After a dismal run of just two wins in 12 Premier League games, Chelsea have used their seven-goal FA Cup mauling of Ipswich a fortnight ago as a springboard to a brighter future.

Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka followed up a stupendous early opener from Didier Drogba before Ramires capped a fine night for the Blues when he scored his first goal for the club.

The result leaves Chelsea seven points adrift of United, who also have a game in hand.

However, Ancelotti is not giving up the fight, especially as his side still have to face the leaders twice.

"That is the end of the bad moment," he said.

"It was an important performance and now we have to look forward with confidence.

"To close the gap is not going to be easy. At this moment Manchester United are so far in front.

"But step by step, we can do it, although obviously we have to win the games against them."

Chelsea will feel more bullish about achieving that aim with Drogba in his present mood.

A season scarred by contracting malaria seemed to be passing the Ivorian by until this evening.

His 35-yard rocket shot did not give the impression of a man low in confidence. And Ancelotti was delighted to see it fly past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

"Finally Didier Drogba played a fantastic match," said Ancelotti. "It was a fantastic goal.

"His power and personality are very important for this team. It is crucial that he came back fit and dangerous."

Ancelotti will understand doubts persist.

Such is Chelsea's position that they need to remain unbeaten over the final 15 games to retain a realistic hope of keeping their hard-won title.

Judging by their bench at Bolton, they still lack the depth within their squad to be confident of meeting that challenge.

That just adds to the pressure for new signings, although an agreement is still to be reached with Benfica for central defender David Luiz, who is set to become Chelsea's most expensive purchase since Andriy Shevchenko.

"It is not done," said Ancelotti.

"We are trying to find an agreement with Benfica but nothing is decided. We just have to wait and see."

In completing a hat-trick of wins for the first time since the beginning of November, Chelsea were extending Bolton's run of games without a win to five, two of them they were directly responsible for.

Despite a less than satisfactory result on the night his club bid farewell to legendary striker Nat Lofthouse, Trotters boss Owen Coyle was keen not to look on the bleak side.

However, he is about to discover who the most sturdy characters in his dressing room are.

"I am hurting because I never envisaged that outcome," he said.

"But the margins in this league are tight and we have come out on the wrong side again.

"We need to pick ourselves up. There is no fairy dust or magic wand in football. It is about hard work.

"When you are winning and everything is going well, anyone can play because confidence is high.

"It is when you have lost a couple and confidence takes a hit, that you need to see the mental courage.

"We need players to say they will be the ones who help us turn the corner."