league goal for more than two months to send the faltering champions back into the top four and ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Didier Drogba also hit the post but was forced to clear off the line as Bolton had more than enough chances to snatch a point. The home side were not even close to a goal before being booed off by some of their fans at half-time.

They looked no better in the opening four minutes of the second half until, out of nowhere, Frank Lampard produced a wonderful defence-splitting pass for Drogba, whose finish hit the inside of the far post and was cleared to safety.

The pressure finally told in the 61st minute when Essien released Drogba down the right and the striker squared for Malouda to tap home his first league goal since October.

Arsenal let 10-man Wigan off the hook thanks to a late own goal by Sebastian Squillaci.

The Gunners led 2-1, with Charles N'Zogbia having been red-carded for Wigan, only for the home side to level.

Ben Watson's penalty gave Wigan the lead before Arsenal replied through Andrei Arshavin and Nicklas Bendtner.