Not even the virtually single-handed efforts of captain Dennis Wise were able
to prevent Everton punishing Chelsea for their alarming weaknesses up front as
the Blues were held to a draw at Stamford Bridge.
Wise may have been switched from central midfield onto the right flank to
accommodate changes to the starting line-up but he was still the Blues' most
impressive performer.
That he was also clearly their most potent attacking force was more worrying
though.
Although he gave the home side the lead on 30 minutes with his second goal in
just four days - after scoring the vital winner against Marseille in midweek - Chelsea laboured to threaten Everton keeper Paul Gerrard again and simply
coasted along.
But while they escaped with a slender victory against Marseille despite
numerous threats by the French side, this time they succumbed to even less
pressure as Danny Cadamarteri capitalised on a long throw-in to strike from
close range with 21 minutes left.
Again, despite the best efforts of not only Wise but also keeper Ed De Goey
and centre-back Emerson Thome, Chelsea's defence was unconvincing yet their
strikeforce was even worse.
Tore Andre Flo, Chris Sutton and Gianfranco Zola have failed to score a single
Premiership goal between them since January 4 and how it showed as they
struggled to make any real impact apart from a couple of attempts by the
Norwegian.
Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli may have declared just before the game that the
current packed fixture schedule was like ``being able to eat caviar and smoked
salmon and to drink champagne every three days''.
However, this encounter at Stamford Bridge was more like Arsene Wenger's
proverbial `bangers and mash' as the Blues laboured to impose themselves upon
Everton from the kick-off.
Vialli had again rotated his squad to keep his players fresh for the demands
of playing twice a week this month, with Thome, Roberto Di Matteo, Sutton and
Jon Harley coming in for Marcel Desailly, Didier Deschamps, Flo and Gus Poyet.
However, even though Wise and Harley were still playing out of position on the
flanks, it was still that duo who caught the eye early on, with Harley's first
cross just bypassing Sutton and Wise, while his second found the Chelsea captain
at the far post.
On this occasion, Wise volleyed over the bar but after Zola had come even
closer with a free-kick, the midfielder made no mistake to put the home side
ahead.
Di Matteo's persistence was instrumental in harrying the Everton defence and,
via Sutton, the ball fell to Wise, who struck his shot confidently past keeper
Gerrard into the far corner.
That was about it though for Chelsea's attacking threats before the break as
while Sutton was effective with his back towards goal, it was a completely
different proposition when he turned round, while Zola was constantly trying
without ever really succeeding.
Everton, meanwhile, who were themselves without a host of first-team players
and had to play John Collins at left-back, had brought Cadamarteri in to partner
Joe-Max Moore up front.
The diminutive striker was their main threat throughout the game with his
persistent runs, taking the ball around Frank Leboeuf with ease on one occasion
in the first-half only to be denied by the onrushing figure of De Goey.
Apart from the goal, Everton were at least holding their own in terms of
possession but they still struggled to create another real chance, with Collins'
free-kick just over the bar being their only other dangerous effort before the
interval.
Chelsea continued to push forward after the break, with Flo on for Zola, and
the Norwegian put one shot just wide and headed another chance over the bar,
while Thome fired two powerful shots off-target.
However, the Blues were coasting rather than attempting to force home their
advantage and they were duly punished for their attitude when they failed to
cope with a long throw-in into their penalty box and Cadamarteri equalised.
Sutton went for the ball in the air with Richard Gough but missed it
completely and it fell at the feet of Cadamarteri, who was allowed the time to
twist and fire in a shot which gave De Goey virtually no chance.
With Poyet replacing Harley, Chelsea were at least awoken from their slumbers
by the equaliser but they continued to struggle to find a way through the
determined Everton rearguard.
After Moore's powerful drive had been parried by De Goey, the best chance fell
to Jody Morris in the final minute as he dived to meet Flo's cross.
But he planted his header straight into keeper Gerrard's arms and Chelsea's
fate, amid a committed Everton display, was deservedly complete.
Teams
Chelsea:
De Goey, Ferrer, Thome, Leboeuf, Harley (Poyet 72),
Di Matteo, Wise, Morris, Babayaro, Sutton, Zola (Flo 46).
Subs Not Used: Ambrosetti, Cudicini, Terry.
Goals: Wise 29.
Everton:
Gerrard, Dunne, Gough, Weir, Collins, Barmby, Xavier,
Hughes, Pembridge, Cadamarteri, Moore.
Subs Not Used: Myhre, Watson, Gemmill, Jevons, Ward.
Booked: Gough, Barmby.
Goals: Cadamarteri 69.
Att: 35,113
Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook