Everton – Chelsea

1. So, the wheels have come off for Chelsea with the loss of inspirational flying Dutchman Arjen Robben - sidelined with a foot injury. That's what Alex Ferguson would like to believe but it's just wishful thinking.

2. However, a trip to Goodison Park is not what Mourinho would have wanted just as the first tentative questions start to be asked of his expensively assembled squad.

3. First v Fourth and, even if it may not be pretty, it is going to be a committed encounter. Cole comes in for Robben; Alessandro Pistone fills in at right back for Everton in place of the absent Tony Hibbert.

4. Chelsea can go 12 points clear this lunch-time but, with Everton looking for points towards their Champions League ambitions, a slip up is possible and would give Manchester United a smell of blood in a moribund Championship race. For what it's worth, I'm going for a score draw: 2-2.

5. Everton get us started and already Terry has to be alive to the threat of a long ball pumped up towards Bent. Unfussy defending hoofs it in to the stands.

6. 2'

   Cole, eager as ever, harries Yobo but the Everton defender wins their first dual.

7. 3'

   Free-kick out wide left sees all of Everton's big players stream forward but it's a waste after Carsley plays it short to Naysmith whose cross is very poor.

8. 4'

   Gudjohson cross is destined for Tiago before Stubb offers a timely intervention.

9. 5'

   Bridge overlaps before whipping in a cross that draws the first corner of the game.

10. 6'

    Terry the target for the cross but it's too high for him. Chelsea retain possession though allowing Lampard to shoot from distance. Best forgotten from the England man.

11. 7'

    Ferreira demonstrates great technique and composure to slalom out of defence before playing a slide rule ball through to...absolutely no one at all!

12. 8'

    Chelsea asking questions of the Everton defence down the left but they are equal to everything thrown at them.

13. 9'

    James Beattie, seven apperances for Everton; two goals and now one red card. A ridiculous head-butt on Gallas - from behind - whilst the Frenchman was shielding a ball was well in view of referee Mike Riley and the striker has left his team in a real mess. Idiotic.

14. 10'

    Another Chelsea corner isn't properly dealt with and eventually comes to Duff who fires well over from 20 yards.

15. 11'

    Confusion this time in the Chelsea box. Free-kick slung in almost finds Wier but Tiago does well with a defensive header. Carsley finally shoots wide under pressure.

16. 12'

    Naysmith and Cole go head-to-head twice in the space of a minute with the Scot coming out on top comfortably both times.

17. 13'

    Duff allows a ball to role across his body on the 18-yard line before striking a left-footed drive just over the bar. Not too far away.

18. 14'

    Bent is now up front on his own and it promises to be a thankless, tiring afternoon for him. An e=Everton clearance is easily mopped up by the greater numbers in the Chelsea rearguard.

19. 15'

    Another ball over the top for Bent to chase but Gallas calmly nods back to Cech, to the soundtrack of 40,000 scousers booing him for his 'role' in the sending off.

20. 16'

    Great burst forward from Tiago is picked by Makalele. Tiago dumies it at first befoe running on to Gudjohnson's flick. Masses of the goal to aim for but the Portuguese curls it high and wide when he should have done better.

21. 17'

    The Goodison pitch is awful and, as it continues to cut up, is making passing football that much harder.

22. 18'

    Makelele finds himself strange territory and, from 25 yards, produces a chip come shot that runs off for a goal-kick. Not what he's in the team for.

23. 19'

    Cech, largely a spectator until now, spoons a simple clearance inviting some Everton pressure.

24. 20'

    A bouncing ball in the Chelsea penalty area causes a slight panic that subsides once the ball bobbles out for a goal-kick. Everton still capable of troubling the champions elect.

25. 22'

    Great ball from Kilbane goes to Bent's feet for a change. But, with no support to talk of he is forced back into trouble and the attack breaks down.

26. 23'

    The combination of Beattie's dismissal, a woeful pitch, what's at stake and the natures of the two teams has turned this into a real slogging battle. Engaging but a long way short of attractive.

27. 24'

    Pistone gets the better of Duff, not for the first time this afternoon.

28. 25'

    Not this time though: Duff jinks past the Italian before teasing over a wonderful ball to the near post and Gudjohnson. The combined efforts of Stubbs and a strong touch from Martyn - off his knee - prevent a certain goal.

29. 26'

    Great play for Kilbane in the centre of the pitch to earn a bit of time and space before releasing Naysmith on the left to fire over a cross. Not a bad effort but too close to the grateful Cech.

30. 27'

    Chelsea building pressure incrementally around the edge of the penalty area but shots from Duff and Cole are repelled by some bodies thrown in the way. Tough to do this for 90 minutes but Everton are up to the task at the moment.

31. 29'

    End to end stuff. Everton looked to be building an attack before a Yobbo miskick sets up the counter attack that ends with Lampard drilling a shot wide of the left-hand upright.

32. 30'

    The pitch really is in an appalling state and might be why Yobbo messed up so completely. It isn't helping the game but it may help produce a goal at least some time soon.

33. 31'

    Cahill gets a yellow card after a late, frustrated foul on Makelele. Fair cop.

34. 32'

    Tiago. 30 yards out. Swinger connects with ball. Someone in row z gets a ball in the face. Huge cheer from the home fans.

35. 33'

    Everton, surprisingly, are enjoying most of the possession he but Everton continue to frustrate them in the final third and their are signs that the visitors may lose their own composure.

36. 34'

    Joe Cole becomes the second Chelsea man to be roundly booed by the home fans after a theatrical dive on the edge of the box. I think there was a suspicion of a foul but Cole's shameful swan dive, rightly, overshadowed the tackle. Pathetic.

37. 35'

    Lampard, afforded a bit of space inside the Everton box, goes for the far post but a deflection takes it wide of the post and ahead of Gudjohnson's boot. Let off for the home team.

38. 36'

    Free-kick whipped in from the right ids met by Stubbs but his slice sends it towrds goal, drawing a decent save from Martyn in the Everton goal.

39. 38'

    More last ditch stuff for the Everton boys in their own box before a hoof up field pits Bent against Gallas. The Frenchman wins and Bent, willing though he is, is in for a pretty tiring and difficult afternoon.

40. 39'

    Get the impression Everton will be happy to get to half-time with a clean sheet.

41. 40'

    Ferreira gets forward well; then crosses less well.

42. 41'

    A flash of hope for Everton. Pistone takes the initiative and takes a good pass wide on the right. A fantastic, dipping cross looks tailor made for Bent but Gallas just gets a touch on it to spoil it. Encouraging for the home supporters.

43. 42'

    Cole, industrious and eager as ever, jinks into shooting range and stings the palms of Martyn with a low drive that the keeper would expect to save every time.

44. 43'

    Tiago makes Martyn work from distance but it is bread and butter stuff for the former England goalkeeper.

45. 44'

    Yobbo offers an outlet for Bent and, after twisting and turning sends over a curling cross that Ferreira gets to before Cahill.

46. 45'

    Half comes to a close with Everton relatively happy to still have it at 0-0 after Beattie was sent off inside 10 minutes. As Mr Riley leaves the field the home fans voice their displeasure but he deserved to go.

47. 45'

    Chelsea will be disappointed not to have made more of the numerical advantage but some obdurate Everton defending is stifling their ambition. It's not pretty, but it is interesting. Something has to change second-half, that's for sure.

48. 45'

    Second-half gets underway with the same 21 players who finished the first still on the pitch.

49. 46'

    Neat turn by Cole after receiving a Makelele pass with his back to goal but his fierce drive comes back off an Everton man.

50. 47'

    Kilbane muscles Makelele off the ball but their is no Everton man ahead of him to collect the loose ball and it is easy for Gallas.

51. 48'

    Cole once more looking to shoot on sight. Again his effort is blocked but at the expense of a Corner.

52. 49'

    Duff cuts back sharply from the right to unlease a wicked left foot shot from the corner of the box. Deflection wrong foots Martyn but he recovers well enough to deny Gudjonson at his feet inside the six yard box. Great goalkeeping but Gudjohnson must wonder how he didn't get on the scoresheet.

53. 50'

    Ferreira skins Naysmith as if he wasn't there before teasing over a low cross along the six yard line but no one can meet it.

54. 51'

    Slick interchange of passes from Chelsea. Fine run by Duff almost threads through the Everton defence but a sliding intervention from Kilbane takes it off his toes. Wonderful vision from Lampard.

55. 52'

    Everton free-kick is well directed but the height on it gives Cech time to come and collect comfortably.

56. 53'

    Terry wins an aerial battle in the box before Carsley fouls Cole competing for the loose ball and Everton waste a good territorial position.

57. 54'

    Martyn once more comes to his side's rescue, turning away a Lampard improvised toe-poke shot from inside a crowd.

58. 55'

    Second Chelsea corner in quick succession finds its way to Cole with space and time 20 yards out. Blistering effort but a yard too high.

59. 57'

    Great vision again from Lampard as a lofted diagonal ball falls to Gudjohson but the Iceland striker had strayed offside.

60. 58'

    Cech and Ferreira play a couple of one-twos before the keeper shows poor kicking again; turning it over to Kilbane. Nothing comes of the mistake.

61. 59'

    Good hold up play from Bent maintains an Everton attack. Through ball and a lucky ricochet looks, for a moment, to have put Cahill in on goal but Makelele is back to tackle him. Corner to Everton.

62. 60'

    Corner is far too close to the giant Cech who plucks the ball out of the air without recourse for even leaving the ground.

63. 61'

    Second-half conforming to the same pattern as the first. Chelsea pressure but committed defence from Everton limiting their chances. The ocassional Everton counter doesn't offer much.

64. 62'

    Another left footed angled strike from Duff is dragged well wide.

65. 63'

    Patient build up from Chelsea but once Cole got within a dangerous position Carsley put in a solid tackle and the chance was gone.

66. 64'

    Gudjonson looked to be one on one with Martyn until the linesman's flag halted his progress. Didn't look offside to me at all.

67. 65'

    Game is becoming increasingly scrappy which, you have to wonder, could be to Everton's advantage.

68. 66'

    Shot from outside the area from Cole is less than convincing and the England man shows his frustration at his own work.

69. 67'

    Chelsea laying siege to the Everton box now and some tired legs in the Everton defence are starting to show.

70. 68'

    It's been coming for a long, long time and finally Chelseatake the lead. Gudjohnson with one of the easiest finishes of his career. 1-0 Chelsea.

71. 68'

    Wicked cross from the right saw Gallas of all people at the front of a line of players to get a touch to beat the oncoming Martyn. The ball flew back off the crossbar right to the feet of Gudjohnson would couldn't miss from 4 yards out.

72. 69'

    Despite Everton's best efforts to repell them after the early sending off, Chelsea deserve the lead. And I think one goal will be enough.

73. 70'

    First substitution of the game sees Jiri Jarosik replace the willing but largely ineffectual Cole.

74. 71'

    Long ball over the top from Lampard picks out Duff but a glorious, lunging challenge from Pistone clears the danger.

75. 72'

    Everton have to act and they do. Off goes Naysmith to be replaced by 'Big Dunc' for his 23rd apperance from the bench this term.

76. 74'

    Chelsea just playing keep ball at the moment to very good effect.

77. 75'

    Pistone overlaps - Everton have looked threatening when he's has been able to - and wins a precious corner for his team.

78. 76'

    Carsley's corner is very poor and doesn't clear the first defender.

79. 77'

    Tiago really hasn't worn his shooting boots today. Another surging run opens up the chance for him but with plenty to aim at the effort sails harmlessly wide.

80. 78'

    Chelsea are in no hurry to take a free-kick from the left. When they eventually do Carsley gets the all important header.

81. 79'

    A completely needless booking for Terry. An Everton free-kick was held up by him throwing the ball in the opposite direction. Kick moved ten yards.

82. 80'

    Kick held up again as some argy bargy in the penalty area threatens to spill over. Tiago and Weir the main participants but everyone has something to say.

83. 81'

    Free-kick finally played into the box where Carsley meets it with an angled header that Cech has to get down smartly to save on the line. Had he spilled it Ferguson was on hand but the keeper held it first time.

84. 82'

    Chelsea intent on just killing the game but Everton have roused themselves for one last effort. Interesting last ten minutes ahead.

85. 83'

    Chelsea's shooting has been poor today. Lampard sends a shot about ten feet over the bar this time.

86. 84'

    Everton substitution as Carsley makes way for Mikel Arteta.

87. 85'

    Aerial balls causing problems for Chelsea in their box. First Terry gets ahead of his own keeper to head clear. Ball is thrown back in where an unconvincing Cech punch clears the ball. A slightly more convincing slap min the face for Bent from Ferguson as the two challenged Cech.

88. 86'

    Bent needs treatment after being clattered by his own man. Blood is dripping from his nose. And that's what Ferguson does to his team-mates! Imagine what he did to those burglars...

89. 87'

    Massive clearance from Martyn pits Gallas against Bent and the Chelsea man uses his hand to stop the ball in its tracks. Yellow card for him and a free-kick on the edge of the box for Everton.

90. 88'

    Substitution for Chelsea takes an age but finally Johnson replaces Tiago.

91. 89'

    Jarosik is also booked for dissent and the kick moved forward right to the line. Arteta tries to curl it but the wall does its job well enough.

92. 90'

    Everton's attack runs out of steam as Ferguson is harshly judged to have been guilty of pushing.

93. 90'

    Final Chelsea substitution wastes a few more seconds. Duff gets to the showers early and Richardo Carvalho gets a run out in his recovery from a broken toe.

94. 90'

    Everton fans appeal for a penalty but Bent's rasping drive was driven into the shoulder/face of Gallas.

95. 90'

    Everton's final throw of the dice comes to nothing as Pistone's angled cross is headed clear.

96. 90'

    Substitute Johnson still has plenty of energy and drives into the Everton box. Stubbs has to put in a saving challenge to deny him a goal.

97. 90'

    Final whistle sounds and Chelsea have come through another stern test with three points towards a first championship in 50 years.

98. 90'

    The game was spoiled by a terrible pitch and the stupidity of James Beattie; sent off after 8 minutes for a head butt on Gallas. Chelsea deserved their victory but you can't help wondering how they would have fared against eleven Everton men.

99. 90'

    Far from convincing from Chelsea, despite their superiour technique and possession. But on they march; tweleve points clear of Man Utd. It's theirs to lose. Everton will now just have to win at Anfield in a couple of weeks to protect fourth spot, eh?

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