Nicolas Anelka struck the 99th goal of his Premier League career to help Chelsea to a place in the record books during its 2-0 win over Bolton.On his old Bolton stamping ground 11 months after a £15million move, a diving header from Anelka gave the Blues an 11th consecutive away win in the league, with eight this season.
Deco's sumptuous scissor-kick 12 minutes later sealed the victory as Chelsea eclipsed the mark set 48 years ago by Bill Nicholson's Tottenham side.
With leaders Liverpool winning at Blackburn, the win keeps perfect-on-the-road Chelsea hot on the heels of the Merseyside club at the top of the table.
In fairness, the first half was all too easy for Chelsea once Anelka set it on its way.
But shortly before that there was one a chance for Bolton that would undoubtedly have put a different complexion on the game.
Despite Chelsea's frightening away record coming into this game, and its dominance over Bolton as it has now won its last six at the Reebok Stadium without conceding a goal, the home side came into the match on a roll themselves with four wins in five games.
Salomon Kalou had cleared the crossbar by inches with a deft flick with the outside of his right foot from the edge of the area in the fifth minute.
But three minutes later came an opportunity for Kevin Davies to at least put Chelsea on the back foot.
However, despite being given a free header from six yards in latching onto an inswinging corner from Gavin McCann, he shaved the crossbar instead of putting Petr Cech under pressure.
Chelsea's relief was evident, and Davies' dismay intensified just a minute later when Anelka found the back of the net.
Switching the play from left wing to right, Deco fed an unmarked Jose Bosingwa who then produced a measured cross into the six-yard box.
Anelka drifted off the back of Andy O'Brien and planted a home diving header off Jussi Jaaskelainen's right-hand post.
It was the Frenchman's 15th goal in all competitions this season and his ninth in his last seven Premier League games.
It was a simple chance for an on-song Anelka to take, in particular in light of Bolton's recent upturn in form and new-found resilience.
Yet just 12 minutes later boss Gary Megson's side were left chasing shadows as Chelsea doubled their advantage, even if the visitors enjoyed a touch of fortune into the bargain.
There can be no doubting the clinical nature of Chelsea's attack, culminating in Deco and Michael Ballack teeing up Bosingwa for a fearsome drive that cannoned off Jaaskelainen's legs.
Then came the luck as the ball ballooned up in the air straight to Ballack who instinctively nodded on for Deco.
The finish from the unmarked Portuguese, though, was exquisite as he beat Jaaskelainen inside his right-hand post with a right-foot scissor-kick from 15 yards.
It was a fine way for Deco to end a personal 14-match drought after scoring in his opening two matches for the Blues following his move from Barcelona in the summer.
If Anelka had made it 3-0 midway through the half then a rout would have been on the cards, but instead he sidefooted an angled effort wide after Jaaskelainen had fisted clear a Frank Lampard free-kick.
But Bolton dug in for the remainder of the half, and for the majority of the second period, without thereward its character and attitude deserved.
They were fortunate, though, not to have conceded a third in the 56th minute when Deco was sent scampering clear from the edge of the centre circle.
But with only Jaaskelainen to beat, and although making the right choice in lifting the ball over Bolton's number one as he went to ground, he somehow contrived to send his flick wide.
If Chelsea felt it should have been out of sight, Bolton will have felt aggrieved at being denied a nailed-on penalty on the hour.
Replays showed Johan Elmander's half-volley clearly struck Terry on his upper-left arm, but a possibly unsighted Howard Webb turned aside the vociferous appeals.
Cech then produced a superb point-blank reaction save 10 minutes later to block Gary Cahill's diving header inside the six-yard box as Bolton fought desperately for a foothold in the game.
But it never came, and instead Luiz Felipe Scolari's side are now record-breakers, but that will matter little to the Blues boss unless this season ends with the title in his grasp.
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