Essien strike keeps Chelsea in title chase

Andy Hunter at Goodison Park
Friday April 18, 2008
The Guardian

A fixture that prompted such protest from Chelsea yielded victory with
a minimum of fuss - and words - at Goodison Park last night. Avram
Grant having complained long and loud over Sky television's
rescheduling of a potentially daunting visit to Everton, there was a
neat, ironic twist in his post-match reaction to the written-press
corps here.
At least, that was surely the intention of the Chelsea manager.
Instead he looked and sounded pathetic, his mumbling, incoherent
comments undermining a pre-match appeal to be taken seriously and to
have his achievements considered with maturity. Only the Chelsea
players, out on the pitch, showed any of the latter.

Grant's reign may be defined on Merseyside next week and the Chelsea
manager could, had he wished, have found respite in the fact that the
Premier League title was not conceded here last night.
In extending the title race by at least another nine days, at which
time Manchester United - if they triumph at Blackburn Rovers tomorrow
night - will have the opportunity to take the crown at Stamford
Bridge, Chelsea showed a fortitude to encourage Grant's conviction
that he can give Roman Abramovich the success he craves. However,
there was a distinct lack of panache to suggest he can bring the style
the Russian desires, and the paucity of Everton's performance, one
that surrendered faint hopes of fourth place, must also be taken into
account.

Michael Essien's first-half goal brought Chelsea a merited win that
takes them two points behind the champions, albeit having played a
game more, and lent weight to the manager's assertion that he deserves
credit for ensuring the club are involved in a title race of sorts.
Grant has also spoken of his long-term future at the club this week
and it will be a measure of comfort to the Israeli that, this morning,
his future does not yet rest on two Champions League ties with
Liverpool. This was far from the performance of prospective champions
but, shorn of key players, inspiration and penetration, it was a
valuable result at the start of a defining period in their season.

Though Chelsea were evidently superior to an Everton side now
desperately hanging on to fifth place and the final Uefa Cup
qualifying spot, Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafael Benítez will not have
endured an uncomfortable sleep last night. This was a pale imitation
of the performance Chelsea delivered here in the Carling Cup
semi-final in January. An identical result, however, brought
sufficient compensation.

Grant made five changes to the side held at home by Wigan Athletic,
with Michael Ballack, injured in training on the eve of the game,
joining the list of enforced absentees that included Didier Drogba and
Frank Lampard. Their invention, composure and threat were again sorely
missed and, irrespective of this victory, the quality of all three
will be invaluable if Chelsea are to overcome Liverpool in the
Champions League semi-finals.

Essien produced a nerveless finish just as the visitors' anxiety in
struggling to unsettle an Everton defence held impressively by Joseph
Yobo and particularly Phil Jagielka was beginning to show. Jagielka,
the former Sheffield United captain, had twice denied Shaun
Wright-Phillips with perfectly timed challenges inside his penalty
area, the second an outstanding interception with his trailing leg as
the England international looked to cut inside to score, but
misfortune befell him at an ideal moment for Chelsea.

Essien collected a pass from Salomon Kalou and instantly brought more
urgency into the Chelsea attack. An attempted one-two with
Wright-Phillips, however, returned off Jagielka's heel, releasing the
midfielder inside the Everton area and resulting in a measured chip
over the advancing Tim Howard.

The breakthrough removed the tension from Chelsea's luminous yellow
shoulders, and Mikel John Obi almost doubled their advantage moments
later with a rising drive from 25 yards that Howard tipped over his
bar.

A second at that point may well have killed the contest as Everton's
threat was minimal, their hopes of claiming a first victory over "a
big four" member this season appearing to rest entirely on their
success from a Manuel Fernandes set-piece. The Portuguese midfielder
twice went close, one effort forcing a fine save from Petr Cech and a
second flashing inches wide of the top corner, but Everton were again
flat as their season slowly peters out.

"It was not the performance I was after and we didn't create nearly
enough chances," said Moyes, ebullient by Grant's standards. "We only
forced their keeper into a save once, but we were up against a very
good Chelsea team here.

"This is our first league defeat at Goodison since Arsenal won here at
Christmas and, with two of our last three games here, our target
remains to qualify for Europe."

Far more daunting nights on Merseyside await Chelsea, however.

Grant bites his tongue and plays strange yes/no game


Andy Hunter at Goodison Park

Avram Grant staged a bizarre post-match press conference at Goodison
Park last night as the Chelsea manager steadfastly refused to expand
on a victory that saved his slender hope of snatching the league title
from Manchester United. The Chelsea manager, apparently angered by
newspaper reaction to the draw with Wigan rather than Sky TV's
decision to bring the game forward by 48 hours, produced a
monosyllabic performance after the game.
Reporter: A deserved win, Avram?

Grant: "Yes."
What particularly pleased you about the performance? "I'm pleased."

What in particular pleased you? After a delay: "I don't know."

Is it a relief to win here? "Yes."

You seem lost for words. Are you more satisfied with the performance
or the win? "Both."

You seem distracted. Do you have a problem? "No problem."

Is there an issue? "No. I'm ok. I have nothing to say."

Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans? "You represent the Chelsea fans?"

They must believe you are still in the title race, do you have a
message for them? "No message."

Does this result mean you are back in it now? "I don't know."

You seem less voluble than usual. Is it because of Sky TV moving the
game to a Thursday? "Maybe it's because of you. I don't know. I am
OK."

You are saying that you don't know if you are still in the title race? "No."

Is it easier to say nothing, Avram? "I don't what to answer. It is a
good question. I don't know what to answer."

Is this because Sky? "No. Sky is OK. I enjoy watching them."

Is it a protest against newspapers? "No. Why?"

Why else would you come in and refuse to answer our questions? "I
answer every question."

You are two points behind Manchester United and you don't know if you
are still in the title race? "No."

Have you told the players that you don't know if you are back in the
title race? "What I tell the players is something else. You want me to
tell you what I say to the players?"

We just want you to answer the question. Are you in the title race? "I
don't know."

Would you not like to gain some positive publicity for the result
rather than this bizarre silence? "I'm sorry. You can write whatever
you want and I can answer what I want."

Have you ever played the yes/no game, Avram? No answer.
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Indy:

Everton 0 Chelsea 1: Grant feels pressure as Essien keeps Chelsea in
race for title

By Ian Herbert
Friday, 18 April 2008

His side had just climbed to within two points of Manchester United,
but last night Avram Grant delivered a bizarre press conference at
which he was barely willing to communicate and said he did not know
whether his side were still in the title race.

Grant, whose Chelsea team had been less than convincing in securing
the win which kept the title race alive – at least until Manchester
United arrive at Stamford Bridge eight days from now – offered no
explanation as to why he was refusing to answer questions. Staring at
a table in front of him and fiddling with his track suit zip, the
nearest he got to an explanation was: "Maybe [I'm] upset because it's
been a bad season." But his incoherent performance provided the
clearest indication yet that the pressures at the Chelsea helm are
beyond him, and that he might be struggling to cope.

The question of the title challenge was put to him three times,
without eliciting an answer, and after five minutes 39 seconds the
press conference ended.

Grant, who rejected suggestions that either the TV scheduling which
had seen Chelsea play here 72 hours after entertaining Wigan to enable
Sky to cram in another live game, or a general dislike of a media who
have questioned his future, might be the cause of his monosyllabic
display. An explanation may have lain in the disjointed performance he
had just observed out on the Goodison pitch, against an
injury-depleted Everton side who are themselves limping towards the
end of their season.

The match's defining moment was delivered by the vision of Michael
Essien, and a neatly exchanged ball with Shaun Wright-Phillips which
was returned to the Ghanian via Phil Jagielka to send him through to
slot home. But it was the sight of the ineffectual Joe Cole, thumping
the pitch in frustration that perhaps best summed up the night.

David Moyes might have been without Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta and Leon
Osman, but his side provided some of their classic defensive
miserliness – Phil Neville and Lee Carsley allowing Chelsea minimal
space in the last third and Joseph Yobo and Joleon Lescott
demonstrating, in the way they dealt with the occasional threat of
Nicolas Anelka, the strides they have made this season.

The unthinkable almost occurred for Grant's side – Petr Cech just
pushing a 25-yard Manuel Fernandes free-kick around his left hand post
after it bounced horribly in front of him in the rough in the
eight-yard box – before they embarked on the only periods of the game
that demonstrated the multi-million pound gulf between the sides.
Salomon Kalou featured twice, ghosting past Tony Hibbert to level a
dangerous cross which Yobo headed clear, then delivering an exquisite
ball through the central channel which Wright-Phillips would have
latched onto were it not for Jagielka's immaculate tackle. The goal
arrived five minutes later but, as high points went, that was
Chelsea's lot.

The second half would have made even worse viewing for a manager who
had recalled the two Coles, Ricardo Carvalho and Wright-Phillips, all
rested for Monday's Wigan draw. Exuding the air of a side that knew
their season was on a knife-edge, Chelsea defended in numbers. After
John Terry was penalised on the edge of the box Fernandes struck a
free-kick just wide. Terry's timing was also called on to dispossess
Yakubu after Victor Anichebe had levelled for him to shoot.

After making such good running for so long, Everton are facing a fight
for fifth place, with Aston Villa's arrival a week on Sunday looking
crucial since the Emirates looms after that. "It's a worry when teams
are closing in," Moyes said. "We could find Villa arrive here just two
or three points behind us." It will probably be three successive top
six finishes for him but the way his side's spirit has gone – with
just four goals in seven games – shows Everton to be at a significant
staging post in their history. They must find investors.

Chelsea's title race will effectively be over if Manchester United
draw at Blackburn and overcome Grant's men at Stamford Bridge. Another
Chelsea guard of honour to greet United off the pitch perhaps? That
really would have Grant lost for words.

Goals: Essien (41) 0-1.

Everton (4-4-2) Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Yobo, Lescott; Pienaar
(Anichebe, 62), Carsley, Neville, Fernandes; Johnson (Gravesen, 62),
Yakubu. Substitutes not used: Wessels (gk), Baines, Rodwell.

Chelsea (4-1-3-2) Cech; Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole; Mikel;
Wright-Phillips (Makelele, 81), Essien, Kalou; Anelka, J Cole
(Malouda, 76). Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Shevchenko, Alex.

Referee: M Atkinson (Leeds).

Booked: Chelsea Carvalho, Ferreira.

Man of the match: Essien.

Attendance: 37,112.
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Mail:

Essien stirs the title pot as win over Everton keeps Chelsea's
ambitions on the boil
Everton 0 Chelsea 1

By JOHN EDWARDS

There will hardly be a stampede towards the bookies to put money on
it, but the prospect of Avram Grant becoming the unlikeliest title
winner in living memory remains a possibility at least.

Anything less than a Chelsea victory at Goodison Park last night would
have been the signal for Manchester United's colours to be fastened to
the Barclays Premier League trophy for a remarkable 10th time since
its inception 15 years ago.

Their advantage would have been a minimum of four points, depending on
the damage inflicted by Everton, with a game in hand, and they are
scarcely renowned for surrendering leads like that.

More to the point, Chelsea would have been in no state to whittle it
away after faltering against Wigan on Monday and slipping up again
three days later.

Instead, the Grant obituaries had to be shelved for another day to
make way for a grudging acceptance that he can, after all, elicit a
positive response from his players.

It was hardly the stuff of potential champions but, after the listless
showing that rightly cost them two points earlier in the week, the
Chelsea manager could not have asked for more as they cut the gap to
United to two points.

Disciplined in defence, where John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho formed a
colossal alliance, and industrious in midfield, where John Mikel Obi
and Michael Essien made up for the absence of Frank Lampard and
Michael Ballack, they wrapped up a priceless win with a deserved
41st-minute goal.

Grant may have complained that fortune hasn't always favoured his
side, but it was working overtime on their behalf as Essien advanced
through an Everton rearguard that had been marshalled magnificently by
Phil Jagielka.

As Shaun Wright-Phillips tried to back-heel a return pass to Essien,
the ball struck Jagielka, of all people, and fell obligingly for
Essien to stride forward and bury an unerring finish beyond Tim
Howard.

One or two fleeting second-half scares apart, the goal always looked
likely to keep Chelsea on course for an eagerly-awaited showdown
against United at Stamford Bridge on April 26, and there was no
disguising Grant's relief at the end.

Clenched fists were raised a fraction, for no more than a second or
two, before he moved towards the home dug-out to shake hands with
Everton manager David Moyes.

If it was almost animated by his standards, who could blame him after
the flak and derision that has come his way since Roman Abramovich
surprisingly named him as Jose Mourinho's successor?

Chelsea remain United's only title rivals and are heading for a
Champions League semi-final against Liverpool that may well figure
some of the big guns who were absent last night.

Grant's reward has been growing conjecture that his departure has only
to be timed, rather than decided, and that the only issue to be
resolved is the identity of his replacement.

He answered the mounting criticism in his own bizarre fashion, by
stonewalling virtually every question at a monosyllabic post-match
press conference, but the response that will carry most weight will
arrive in the next few weeks as he attempts to overhaul United as well
as booking a place in Moscow for the Champions League Final.

While he continues to pursue that improbable double, he can at least
reflect on the way his players rallied round after Monday's flop.
Keeper Petr Cech had his work cut out shovelling an awkwardly bouncing
Manuel Fernandes free-kick round a post in the 16th minute, but it was
otherwise a tale of Chelsea possession as they patiently probed.

Jagielka has been a revelation for Everton after an uncertain start to
his Goodison career, and it was defending of the highest order that
denied Nicolas Anelka in the 26th minute and Wright-Phillips nine
minutes later as an immaculatelytimed tackle stopped the Chelsea
winger with the goal at his mercy.

He didn't deserve the ill-luck that contributed to Essien's winner,
but there could be no complaints from Everton about their fate after
another unconvincing performance that added to an alarming return of
just three goals and five points from their previous five games.

They threatened an equaliser only once, when Fernandes almost got it
right from a set-piece, after several flawed attempts, with a
62ndminute free-kick that shaved a post.

Essien almost doubled Chelsea's lead with a dipping 75th-minute
effort, and the growing frustration at seeing fourth place slip away
became too much for Moyes soon after.

Liverpool's hold on the final Champions League slot is surely secure
enough after this, and Moyes may even sense that fifth could slip
away, judging by his brief loss of control at a throw-in.

Grabbing the ball, he motioned to take the throw himself before
hurling it at a startled Ashley Cole from point-blank range. Cole
stared back in a mixture of surprise and anger, but the look in Moyes'
eyes dissuaded him from taking it further.

Grant, by contrast, was all smiles. United's hand may well be raised
before long, but he's still fighting.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
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Telegraph:

Chelsea drag out title race at weary Everton
By Tim Rich

Everton (0) 0 Chelsea (1) 1

The Winslow Hotel opposite Goodison Park is the kind of place that
specialises in beer and banter rather than spa treatments and Egyptian
cotton sheets but last night it was advertising a psychic evening.
Avram Grant might have been tempted to remain on Merseyside just to
ask what kind of future he has at Stamford Bridge. This morning it is
still unclear.

Chelsea, two points behind Manchester United with the champions still
to come to Stamford Bridge, remain contenders for the title. Sir Alex
Ferguson would not concede the championship under these circumstances
and nor would Jose Mourinho.

When the final whistle sounded, Chelsea's sense of grievance at having
this game moved to a Thursday because of television commitments would
have been considerably less acute. Three points can do a lot to cure
outrage.

This was a similar game to the one that had appeared to have undone
them on Monday night against Wigan. Chelsea scored first and spent
most of the second half attempting to nurse that lead through. But
here there was no sting in the tail. Manchester United, you felt,
would have tried to kill off an Everton side that aside from Manuel
Fernandes' free-kicks, looked chronically short of inspiration or
ideas.

Everton may have cranked up the pressure considerably in the second
half with David Moyes throwing Joleon Lescott from left-back to
centre- forward and with John Terry forced into a bruising contest
with Yakubu. Even Michael Essien, whose goal separated the teams,
appeared to faint in the middle of the pitch, but there was seldom any
real prospect of a breakthrough.

While the title will be alive when United go to Stamford Bridge on
April 26, another contest has been settled. Five points ahead of
Everton and with a game in hand, Liverpool are destined for another
season of Champions League football.

When the teams ran out, it was past an honour guard formed by the
Harlem Globetrotters, a team that Roman Abramovich would admire as
they exist purely to entertain. Most of their matches are exhibition
games that run to a strict script, and they are also not required to
win - the kind of luxury that football never allows.

When Grant last took Chelsea to Goodison in January, it appeared that
a remarkable script was being forged; the one about how a shy, quietly
humorous Israeli took over from the most flamboyant manager the game
had seen since Brian Clough and won everything.

Then, a goal from Joe Cole took Chelsea to the Carling Cup final in
the middle of a sequence of games that saw 10 out of 11 games won. The
one that was not won was drawn 4-4 with Aston Villa on an afternoon of
pure adrenalin the Harlem Globetrotters would have recognised.

Last night returning to Goodison, Grant stood on the touchline, his
figure starkly framed by the floodlights, his future apparently
measured in weeks even though his season might end with the European
Cup in Moscow.

He could have argued that he was without Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba
and Michael Ballack. The Chelsea supporters whom the club had bussed
up to Merseyside at its own expense did not, as they had done against
Wigan, chant that he did not know what he was doing. He could, if he
had checked the record books, have pointed out that it took Dave
Mackay, the man who succeeded Clough, 18 months to win the title with
Derby.

At least he started with Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips, something
he had not done at home on Monday and with a fabulously timed pass, he
ought to have justified his selection with a goal four minutes before
the interval. The pass was from Salomon Kalou and sent Wright-Phillips
clear on goal.

Had Wright-Phillips shot first time, it might have been more difficult
to miss but in trying to shift the ball from his left to his right
boot, he allowed Phil Jagielka time to make an interception. And that
ought to have summed up the game - Chelsea had hitherto had plenty of
possession and done very little with it, while Jagielka's anticipation
and positioning had been outstanding.

It was the height of irony that a few minutes later Jagielka should
unintentionally have flicked on a ball from Wright-Phillips straight
into Essien's path who, unlike his team-mate, did not hesitate and
drove his shot emphatically past Tim Howard, who moments later tipped
over instinctively from Jon Obi Mikel. Within the space of five
minutes, Chelsea had emerged from a dull contest of attrition to take
complete charge.

And, frankly, this was no more than they had deserved. Everton had not
beaten them at Goodison in eight years and with Chelsea supposedly
demoralised and with their championship credentials apparently wrecked
by Emile Heskey's late goal, they would never have a better chance.

And yet all they produced in the first half was a single free-kick
from Fernandes that bounced awkwardly in front of Petr Cech, who
palmed the ball out for a corner. From a side supposedly still
competing for a place in the Champions League, it was all rather flat,
although you suspect that their manager, David Moyes, would probably
settle for fifth this morning.

POINT: In The Daily Telegraph yesterday we stated that only one
Chelsea player who played in Wednesday night's FA Youth Cup final
against Manchester City was eligible for England. In fact, Chelsea's
squad included six eligible England youth players.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
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The Times
April 18, 2008

Chelsea keep slim title hopes alive
Everton 0 Chelsea 1

Chelsea's players formed a guard of honour for Manchester United on
their most recent visit to Stamford Bridge last May, but the champions
can expect a far more hostile reception when they return a week
tomorrow after a hard-earned victory at Goodison Park last night
carried the London club to within two points of Sir Alex Ferguson's
team at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Being a hospitable sort, Avram Grant will offer Ferguson, his opposite
number, a glass of wine in his office afterwards whatever the result,
but he will hope that United's champagne is kept on ice for another
week at least. If not quite High Noon, then next Saturday's lunchtime
kick-off has the potential to provide a final twist to what has been a
compelling championship race, ensuring that Ferguson will not send out
his reserves as he did 12 months ago.

United will retain their title if they follow victory at Blackburn
Rovers tomorrow by beating their closest challengers, although Chelsea
could cut the gap or even move to the top for the first time if
Ferguson's team falter at Ewood Park. Unlike before this half-hearted
contest, no one will complain that Chelsea's next match has been
selected by Sky Television.

Most neutrals would not take long to decide whom they consider to be
worthy champions, but Chelsea deserve great credit for pushing United
farther than anyone else, particularly given the injuries and internal
problems they have encountered this season. Very little of it will
find its way to Grant, the first-team coach, but he must be doing
something right, if only by making sure that his players maintain
their focus.

This was another Chelsea performance based on character rather than
class, although at this stage of the season gritty wins will do,
particularly in the light of Monday's draw with Wigan Athletic. The
unexplained presence of the Harlem Globetrotters parading on the pitch
beforehand last night served as a reminder of the gap that exists
between Chelsea and Roman Abramovich's vision of a team of
entertainers, a gulf that all the money in the world may not be able
to bridge. Chelsea made hard work of beating a lacklustre home team
booed off by their own fans, taking a deserved lead through Michael
Essien just before half-time but failing to kill off the game in the
second half.

The visiting team were mostly comfortable with Petr Cech making only
one save, from a free kick by Manuel Fernandes, in the sixteenth
minute, although the Portugal winger shot narrowly across goal with
another set-piece in the second half. Without last-ditch tackles from
Ricardo Carvalho and John Terry on Andrew Johnson and Yakubu Ayegbeni
respectively, the Czech Republic goalkeeper would have been far
busier.

Ferguson would not have been unduly concerned at his unusual
Thursday-evening viewing and nor would Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool
manager, for that matter, with Chelsea lacking fluency, penetration
and killer instinct. Given the injuries they continue to collect, the
absence of any real rhythm is understandable.

Michael Ballack was the latest to withdraw, after suffering a
hamstring injury in training on Wednesday. The Germany midfield player
should return to face Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions
League semi-finals on Tuesday, although the participation of Frank
Lampard and Didier Drogba cannot be guaranteed.

Lampard's position is uncertain as a result of his mother's illness
but after the performance of Nicolas Anelka last night, Drogba should
be pressed into service if he is anywhere near fit. Anelka struggled
to adapt to his role as a lone striker, barely getting a sight of
goal. Shaun Wright-Phillips fared better as a replacement for Ballack
in central midfield and he established an early dominance alongside
Essien and John Obi Mikel.

Steven Pienaar gave Paulo Ferreira early problems down Everton's left
flank but the visiting team were dangerous going forward, with Salomon
Kalou justifying his selection ahead of the more experienced Florent
Malouda. Kalou's through-ball to Wright-Phillips in the 35th minute
deserved to set up a goal, Phil Jagielka preventing the England winger
from shooting with a brilliantly timed tackle, and the Ivory Coast
forward began the move from which Chelsea scored six minutes later.

Kalou found Essien, who received the ball back from Wright-Phillips as
he ran into the penalty area with the aid of a deflection from
Jagielka. Essien needed no help with the finish, however, shooting
calmly past Tim Howard for his sixth goal of the season.

Chelsea should have gone on to win comfortably against a team that
will be lucky to qualify for the Uefa Cup if a haul of five points
from their past six matches does not improve, but they no longer
appear capable of brushing weaker opponents aside. Grant's fate,
though, will be decided on what he achieves in the Champions League
against the other club from this city.

Everton (4-4-2): T Howard – T Hibbert, J Yobo, P Jagielka, J Yobo – M
Fernandes, P Neville, L Carsley, S Pienaar (sub: V Anichebe, 62min) –
A Johnson (sub: T Gravesen, 62), Yakubu Ayegbeni. Substitutes not
used: S Wessels, L Baines, J Rodwell.

Chelsea (4-3-3): P Cech – P Ferreira, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Cole – S
Wright-Phillips (sub: C Makelele, 81), J O Mikel, M Essien – J Cole
(sub: F Malouda, 76), N Anelka, S Kalou. Substitutes not used:
Hilário, A Shevchenko, Alex. Booked: Carvalho, Ferreira.

Referee: M Atkinson.
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Sun:

Everton 0 Chelsea 1

by STEVEN HOWARD

AVERAGE Grant. Average Grump. The Turtle. Froggie. Larry Grayson.

He has been called many names but last night Avram Grant gave us
another one — Mr Nonchalant.

He had just seen his team close to within two points of Manchester
United with a gritty victory at Goodison Park.

Afterwards, though, he was at his most enigmatic. No, he had nothing
to say about his side's chances of catching United at the top.

And, to be quite honest, what business was it of anyone's?

It was, to many, a bizarre reaction. One that suggested he may have
lost the plot in some way.

And yet you understand what his refusal to answer the leading
questions was about. Because this is a man who refuses to give in.

After a Press conference that left many observers baffled, he
retreated downstairs to the ground floor of Goodison Park and let slip
what he REALLY felt.

He said: "I have lost two games out of 29 in the Premier League. What
do you want me to do now — resign? I don't think so.

"Would Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger do that? No."

Grant has a good point but last night's win at Goodison will not
placate the fans who still want him out.

Yes, he's been called a few names since taking on the appalling
business of succeeding Mourinho at Stamford Bridge,

But, give him his due, Grant keeps plugging away. And he will until
it's all over.

"Because this is a man who doesn't give up. Because this is a man,
remember, who was brought up in adversity.

An Israeli who served in the army with all that entails. So I don't
think the Premier League holds too many fears.

He arrived at Goodison last night with the obituaries prepared.

And, in many ways, they are probably still there despite a goal from
Michael Essien just before half-time that gave Chelsea the win they
needed to keep the championship race bubbling over.

Yes, give it to the Blues for their perseverance in keeping track of
United but this was not a performance to warm the heart.

And it probably won't stop Alex Ferguson's side winning the title.

We like style and charisma in our champions and the boys from the
Bridge didn't show that.

Yes, they had the midfield and defensive determination that Arsenal
did not have on their trips to Merseyside and Manchester last week.

The very lack of purpose that will haunt the Gunners until they
acquire — or bring through — men of character like John Terry and
Ricardo Carvalho.

More than that, players like Joe Cole and Essien who were so important
to Chelsea last night.

They were even more important in the absence of Michael Ballack, Frank
Lampard and Didier Drogba — rested before next Tuesday's Champions
League collision with Liverpool.

Everton fans would make the point they were also without Mikel Arteta,
Tim Cahill and Leon Osman.

Whatever, Grant survives intact for the moment while David Moyes and
Everton realise their own Champions League qualification hopes are
dead in the water.

And Portsmouth and Aston Villa are breathing down their necks for the
last UEFA Cup place.

Tremendous credit for Chelsea last night but Everton are still a bit
of a soft touch when it comes to the class sides — this was their
fourth home defeat of the season along with those inflicted by United,
Liverpool and Arsenal.

And, yes, Grant's side still have to play United at the Bridge on April 26.

But despite their doggedness, Chelsea have too much to do. Had they
hung on a bit longer against Wigan on Monday, it might have been a
little different.

The goal when it mattered was a curious affair. Not the greatest they
have ever scored but, at this stage, it doesn't matter.

A move involving Joe Cole, Salomon Kalou and Essien ended with the
Ghanaian attempting a one-two with Kalou.

The ball struck Phil Jagielka's heel, rebounded into Essien's path
and, thank you very much, in the back of the net it went. A poor half,
a poor Chelsea performance but back on United's heels they most
definitely were.

But they stuck at it in the second half, got the three points and now
must hope United get turned over at Blackburn.

Even a point for Ferguson's team and it is probably all over.

But will this concern Grant? I'm not that sure.

He knows Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard and AC Milan's Carlo Ancelotti are
after his job in a season where Chelsea could complete their first
season in four without a trophy.

Then, again, how terrifying is the thought of so-called failure in the
Premier League these days? A season with nothing to show for it and
Grant would revert to his old position of Chelsea academy director.

A job that paid him £950,000 a year when he first arrived at the
Bridge, would now be worth the £2.5million his salary jumped to after
replacing the Divine Jose. Not a bad price for failure.

Last night, that didn't appear to matter to the Chelsea boss.

Sort of very unperturbed Grant.

Almost Average.