Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson has explained why he left skipper Kevin Davies out of their Carling Cup defeat to Chelsea.

Bolton missed the physical presence of striker Davies in attack but Megson said he would be back in the starting line-up for the visit of Chelsea to the Reebok.

"Davo gets battered from pillar to post every time he plays. He had three stitches above his right eye against United, and two above his left eye against Everton.

"We just felt it would be unfair to chuck him in as we did against Everton, and then ask him to do the same on Saturday. He needed a breather.

"But we missed a lot of things tonight. We weren't physically as strong as we need to be. Hopefully it'll be a bit different on Saturday."