Chelsea set a new English record with an 11th straight away league win at Bolton on Saturday, thanks to goals from Nicolas Anelka and Deco.

The run, which goes back to April breaks Tottenham's record that had stood for 48 years, and was sealed in superb style with a commanding performance.

Anelka opened the scoring within 10 minutes, heading home at the far post, and Deco doubled the lead shortly afterwards with a sublime volley.

Bolton huffed and puffed but their physical play could not break down a dogged Chelsea side, with Alex back in at centre-half.

The talk in the newspapers before arrival in Lancashire was of a Chelsea crisis, with just two wins from the last seven games, and no wins in three.

Our away league form has remained impeccable though, and Luiz Felipe Scolari's men were keen on a victory that would break the record going back to 1960.

The only change to the Blues' line-up was the return of Alex, replacing the benched Branislav Ivanovic. Bolton remained unchanged from the side that won 4-1 at Sunderland a week previously.

Chelsea started in businesslike fashion, Kalou and Ballack combining on the edge of the home box after five minutes, the Ivorian shooting just too high.

Bolton, with four wins in five, were a team brimming with confidence, and they quickly struck back with a succession of corners. From the second of these, Kevin Davies was presented with a free header five yards out.

John Terry had warned of the forward's aerial threat, and will not have been amused to see Alex left for dead. Fortunately for Chelsea, Davies headed over.

He would regret that moments later when Anelka showed him how to do it at the other end.

Deco sprayed the ball wide to José Bosingwa who cut inside and curled a cross into the area with his left foot. Anelka beat the offside trap and connected just enough to see his header in off the post.

Chelsea hadn't hit top gear though and Bolton were allowed further opportunity, again targeting the head of Davies, who was edging towards Ashley Cole's flank with the intention of using his height advantage.

Matt Taylor's rangy pass was nodded down for Johan Elmander, but the Swede couldn't direct under pressure from Terry.

Next to shoot was Kevin Nolan, gifted a chance by Petr Cech's poor clearance. Fortunately for Cech, he couldn't get the leverage required to lob the goalkeeper from 30 yards.

Davies was booked for a late tackle on Ashley Cole 17 minutes in, and that gave Deco the opportunity to get things going again after a period of sloppy play. He went direct, looking for Anelka, but the ball was just too strong and ran through to Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The next time the Portuguese playmaker got on the ball, the results were devastating.

Skipping into the Bolton half following some one-touch passing, he squared to Michael Ballack, who deftly played in Kalou. His shot was saved but the rebound fell to the German who nodded down.

Deco set himself and shaped to shoot, launching into an acrobatic volley, sending the ball into the bottom corner and leaving Jaaskelainen with no chance. It is sure to be replayed again and again.

Anelka could have made it three four minutes later when the Finn punched poorly to the feet of the forward, but the snapshot went the wrong side of the post.

The second goal took the wind out of Bolton's sails, and Chelsea were allowed the time and space to pass the ball, a luxury that didn't look likely at the game's beginning.

When opposing players did get close, things got a little niggly. Ballack, Terry and Deco were among the travelling players spoken to by ref Howard Webb.

Three minutes short of half-time Davies had another opportunity, a volley 10 yards out that couldn't find its way through the crowd, Ballack making the decisive block.

At the break Wanderers brought on Ricardo Gardner for Fabrice Muamba. Immediately he was fouled by Ballack, allowing a free-kick to be sent deep into the Chelsea box. Cech came but didn't grasp, and was lucky Webb whistled for the foul.

Bolton had adapted their system also, Davies joining Elmander in attack with Taylor switching to the right of midfield, Gardner slotting in on the left.

The change reinvigorated them, and Elmander did well to cut inside and shoot from distance, missing the target but providing a reminder of his ability. Five minutes later Nolan sliced a volley high, and then Ballack had to head away from his own line following an inswinging Taylor delivery.

It was from further Bolton pressure that Chelsea's best opportunity of the second half came. A clearance fell to Kalou in the centre circle and he wisely headed into the path of the onrushing Deco, who raced on and chipped Jaaskelainen, but he misjudged and sent the ball wide.

They were in the ascendancy, but Bolton's attacking verve left gaps to exploit. Anelka played in Lampard from the left and the midfielder shot straight at the goalkeeper when he might have expected to score.

At the other end Taylor headed across goal and then Elmander fired a volley into Terry's body. It looked goalbound and there were appeals for a penalty. Webb looked to have got it right when he waved away the claims.

Terry's defensive partner was the next man to try his luck, lining up a trademark free-kick from some 35 yards. His shot was deflected and Jaaskelainen spilled and stumbled, just grasping the ball before Anelka arrived.

Into the final 20 minutes Bolton still hadn't accepted defeat, again sending in corner after corner, but it was a long throw that caused Chelsea problems. A flick on from J'Lloyd Samuel's delivery fell to defender Gary Cahill whose header was well palmed by Cech. The goalkeeper then reacted well to pounce on Gavin McCann's weak follow up.

Ballack was booked before Deco released Bosingwa in the Bolton half. He will think he should have done better than to fire over on his left foot, particularly given his cross earlier in this game and his recent strike at West Brom.

By now though the three points were secure, Paulo Ferreira had replaced Kalou to shore things up and Cech was at his commanding best after a shaky first period.

Branislav Ivanovic replaced Bosingwa to wind the clock down further, and the three minutes of injury time could only delay the inevitable three points.

Things were looking good ahead of a vital Champions League game on Tuesday, and a win against Cluj on Tuesday would see the so-called crisis condemned to history. Scolari will be hoping this record-setting away form can transfer itself to home territory.

By Andy Jones

Bolton (4-1-4-1): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, A O'Brien, Samuel (Smolarek 80); Muamba (Gardner h-t); Davies, Nolan (c), McCann, Taylor; Elmander.

Goals

Booked Davies 17, O' Brien 64

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa (Ivanovic 89), Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel; Kalou (Ferreira 83), Ballack, Lampard, Deco; Anelka.

Goals Anelka 8, Deco 20

Booked Ballack 81

Highlights of a record breaking win are on Chelsea Plus. The match can be seen in full on Chelsea TV from 6pm on Sunday.