For some reason, suffering back-to-back 4-0 defeats in the same week doesn't feel like a total disaster. Maybe it's because the first result was in the preposterously popular Carling Cup, where Big Clubs are trying to win the thing. Maybe it's because Chelsea have been by far the best team Bolton have played this season, better than Man Utd, Liverpool and Spurs. Personally, I think it's because sandwiched in between eight unanswered goals, there was 45 minutes where Bolton matched Chelsea.

Gary Megson took an aggressive stance and matched Ancelotti diamond-for-diamond in midfield, and his obstinance translated to the team on the pitch. The players harried and tackled, and even scraped out some chances to score.

And, this might seem obvious, but J'Lloyd Samuel's red card in injury time at the end of the first half was really unfortunate for five reasons;

1) Didier Drogba might not have scored. Although he had got the other side of Samuel, Jussi Jaaskelainen looked to be in a pretty good position. This game demonstrated why Jussi is probably the best ‘keeper in the Premier League. He was immense.

2) Even if Drogba had scored, I'm sure Gary Megson would rather have been 0-1 and have eleven players than 0-1 and ten players. Frank Lampard hasn't missed a penalty for eighteen years (or something like that).

3) It wasn't even much of a tackle. On the replays it just looked clumsy, as Samuel tried to get goalside. Maybe Drogba made the most of it, but he's bound to. If you're going to foul him, wrap him up Jamie Carragher-style and haul him down. Don't just tap his ankles.

4) Don't do it just before half time. There isn't a worse time to concede a goal, especially after putting together a solid 45 minutes. Megson must've been getting ready to gee his players up for another competitive half, and instead was having to pick up the pieces. Finally...

5) J'Lloyd will now miss some games while he's suspended, just when the back four was starting to look settled.

When Samuel tried to crudely climb around Drogba in the box, he undid some of the positive, smart stuff that Bolton have put together in the past few weeks. It just wasn't a clever thing to do, but if it allows Gary Megson to make a point and leads to the team cutting out stupid mistakes, it could still turn into a positive in the long run.