Match Report: Chelsea 0-0 Everton

Tonight at Chelsea's Premier League aspiratons took a nose dive as Everton frustrated Chelsea and held them to a goaless draw at the Bridge. A game that Chelsea dominated possesion but only once forced Tim Howard into one save and Drogba hit the crossbar in the closing stages with a ferocious effort that gave Howard no chance.

Key Match Incidents :

Chelsea line up with the same team that started at Wembley on Saturday. Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Malouda, Drogba and Anelka. Subs: Hilario, Belletti, Mancienne, Mellis, Kalou, Mikel and Di Santo.

Everton make four changes to the side that knocked out Man Utd at Wembley on Sunday. Howard, Jacobsen, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Neville, Castillo, Cahill, Osman, Pienaar and Jo. Subs: Nash, Hibbert, Jagielka, Rodwell, Gosling, Vaughan & Saha.

Chelsea kicking from right to left towards the Shed End in the first half.

Straight away into game its noticeable that Ballack is playing as the holding midfielder and Essien is pushing up next to Lampard. Doesn't look like the same way in recent games with Essien and Ballack next to each other and Lampard in front. Looks like we are back to 4-3-3.

3rd min, throw in for Everton down Chelsea's right. Baines to Pienaar who's cross into the box is headed goalwards by Jo but easy for Cech.

5th min, Lampard plays dink-ball over the top to Drogba into box but he is crowded out by both Yobo and Lescott. Moyes already out on the touchline giving additional instructions to Osman.

7th min, Ball fed to Cahill half way inside Chelsea half, slides through ball between Ivanovic and Alex to on rushing Jo inside left hand channel who picks up ball and heads towards goal. Cech comes off his line to as Jo shoots and Cech blocks with his left leg low down and ball cleared. Great save by Cech.

8th min, Ashley Cole wide left level with Everton's 18 yard line plays inside to Malouda who takes a touch and plays square to Ballack. His shot is half blocked as the ball spins towards the far post and its an easy save for Howard.

11th min, Ivanovic cross into box from right hand side too high for Malouda but he glances the ball onto Drogba left hand corner of box from 10 yards who tries a scissor kick and misses the ball totally!

13th min, Phil Neville is booked for a "challenge" on Drogba. After seeing replay I have to say its a harsh one as not alot of intent in that one for me.

14th min, Resulting free kick into box and Ballack rises and wins header but goes well wide.

16th min, Interchange 30 yards out between Ballack, Essien and Lampard results Lampard hitting one from 25 yards just over as it begins to curl away from the far post.

17th min, Anelka plays a square ball 10 yards inside Everton half who plays forward to Essien 30 yards out. Has time and space and hits one well high and wide!

We are 20 minutes into this game and Chelsea are no doubt dominating this game with possesion but the best chance has fallen to Everton.

22nd min, Osman comes inside and plays square to Pienaar on Everton left 20 yards out left edge of Chelsea box. He takes a touch inside and tries to curl one for the far corner but goes wide.

27th min, Pienaar fouls Essien 25 yards out dead centre. Resulting free kick taken by Ballack curled towards top left hand corner but flies over as dipped too late.

29th min, Chelsea possesion comes to Lampard 30 yards out who hits high wide and handsome!

We are now 3o minutes into the game and still no clear cut chances for Chelsea at this stage.

32nd min, Ball played down Everton left, flicked just outside left edge of Chelsea box to Baines who takes a touch inside the box and Alex comes across and sticks a leg out and fouls Cahill but its just behind him, his takes a touch and spins onto the ball and fires in a shot and Cech saves to his right low down. Another good save from Cech.

41st min, Everton corner cleared by Chelsea and lands outside box 25 yards out. Malouda nicks the ball past Everton player and then wins a 50-50 with Neville and ball spins out towards Chelsea right hand channel. Anelka picks the ball up on the break. Carries ball to 25 yards out down right hand side with Malouda making a run on the left, he crosses for Malouda but Howard comes out and nicks the ball away from him. Chance on the break for Chelsea but again nothing comes of it.

42nd min, Ball breaks to Pineaar inside left for Everton 35 yards out, he slips a diagonal ball through to Jo with Ashley Cole caught out of position. Jo takes a touch as JT comes to close him down and makes a mess of his shot on goal from the edge of the box well wide.

Half time Chelsea 0-0 Everton and Howard still to make a save.

2nd half no changes for either side. Chelsea playing with more urgency straight away.

46th min, Chelsea corner taken by Malouda on Chelsea right. Swung in and Alex rises 10 yards out, wins the header but easy for Howard as its straight to him.

47th min, Ball played to Baines half way inside Chelsea half who runs towards goal, he is forced across Chelsea box left to right by Ivanovic. Lays the ball off square to Osman who crosses into penalty spot to on rushing Cahill who wins the header and its saved easily by Cech.

50th min, Corner for Everton. Played to Pienaar left edge of Chelsea box and he has what looks like a cross shot but floated towards goal and goes over the bar.

53rd min, Chelsea pressure and possesion results in ball being half cleared. Essien onto it, flicks a ball between Lescott and Baines into Everton box for Lampard but Baines gets back and makes the tackle 10 yards out left side on box and thwarts Lampard. Lampard looks to the heaven's as if to say "if only!".

57th min. Ball played down Chelsea right flank to Drogba who flicks inside first time to the on rushing Anelka who takes ball towards right hand side of Everton box. Looks up and hits a cross shot well wide. Thats no goals since February for Anelka in the league and you can see why.

Substitutions: Kalou on for Anelka and Mikel on for Essien. Tactical switch is made and Ballack now pushed up with Lampard and Essien sitting in front of back four.

61st min, Chelsea pressure and possession edge of box cleared by Everton and comes to JT 40 yards out. He takes the ball forward as the Chelsea faithful shout for him to shoot and he obliges and hits one from 35 yards left footed towards right hand corner. Howard saves as he dives full stretch to his left and ball goes out for a corner. First shot that has forced Howard to make a save tonight so far.

63rd min, Cech gathers a cross and kicks the ball downfield towards Malouda up against Yobo and Jacobsen. Yobo attempts the clear the ball on the volley 30 yards out dead centre and misses the ball and his follow through catches Malouda in the face. Nothing given. Again, i have to say i have seen those given!.

68th min Drogba fouled 35 yards out just right of centre. Crossed into Everton box just to the left of penalty spot towards the head of incoming Ivanovic who can see the a ball travel towards him all the way and at the last minute Kalou jumps for the ball and flicks it off the top of his head and takes it off Ivanovic's head and out for a goal kick. That was Ivanovic's ball all day!!

70th min, Kalou dribbles past Baines right hand corner of the pitch and comes inside towards penalty box. Lescott comes to meet him and Kalou hits a cross that hits Lescott on the hand inside the box but nothing given. It was point blank range so i can see why it wasn't given.

73 minutes into the game now and its still only JT's effort on goal that has tested Howard.

73rd min, Pienaar has ball left edge of box and comes inside, plays ball square to Jo who takes a touch and shots high and wide of the bar.

74th min, Ivanovic inside Everton half on right hand side crosses the ball into Drogba just inside Everton box who half controls under pressure from Lescott, ball falls to on rushing Lampard 18 yards out who shoots first time and its blocked by two Everton defenders.

75th min, Lampard plays ball out to Malouda who crosses ball into middle of box 10 yards out and Kalou rises under pressure and head the ball high over the bar.

76th min Substitution: Di Santo on for Malouda. Tactical switch, Kalou wide left of Drogba and Di Santo wide right.

77th min, Long diagonal ball chased to corner flag by Drogba down Chelsea left hand side and he keeps it in. Plays it back to Kalou who feeds Lampard dead centre at the edge of the box and his shot is tame and easy for Howard as he is closed down.

78th min, Ball comes out to Kalou after being half cleared from a corner and he cuts inside left edge of box and aims for top right hand corner but its deflected over the bar by Lescott. Resulting corner comes in and cleared and falls 25 yards out to Lampard who hits it on the volley high and well wide.

82nd min, Corner half cleared by Chelsea falls to Lescott left hand corner of 6 yard box. He shoots and its blocked but spins off defender across the face of the goal and comes to Cahill right hand corner of 6 yard box. He is closed down quickly but shoots thankfully into side netting.

84th min, Break down the Chelsea left hand side by Everton. Jacobsen plays ball square to Cahill in the middle of the pitch 30 yards out who plays onto the on rushing Pienaar who hits it first time 20 yards out and it goes wide past near post.

85th min. Substitution: Jagielka for Jacobsen.

88th min, Di Santo wins ball in box, half chance snuffed out by Lescott and Di Santo goes down inside the box. Nothing given and can't see if any other way.

89th min Ball cleared down Everton left channel inside Chelsea half at pace. Jo running onto it just outside Chelsea box. Cech comes out of box to meet him and heads the ball into Jo's body and wins a goal kick but they both clatter into each other. Cech's got a bloody nose and Jo injured.

90th min Substitution Saha comes on for Jo.

92nd min, Substitution Gosling on for Osman.

93rd min, Ivanovic plays ball into Drogba just inside box just right of centre with his back towards goal. Takes a touch to his left and makes some space to get the shot away on the turn. Sets himself and fires a rocket from 8 yards. Howard is beaten but the ball cannon's off the crossbar and clear of the Everton goal. THAT was Chelsea's chance to nick this one.

Full time: Chelsea 0-0 Everton.

With Man United beating Portsmouth 2-0 tonight that see's our title hopes fade and are almost impossible now. Another chance to close the gap tonight and make up ground the on the sides above us missed. For all the possesion we had Howard only had to make one save and of course we hit the crossbar at the death.

Guus Hiddink has admitted that our title dream is over for this season. This was 2 points dropped tonight which brings the total to 18 points now dropped at home this season and this is where it has cost us this season. The race is still on for second place and i believe we can still catch Liverpool but tonight would of gone along way for us to do so.




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