Chelsea eased closer to retaining their Premier League title with an uninspired but clinical 2-0 victory at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
After Manchester United were surprisingly held to a goalless home draw by Sunderland on Friday, Chelsea's success extended their lead to nine points with four games remaining.
They could secure the title at Stamford Bridge on Monday by beating Everton if United fail to win at Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day.
If both win on Monday, Chelsea could then claim the honour by drawing with United when they meet in London on April 29.
Chelsea did all they needed at the Reebok, the first goal just before halftime claimed by both John Terry and Didier Drogba. The second on the hour was undeniably Frank Lampard's.
"We still need four points, the situation is fantastic, but I want people to be happy with the result and the situation but not singing the champion song," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports.
Bolton have now lost five games in a row to leave their UEFA Cup chances in the balance.
They should have taken the lead in the 23rd minute when Ricardo Vaz Te played a one-two with strike partner Jared Borgetti but then failed to get a good contact on his 15-metre shot and saw it rebound from a post.
ONLY ATTEMPT
It proved to be just about their only attempt on goal although Chelsea were similarly shot-shy on the ground where they won the title a year ago.
Chelsea went ahead in the 44th minute when Lampard swung in a free kick from the left and Drogba and Terry rose unmarked together to meet it. Both heads appeared to get a touch and both claimed it but Terry, with the authority of the captain's armband, emerged with the stronger shout.
"It was 100 percent mine," the English centre back said.
Lampard doubled the lead on the hour when he started a move on the halfway line then surged into the box to collect an inside pass from Hernan Crespo and fire home from close range for his 15th goal of the season, a record for a midfielder since the Premier League began in 1992.
Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim was sent off in injury time for a second booking, a pointless trip on Michael Essien, having collected his first five minutes earlier for blocking winger Arjen Robben.
"We know we're not quite there yet but today was very important for us," Lampard said. "We've got to concentrate on us. We were seven clear, but we knew if we won our games we'd win the league and we're nearly there."
Later on Saturday the attention switches to the battle for fourth place when Tottenham Hotspur, currently holding that all-important slot, visit Everton and fifth-placed Arsenal host West Bromwich Albion.
Blackburn Rovers play Liverpool on Sunday.
