Chelsea ended their worst Premier League run for more than a decade by beating Bolton tonight.

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.

Chelsea's first league win in seven lifted them back to within four points of leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.

Despite his side having thrown away a five-point lead in the last two months, Ancelotti retained the backing of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich ahead of tonight's game.

The Russian would not have liked what he saw from his Caribbean retreat as the Blues struggled to string two passes together in a miserable first half at a sodden Stamford Bridge.

They did not manage a single shot on target and of the two they did muster, one of them was a Drogba free-kick that embarrassingly screwed out for a throw-in.

Bolton were typically combative and John Terry needed to produce a desperate challenge to prevent Kevin Davies stealing in, while Matthew Taylor drilled wide after latching onto the recalled Jose Bosingwa's attempted clearance.

Branislav Ivanovic was booked for felling Johan Elmander and Chelsea's frustration increased as captain Terry harangued referee Michael Jones after the official elected not show Paul Robinson a yellow card for a foul on Michael Essien.

Taylor sent a sweet left-foot curler narrowly over as Bolton continued to look the more threatening and there was more bad news for the home side when Drogba began limping.

The striker played on as Chelsea began to wrest a semblance of control and Taylor was booked after clattering into Ramires.

But 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.

Chelsea suddenly looked a different side and Nicolas Anelka was flagged narrowly offside racing onto Ramires' through ball before they finally put together a sweeping passing move that ended with a tame Essien finish.

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.

The jubilant celebrations from both fans and players told their own story but Chelsea's confidence remained fragile and Sam Ricketts blazed over from 12 yards as Bolton hit back.

Stuart Holden then had a handball appeal turned down after smashing a shot at Terry inside the box.

Sensing blood, visiting boss Owen Coyle withdrew Rodrigo Moreno - impressive on his full Premier League debut - for Ivan Klasnic after his side were awarded a free-kick.

Gary Cahill - a reported January target for Chelsea - immediately headed Taylor's centre wide.

Bolton went even closer when Elmander's cross was met by a bullet header from Holden, forcing a wonderful tip over from Petr Cech.

The goalkeeper made a hash of the resulting corner and was grateful to Drogba on the line for clearing the danger.

At the other end, Essien thought he had bundled the ball over the line in between Bolton's final two substitutions but the flag had already gone up.

Malouda was denied twice by Jussi Jaaskelainen late on before Ancelotti ran down the clock by introducing Salomon Kalou and Paulo Ferreira in the closing seconds.

Ancelotti relieved as Chelsea stop the rot

Carlo Ancelotti said after the match that he believed Chelsea's victory over Bolton Wanderers had rekindled his side's Premier League title challenge.

The victory came on the same day as Arsenal, who beat Chelsea 3-1 on Monday, were held to a 2-2 draw at Wigan Athletic and 24 hours after league leaders Manchester United had drawn 1-1 at Birmingham City.

Malouda's goal ensured Chelsea leapfrogged Tottenham Hotspur into the top four and they now sit four points behind United, having played a game more.

The campaign has so far been marked by a number of surprise results, with all the leading teams losing key matches, and Ancelotti believes that opens the door for his side to revive their bid to retain the Premier League title.

"This is a dangerous championship because every team can give other teams difficulties," the Italian said after Chelsea won in the league for the first time in seven games. "You saw with Arsenal tonight (Wednesday) against Wigan.

"It's a Premier League with a lot of balance so nothing is decided now. It is important for us to stay focused on the game because the league is open for us again."

"The most important thing was to change the atmosphere to change the trend and come back to win," added Ancelotti ahead of struggling Aston Villa's visit to west London side Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground on Sunday.

Ancelotti is confident the victory over Bolton has eased the growing pressure on his side but warned they must build on the result if they are to have any chance of closing the gap on United.

"This was an important step, this victory and this performance. It was difficult against Bolton who have a lot of power up front and are dangerous.

"Now we have to win the next games. This is an important step. I am not sure the team will be OK. We have to put that performance again."

Ancelotti, who had previously described 2010 as a "fantastic" year after leading Chelsea to their first ever league and FA Cup double added: "I tried to give confidence in the players.

"They are fantastic players. This was the last game of this year and we have to have a fantastic memory of this year because we did a fantastic job. It was good to finish this year with a victory. I hope 2011 can be like 2010."

Bolton manager Owen Coyle was left frustrated by this defeat, particularly as he was convinced Malouda's goal should have been ruled out for offside.

"It was a huge decision," he said. "I believe it was offside.

"We could have possibly had a penalty from John Terry's handball but we had two stonewall penalties denied us here last year when Didier Drogba played basketball so we weren't going to get that."

Yet as frustrated as the manager was, he pointed to the game as proof of the progress Bolton, now sixth in the table, have made since he took charge a year ago with the club languishing in 19th place.

"I can look at the progress we have made. If I had said at this stage of the league we would come to Chelsea and have the chance of leapfrogging them, I think I would have been taken away in a straitjacket.

"But we can't affect what’s behind us, only what's in front of us."