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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
John McDougall

Didier Drogba reveals Bolton draw helped change how Jose Mourinho's Chelsea defence approach

Didier Drogba has revealed how much former club Chelsea learned from a draw against Bolton Wanderers that they applied to how they defended set pieces.

Wanderers picked up a point at Stamford Bridge in November 2004 as they came from behind to pick up a point against Jose Mourinho's side. The London team had taken a two goal lead thanks to strikes from Damien Duff and Tiago.

Sam Allardyce's Whites struck back after the break thanks to Kevin Davies heading home. And Radhi Jaidi netted as full-time approached to ensure a share of the spoils for the Whites.

READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers handed huge transfer boost by Liverpool as agreement reportedly struck

Drogba was on the sidelines for that game, but remembers it all too well and what Chelsea discovered about how to defend from set plays, which Bolton made them pay dearly for. He believes they started to employ such a high line afterwards that the danger these situations posed soon passed.

Speaking as a pundit on ITV during their coverage of the World Cup clash between South Korea and Ghana, he said: "When I was at Chelsea, we played against Bolton, we were winning with two minutes to go. They had a free-kick from halfway and we were dropping so deep.

"They played two balls like this, with second balls and they scored twice and we drew the game. From that game we learnt a lot and from that game, our line was so high that we were not in danger anymore."

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