After 13 goals without reply in three games, Carlo Ancelotti couldn't be anything but pleased, although he is anticipating stronger Bolton resistance on Saturday.

For the second game running the manager of a Lancastrian side departed Stamford Bridge disgruntled about his own side's showing in the capital, and Chelsea will rarely have a more straightforward cup-tie against a top-flight side than Wednesday's 4-0 win.

From the moment Salomon Kalou put the Blues on our way in the 12th minute to Didier Drogba's 89th minute headed goal, this game was never in doubt, even with the need to use two goalkeepers in a much-changed side. It was the performances of some of those he brought in that delighted the manager most.

'The players that return after injury return very well,' Ancelotti reported.

'Alex did well tonight; Ferreira did a very intelligent match. This means that it is a very good moment for us.'

Joe Cole, who had a big hand in Deco adding a third and the Drogba-scored fourth, was again a plus point. The manager explained the midfielder's strong comeback was a reflection on his hard work in the preceding weeks.

'The most important thing is to play well and win a game,' Ancelotti continued as he looked at the match overall. 'Now it happened that we won with large results but that is not so important for us because the last three matches we have played very well.

'On the pitch the team maintains good control, good position defensively and offensively, and the most important thing for a team is to have a balance.'

The fact that no goal has been conceded at the Bridge since the opening day against Hull is evidence of that. Bolton did hit the post late on, but only after Gary Megson's men were 3-0 down.

'We didn't play as you need to play against the quality we were up against tonight,' lamented the Bolton boss, who described the Chelsea victory as 'a bit of a stroll.'

'We didn't play at the tempo that might have upset Chelsea and if you don't win a few challenges you are not going to upset them. It was a poor performance. We needed to score the first goal and we were never going to do that.'

Ancelotti had words of support for debutant Daniel Sturridge who missed two chances in rapid succession for his first Chelsea goal.

'I'm disappointed for him [that he didn't score] but he played 60 minutes well for the team. I asked him to play for the team, I didn't ask him to score and he did what I asked. For me it is not important that he did not score because Kalou and Malouda did. I am happy for his work on the pitch.'

Hilario, who was forced off in the 22nd minute after a knock to his head will have a scan and Ancelotti hopes the keeper will be better in the next few days. Kalou was taken off at half-time as a precaution against injury after reporting a small problem in his leg.

Chelsea and Bolton look horns again at 3pm on Saturday, this time in the north-west.

'I am pleased about that to be perfectly honest because we have got to put on a performance now,' said Megson, who rested main striker Kevin Davies for this Carling Cup encounter.

'Our team will be different, not just in personnel but I hope in approach.'

'We know very well that Saturday can be another kind of match,' agreed Ancelotti, 'but we are ready to play a different game.'