The Blues ground out the scrappiest of 1-0 wins to take maximum points for the first time in seven matches and close to within four points of leaders Manchester United.

The result eased the pressure on manager Ancelotti, who had overseen the club's worst sequence since 1999, a run that saw them slump from top spot to fifth in the table.

After watching his side edge back above Tottenham into fourth tonight, the Italian revealed he felt they needed to win to maintain their title defence.

"Obviously, yes," said Ancelotti, who went into tonight's match with the backing of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.

"I think it was the most important thing to change the atmosphere, to change the trend, to come back to win.

"This was the most important thing."

Chelsea were far from their best tonight, especially in a miserable first half in which they failed to muster a shot on target.

They were much improved after the break but Bolton had enough chances to have snatched a point.

Ancelotti was therefore reluctant to brand the result the turning point in his side's season.

He said: "We have to wait. It was a very important step, this victory, this performance.

"Bolton played well, they used a lot of power up front, they were dangerous.

"Now we have to wait for the next game.

"This is an important step.

"I'm not sure that everything now will be okay. We have to put on a performance again."

Ancelotti insisted he was not panicking at half-time, saying: "(I was) not worried because we knew that the game was not easy.

"We needed to fight on the long ball and I think that defensively we did very well to control Davies and Elmander.

"We lost some passes in the first half - we were a little bit afraid.

"But this was normal because there was a lot of pressure on this game.

"The second half was really better."

The winner was scored in the 61st minute by Florent Malouda and the relief as the ball hit the net was palable around Stamford Bridge.

"The goal took the weight off our shoulders," said Ancelotti, who shrugged off questions over whether Didier Drogba was offside laying on the goal.

"I don't know if it was offside and I'm not interested."

The Blues ground out the scrappiest of 1-0 wins to take maximum points for the first time in seven matches and close to within four points of leaders Manchester United.

The result eased the pressure on manager Ancelotti, who had overseen the club's worst sequence since 1999, a run that saw them slump from top spot to fifth in the table.

After watching his side edge back above Tottenham into fourth tonight, the Italian revealed he felt they needed to win to maintain their title defence.

"Obviously, yes," said Ancelotti, who went into tonight's match with the backing of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.

"I think it was the most important thing to change the atmosphere, to change the trend, to come back to win.

"This was the most important thing."

Chelsea were far from their best tonight, especially in a miserable first half in which they failed to muster a shot on target.

They were much improved after the break but Bolton had enough chances to have snatched a point.

Ancelotti was therefore reluctant to brand the result the turning point in his side's season.

He said: "We have to wait. It was a very important step, this victory, this performance.

"Bolton played well, they used a lot of power up front, they were dangerous.

"Now we have to wait for the next game.

"This is an important step.

"I'm not sure that everything now will be okay. We have to put on a performance again."

Ancelotti insisted he was not panicking at half-time, saying: "(I was) not worried because we knew that the game was not easy.

"We needed to fight on the long ball and I think that defensively we did very well to control Davies and Elmander.

"We lost some passes in the first half - we were a little bit afraid.

"But this was normal because there was a lot of pressure on this game.

"The second half was really better."

The winner was scored in the 61st minute by Florent Malouda and the relief as the ball hit the net was palable around Stamford Bridge.

"The goal took the weight off our shoulders," said Ancelotti, who shrugged off questions over whether Didier Drogba was offside laying on the goal.

"I don't know if it was offside and I'm not interested."