After beating Aston Villa on Saturday, Mourinho was eager to maintain his side’s momentum as the Blues were hoping to continue their title charge.
Prior to kick off, Chelsea were handed a huge boost after Cesc Fabregas returned to the squad from injury. The Spaniard has been influential for Chelsea this season, the return of another Spaniard was also imminent with Diego Costa serving the third and final match of his three match ban. Everton also welcomed back from injury, experienced goal keeper Tim Howard who returned to their starting eleven.Former Chelsea striker, Romelu Lukaku led the line of the Toffee’s attack.
The first chance of the game fell to Chelsea. Inside two minutes Nemanja Matic won the ball, he drove past the Everton midfield with ease and blazed a long shot just over. A lively start from the Blue’s, who had a penalty shout swiftly waved away from a Willian cross which struck the shoulder of Steven Naismith.
It was again the Brazilian making things tick for Chelsea, Willian who started in the middle of Chelsea’s attacking trio came very close to putting Chelsea in front within just 5 minutes, Willian cut inside from the left hand side and sent a curling effort just over the bar.
Everton conjured up their first chance with just under 10 minutes on the clock. A low driven low shot from the edge of the area from former Blue Lukaku, however it was well saved by Cech down low with his feet.
Minutes later, Loic Remy brought a great diving save out of the returning Tim Howard. The chance looked to have gone after Azpilcueta’s cross took a looping deflection. The French striker found space to head towards goal. The American had to react quickly as he punched the ball to safety.
After a flurry of Chelsea corners, the Blue’s continued to pressure the Everton back four. Azpilcueta went in search of Eden Hazard with a looping cross, however the Belgium came just shy of making any contact and did not manage to trouble Howard.
The attacking trio of Chelsea was proving tough for Everton to handle, before the two sides had managed to play just thirty minutes, Everton’s Muhamed Besic and Gareth Barry found their names in the book of Jonathon Moss.
Everton found themselves with a limited number of chances, Lukaku failed to trouble Petr Cech after cutting inside from the right side and striking a low driven shot into the palms of the Chelsea goal keeper.
With 30 minutes on the clock, Eden Hazard picked up the second ball off another poor Chelsea corner. The Belgium winger sent a low driven shot through a crowed penalty area, despite poor vision Howard got down well and held onto the ball, with the likes of Remy and Cuadrado ready and waiting to pounce.
Everton started to grow in confidence as the first half came to close, numerous crosses from Ovideo and Coleman giving Chelsea’s defence something to think about. However the first half finished with the score at 0-0.
The second half started slowly and was tightly contested. The hour mark approached, Hazard went on a trade mark tricky run on the left hand side. After wiggling between defenders, Hazard played a menacing ball across the face of the goal but Oviedo put the ball behind for a corner.
The intricate build up play continued moments later. Ramires was tackled, winning Chelsea a free kick just yards from the edge of area. Willian and Matic stood over the ball. It was Matic’s curling effort that came close from the dead ball situation. Howard saved well as the ball looked set for the inside of the post.
Everton created the best chance of the game, as a result of a poor corner the ball found its way to left back Oviedo out wide. He fizzed a dangerous pass across the face of the box, which found none other than Lukaku with the goal at his mercy. Petr Cech pulled off a magnificent save from close range. The former Blue should have scored but he maintained his record of having never scored at Stamford bridged.
With twenty minutes left to play, Mourinho called for reinforcements, Drogba and Cesc Fabregas came on for Remy and Cuadrado.
After defending deep for large parts of the game, Everton were growing into the game as the clock started to run down, after strong hold up play by Lukaku, Mirallas shot high over the bar. The game opened up widely in the last ten minutes, Chelsea still lacked final cutting edge ball.
Similarly to last season, Chelsea left it late to put the ball in the back of the net. Matic’s shot from the edge of the area deflected off Ivanovic on the way into the net, and was correctly given offside.
As a result of the offside goal, tempers started to flare on the pitch. Gareth Barry’s out swinging leg caught Willian, as the two teams collided. Barry received a second yellow card and saw red. James McCarthy was also booked for a bust up with Branislav Ivanovic, the Serbian appeared to throw his head towards the Everton midfielder.
After a Tim Howards punch from a Chelsea cross found Willian who found space on the edge of the area. The Brazilian sent a sliced volley towards the Everton goal, Tim Howard was beaten after a deflection that took the ball out of his reach. Similarly to the fixture against Everton last season, Chelsea left it late. Stamford Bridge erupted as victory was surely secured.
It finished 1-0 after a very tough game at Stamford Bridge. With Manchester City winning 4-1 away to Stoke, Chelsea maintained their seven point lead at the top. The likes of Eden Hazard, Kurt Zouma and Nemanja Matic had strong performances, Willian did well also. Overall Chelsea were not at the best, with another team coming to the Bridge with a soul purpose to stop us playing. Despite that, Mourinho’s men dug deep and found the much deserved goal.
