Match Report: Everton 0 Chelsea 1
Saturday, Feb 12, 2005


Chelsea went 12 points clear at the top of the League, if
temporarily, thanks to Eidur Gudjohnsen's 11th goal of the season,
but it was a long battle against Everton's ten men.

The pitch was a shock to everyone as it had no grass and wasn't
even. New goalmouths had been put in, the width of the six yard box
and the length of the 18 yard box plus the semi-circle, but this
made Stamford Bridge look like prime-era Wembley.

Despite being fourth, Everton were in poor League form, having won
just two of their previous seven Premiership games.

Just seven minutes had gone when they were reduced to ten men.
Beattie, chasing Gallas who was following the ball as it moved for a
goal-kick, jumped on the defender and appeared to head butt him
twice. Referee Riley, running just behind, flashed the red card
without delay. It was extraordinary and inexcusable by the former
Southampton striker.

After the arguments and treatment for Gallas, Everton switched to 4-
4-1 with Bent moving into attack, and almost immediately Gudjohnsen
drilled a cross which just evaded Duff and Cole, and Cole then
whipped it back and Chelsea won a corner.

Everton fans bitterly booed Gallas, demanding retribution at every
Chelsea foul.

Their team didn't lie down and kept hitting dangerous crosses
whenever they could, but Chelsea set a high tempo with Duff twice
shooting just over, and Tiago chipping over from an angle when put
through by Gudjohnsen. Fifteen minutes had gone and optimism was
high.

Everton defended well, as ever, and they had to with Makelele
winning the ball constantly and well upfield, so for Chelsea it was
a case of mixing patience with high tempo. Duff had a spell of
dribbling at Pistone, and his second attempt produced a cross which
Gudjohnsen flicked for goal and Martyn turned away for Chelsea's
third corner with his thigh.

With over half an hour gone Tiago twice and Lampard had missed with
medium-range shooting opportunities, the pitch aiding the home
team's defence, and although Everton still looked comfortable they
were getting frustrated at Chelsea's possession and movement. Cahill
was booked for a late challenge on Makelele after Naysmith had
escaped a card with a similar foul.




Chelsea fans were furious when Cole seemed to be flattened by Stubbs
just outside the area, and Everton fans when Cahill was whistled up
for handball from a Lampard cross he was blocking. Lampard's free-
kick was sliced by Stubbs across his own goal but Martyn dived to
collect.

Half-time arrived with Chelsea having dominated but apart from
Gudjohnsen's flick having caused Martyn insufficient concern — a
concern surely for José Mourinho. The referee was under pressure
from the home fans for every decision he was giving against their
team, and there were a few. The pitch was a problem, but that was
now unavoidable.

Chelsea penned Everton in straight from the restart of the second-
half, and three minutes in Gudjohnsen was again foiled by Martyn
from close range after another flick from more Duff creative
trickery, this time from the right. Then Ferreira cut inside
Naysmith and drove a shot across the six yard box which only just
missed the far post. Still no career goals for him.

Six minutes later Martyn's most demanding moment so far came when
Duff again showed class with Lampard whose edge of the area shot was
well turned round by the flying goalkeeper. Two corners later Cole
drove just over.

One hour gone: 12 shots off-target, six on. Everton had managed one
shot off. Everton, no corners; Chelsea seven. Everton 13 fouls,
Chelsea six. And the pitch kept deteriorating.

When Everton did win their first corner Cahill swung Makelele down
by the neck and furious Chelsea remonstrated with the referee.

The breakthrough came on 69 minutes when Gallas flicked a Ferreira
cross on to the bar and Gudjohnsen had a simple net-in. There were
no great celebrations. `Job being done, on with the last 20
minutes,' it seemed. Or maybe it was tiredness. Or maybe it
was `About time too!'

Jarošik immediately replaced Cole and a minute later Ferguson went
on for Naysmith. Jarošik plonked himself in central midfield with
Tiago and Makelele allowing Lampard more freedom. Gudjohnsen and
Cole were left upfront. For Everton Yobo went to right-back, Pistone
to the left and they played 4-3-2.




With ten minutes to go Terry, who had been as immaculate as ever,
threw the ball away at a free-kick. Riley booked him and moved it
forward ten yards. That's Terry's fifth booking of the season and he
now misses the FA Cup tie at Newcastle. From Pistone's excellent
free-kick and Carsley's slight-touch header, Cech was perfectly
positioned with good hands to collect. It was Chelsea's first close
shave.

Tiny on-loan midfielder, the Spaniard Arteta, replaced Carsley with
six minutes left. Everton increased their aerial assault and a
succession of headers had to be won in the area as Ferguson threw
his weight around.

With a minute left Jarošik was booked for dissent after a Gallas
handball and the free-kick was moved to the edge of the area.
Arteta's effort hit the wall.

Seconds before Johnson had replaced Tiago and in stoppage time
Carvalho returned to first team action after two months out with a
broken toe, substituting Duff. Chelsea now had Jarošik playing just
in front of Ferguson, with Makelele and Carvalho either side of him.
Jarošik cleared everything that was knocked in high.

When the final whistle went Chelsea were camped in Everton's
defending corner. Another northern outpost had been conquered. The
team and staff celebrated with the fans on the far side of the pitch
from the dressing rooms.

And don't overlook a tenth consecutive Premiership clean sheet.