Chelsea 1-1 Bolton

Events elsewhere had already condemned Chelsea to the runners-up spot once again, but Taylor's late, late spoiler saw Chelsea's season end on a bit of a sour note. With Manchester United one goal up at half-time, Avram Grant's battling Blues went in for a well-earned break still lying second in the league but still hopeful after dominating Bolton.

After having caught up and closed a five-point gap between themselves and United since the end of March, pre-match feelings were, if not optimistic, at least hopeful.

Top of the Premier League current form table, Chelsea ripped into Bolton, themselves not yet certain of safety, from the off.

Drogba went close twice within the first 10 minutes, heading Michael Ballack's sixth-minute cross narrowly wide and then, moments later, mis-hiting the German's low ball across goal from some eight yards.

Potential disaster struck before the quarter-hour mark, when captain John Terry collided with keeper Petr Cech and fell with a thump.

The England star was stretchered off with a suspected dislocated elbow to be replaced by Juliano Belletti.

But Chelsea were not discouraged, continuing to pour forward and Frank Lampard played Joe Cole through just minutes after the disruption, only for Bolton's Gary Cahill and Andrew O'Brien to stifle his effort.

On 20 minutes, cheering for no reason suddenly went around the ground amid rumours of a Wigan goal, but the ground reverted to its tense atmosphere after the story turned out to be false.

Chelsea finally opened the scoring with Andriy Shevchenko netting from close range midway through the second half.

However, as the match entered injury-time, a Bolton corner broke to Taylor in the area and his shot evaded two Chelsea defenders and passed through Cech's legs.

For now, Chelsea will be sweating on Terry for the Champions League final in 10 days' time.

TEAMS:
Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Alex, Terry (Belletti 14), Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele (Shevchenko 46), Lampard, Joe Cole (Obi 78), Drogba, Malouda.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Kalou.

Goals: Shevchenko 62.

Bolton: Al Habsi, Steinsson, Andrew O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Davies, Joey O'Brien, McCann, Nolan, Taylor, Diouf (Giannakopoulos 69).
Subs Not Used: Walker, Jaaskelainen, Meite, Cohen.

Goals: Taylor 90.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Attendance: 41,755.