By Harry Pratt IT TOOK a while to arrive but when it did, the tension of the last-day battle to beat the drop reached unbearable levels. Sadly for Bolton, their attempts to overcome Cup Winners' Cup finalists Chelsea, and therefore condemn Everton to the First Division whatever the result at Goodison Park, were in vain. Having twice been hit on the counter, by Gianluca Vialli's opportunistic finish and Jody Morris' equally ruthless strike, Colin Todd's brave side needed Coventry to collect the three points on Merseyside. It was not to be. But how much closer could they have come? Because with the day drifting towards an anti-climatic straightforward conclusion, the scenario of Bolton surviving suddenly became plausible in the last four minutes. Nick Barmby's penalty miss for Everton was immediately followed by Dion Dublin's 86th minute Sky Blues equaliser, meaning Wanderers, only one down at that point, could do it all on their own. They would have done so too but for the small matter of an inch - the size of the gap between Gaetano Giallianza's forehead and the ball when Alan Thompson's 88th minute shot took a deflection and evaded the substitute lurking at the far post. Whether he froze at the thought of what would be if he hit the net or had been left flat-footed by the change in the ball's flight path is debatable. Yet unmarked, and just five yards out with the goal at his mercy, he failed to make contact and himself a hero forever back in Lancashire. With that golden opportunity went Bolton's last real hope of a great escape act that, to be fair, looked completely out of the question until the past month's revival. Coventry could do no more than draw 1-1 at Everton while back in London, the next move of the afternoon sent Morris clear to hammer shut the Bolton coffin. So for the second time in three years, Todd's side have nose-dived straight back down from whence they came - completing a full-house in that respect with the others who came up this time last year. Painful to say the least and full of ifs and buts. Todd, as composed and calm as you like, refused to single out any one moment, correctly conceding their destiny has been decided over an entire season. We should not be fooled, though, by the comprehensive scoreline at a sun-kissed Bridge. Vialli's team, with minds on the bigger event looming in Stockholm in mid-week, was reshuffled as the manager had promised. They were nowhere near as good as the result indicates and Bolton nowhere near as bad. With a win good enough to stay up, the visitors went for the jugular from the kick-off and could have been at least two goals to the good at half-time rather than all square. Then, after the break, they again created the better openings but failed to take them. Dennis Wise hacked off the line midway through the opening period following a brilliant, mazy run from Per Frandsen, started in his own half and ended inside the Chelsea area with a great shot. Eddie De Goey was beaten but the Blues' scampering skipper was not. The second half was little different. Nathan Blake skied over after Laurent Charvet's appallingly careless run gifted possession to winger Thompson who, within seconds, was guilty of a wildly inaccurate cross when Blake, Frandsen and Giallianza were waiting to pounce. As so often happens, Chelsea went straight up the pitch and scored the killer blow, second half substitute Vialli showing the composure missing at the other end. The player-coach's lead was followed by Morris - leaving the final few embers of Bolton's top flight life to burn away.

TODD PAYS TRIBUTE TO PLAYERS AND FANS   BOLTON boss Colin Todd paid tribute to his players and the club's "magnificent" fans as he accepted relegation with the dignity and pride his team continued to play with until the bitter end at Stamford Bridge. As Bolton contemplated falling from the top flight for the second time in three seasons, Todd refused to look for scapegoats, instead preferring to praise his players for their efforts and the supporters for their loyalty. He said: The players worked their socks off against Chelsea, just as they have done for most of what has been a difficult season. I could not ask any more of them. The same goes for the fans. They have been absolutely magnificent throughout and have never turned against the players. Before the visit to Stamford Bridge, Todd was confident that, with their Premiership destiny in their own hands, his Bolton battlers would grind out the victory that would keep them among the game's elite. Goals by Gianluca Vialli and Jody Morris, coming after news of Gareth Farrelly's goal for Everton, provided the confirmation that the Trotters were heading back to the Nationwide League again. But this time with their heads held high. Todd added: All season we have been written off but we came fighting back. We believed in ourselves and worked, worked and worked for each other. Sadly, in the end, it wasn't to be. But there is nothing to be ashamed of. The disappointment is so great. The atmosphere in the dressing room was horrible and nothing I can say is going to change that. It is a terrible day for us. This is something you don't want to experience, but it's happens and now we have to bounce back. Asked if he will be able to re-group and revitalise his troops to make another speedy return to the top flight, Todd was philosophical: We'll have to see about that. It was tough on the players, the fans and everyone connected with the club. You have to concentrate your own mind and try to make the players positive about the next challenge. Of course it is disappointing, but we have to get over this and start again next season. CHELSEA: De Goey, Petrescu (Poyet 46), Leboeuf, Clarke, Hughes, Wise (Di Matteo 46), Granville, Flo (Vialli 46), Newton, Charvet, Morris Subs Not Used: Lambourde, Hitchcock Booked: Charvet, Leboeuf BOLTON WANDERERS: Branagan, Cox, Fish, Thompson, Phillips, Bergsson (Johansen 70), Sheridan (Salako 73), Taggart, Frandsen, Blake, Taylor (Giallanza 65) Subs Not Used: Jaaskelainen, Todd Booked: Cox, Frandsen Att: 34,845 Ref: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)

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