Bolton seemed to suffer the most from the 30 minute delayed kick-off, as within 35 seconds they went behind to the Londoners.
Arjen Robben squeezed the ball from the centre circle into the path of Frank Lampard.
The England midfielder, who played in the ill-tempered midweek international against Spain, produced a wonderful pass to Irishman Damien Duff.
The ball, a curling 20 yarder from the outside of Lampard's right foot, was inch-perfect in its execution as it fell into the gleeful path of Duff running across the Bolton defence and into space inside the penalty area.
With one touch, Duff took the ball past goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and slotted home from six yards out and from a sharp angle into the empty net.
It was just what Chelsea needed and should have been the springboard for more goals and a comfortable victory.
But Bolton are made of granite in the image of their manager Sam Allardyce and clawed themselves back into the match.
Chelsea were reduced to two speculative half-chances in the first half - both were free headers from Robben corners. John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho both headed over the Bolton bar from 10 yards out.
Bolton, however, were soon two goals down after the half time break.
Again Robben was the architect. His short corner was sent back to him from Duff and the Dutchman arrowed a fierce drive into the penalty area.
Tiago reacted the quickest and volleyed an angled right footer past the stranded defence and into the far corner of the net.
Bolton are well-known for their set plays and with a piece of luck in the shape of a goalkeeping error, they got back into the match.
Three minutes after going two behind Bolton had a free-kick wide on Chelsea's left.
Veteran Gary Speed curled over a left footer which was bending inwards towards goal. It should have been a simple punch out by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech but he seemed to mis-time the flight of the ball, allowing it to get past him. The ball bounced off the head of Kevin Davies and into the back of the net.
It was just what Bolton needed and the continued to press forward with the unique style of aerial bombardment.
But Chelsea had two great chances to seal victory and both went to Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
On 58 minutes Gudjohnsen, three feet from goal, scuffed a shot on target which Jaaskelainen did remarkably well to scoop off the line.
Gudjohnsen's second miss owned much to ill-luck. He weaved his way towards the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a marvellous right footer which had the keeper well beaten but watched on in horror as it also ricocheted away to safety off the crossbar.
With the minutes ticking away and Chelsea knocked out of their stride, Bolton forced the pace once more.
A Speed looping header and an Ivan campo speculative shot both failed to trouble the Chelsea goal.
With three minutes remaining a Bruno N'Gotty long free kick saw Davies knock the ball down to the path of Rahdi Jaidi who arrowed a low right footer past the stranded Cech and into his farleft-hand corner.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Gary Speed (Bolton) Master class of astute passing, determined throughout and should have scored himself in the dying minutes.