The Times
April 23, 2009
Chelsea left chasing shadows as challenge comes grinding to haltChelsea 0 Everton 0
Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent
April 23, 2009
Chelsea left chasing shadows as challenge comes grinding to haltChelsea 0 Everton 0
Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent
Guus Hiddink may be the ultimate managerial mercenary, but the well-travelled Dutchman is no miracle-worker. Chelsea’s interim manager has conjured a magic act of sorts in transforming a demoralised squad and keeping them fighting on three fronts, but even he conceded last night that the biggest domestic prize is now beyond them. At this stage of the season, Manchester United’s lead of six points over them — with a game in hand on both their main rivals — is less of a gap, more a yawning chasm.
The Champions League still looms on the horizon like a tantalising dream, but on this evidence winning the FA Cup will not be as straightforward as many imagined. An Everton team missing several key players gave as good as they got and not until stoppage time, when Didier Drogba turned in the penalty area before lashing a shot against the crossbar, did Chelsea look like finding a winner. Indeed, without a series of outstanding saves from the Petr Cech, they would have been beaten long before.
Chelsea’s title hopes last season were effectively killed off at Stamford Bridge 53 weeks ago by Wigan Athletic’s injury-time equaliser and although this setback lacked such drama, the feeling of anticlimax was familiar. There were a few isolated boos from some supporters at the final whistle, but in the main Chelsea fans were as lacking in energy as their players.
Chelsea recovered from dropping points against Wigan last year to earn one last chance by beating United at Stamford Bridge, but another twist looks unlikely in the coming weeks. David Moyes, the Everton manager, suggested that they may have been distracted by the prospect of facing Barcelona on Tuesday and Hiddink could be forgiven for resting players against West Ham United on Saturday.
The Dutchman took the opposite approach last night, sticking with the team who beat Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals, a gamble that backfired as many of his players were short of sharpness. Nicolas Anelka has not scored for 11 matches, while even Michael Essien was lacking his customary boundless energy.
Just like last season, Chelsea came up short in the Barclays Premier League when it mattered most, — although a glance at a bench featuring Jacob Mellis, an unknown teenager, for the first time revealed that Hiddink had few options. Their lack of depth has been evident all season, particularly on the flanks, a problem that they will try to solve with an extensive recruitment drive in the summer.
Everton’s squad, by contrast, stood up to the task of two matches in the space of four days and created more chances than they managed against United on Sunday. The front two of Tim Cahill and Jô were particularly potent, each playing the other through on goal in the first half only to be denied by good saves from Cech, and the Brazil forward contriving later to lose his footing with the goal at his mercy. They could also have had a penalty for Alex’s challenge on Leighton Baines.
For the second successive week, Hiddink was required to utter an expletive-strewn half-time team-talk at Stamford Bridge, although it failed to have the same effect as during last week’s 4-4 draw with Liverpool. There was a noticeable increase in Chelsea’s intensity, but they still needed Cech to keep them in the game. The goalkeeper made a smart save from a header by Cahill and dived in head-first at the feet of Jô, a remarkable show of bravery given that he suffered a fractured skull 2½ years ago.
Chelsea’s best chance was wasted by Anelka, whose form has dipped just as Drogba’s has revived, suggesting that Luiz Felipe Scolari may have been right about their incompatibility. Hiddink appeared to think so, bringing on Salomon Kalou for the France striker after an hour, but his finishing was equally erratic as he shot straight at Tim Howard. The Everton goalkeeper is likely to be equally difficult to beat at Wembley next month.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, Alex, J Terry, A Cole — M Essien (sub: J O Mikel, 61min), M Ballack — N Anelka (sub: S Kalou, 61), F Lampard, F Malouda (sub: F Di Santo, 77) — D Drogba. Substitutes not used: Hilário, J Belletti, M Mancienne, J Mellis.
Everton (4-4-1-1): T Howard — L Jacobsen (sub: P Jagielka, 88), J Yobo, J Lescott, L Baines — L Osman (sub: J Rodwell, 89), P Neville, S Castillo, S Pienaar — T Cahill — Jô (sub: L Saha, 90). Substitutes not used: C Nash, A Hibbert, J Vaughan, D Gosling. Booked: Neville.
Referee: M Halsey.
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Telegraph:
Everton get better of Chelsea stalemate
As a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup Final, it was Chelsea who forgot their glad rags. And their lines. A draw against Everton, the other victorious team in last weekend’s semi-finals, Wednesday night pretty much ended any pretensions, however faint, that they could win the Premier League title leaving them surely too far adrift of Manchester United. By Jason Burt at Stamford Bridge
As a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup Final, it was Chelsea who forgot their glad rags. And their lines. A draw against Everton, the other victorious team in last weekend’s semi-finals, Wednesday night pretty much ended any pretensions, however faint, that they could win the Premier League title leaving them surely too far adrift of Manchester United.One trophy gone but still two to play for. However this was probably the worst performance they have delivered since Guus Hiddink’s arrival in February with the interim manager failing with that fabled golden touch even if Didier Drogba struck the bar with a powerful shot on the turn in injury-time.
Indeed Everton will rue not collecting all three points. Tim Cahill and Steven Pienaar missed glorious chances in the dying minutes while Petr Cech suffered a clash of heads with Jo as he bravely denied the striker. It would have earned their first win against Chelsea for nine years and, more relevantly, propelled them into fifth place in the league.
Hiddink had promised no rotation. And, good to his word, it was an unchanged line-up. Given the goals that Chelsea are chasing, the stakes and intensity, this in itself was remarkable. But the power players were, again, asked to increase the wattage with Frank Lampard racking up his 50th appearance of the season.
Their opponents, who had stayed down in London since Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United, succumbed to the need to make alterations with manager David Moyes introducing four changes, including the return of the cup-tied striker, Jo. He was afforded the first opportunity. Inside seven minutes, Segundo Castillo released the Brazilian but, clear on goal, his low shot was blocked by Petr Cech with his legs.
It provoked a response. Michael Ballack’s shot was deflected, but Tim Howard held on and Chelsea poured forward with Florent Malouda stealing the ball away from a hesitant Lars Jacobsen and Lampard eventually firing over from distance. The pressure grew but so did Everton’s resistance with Joseph Yobo, twice, denying Didier Drogba the chance to strike and Howard clutching a cross before the Ivorian could head home.
After Steven Pienaar had jumped into a tackle on Michael Essien, provoking another free-kick, Ballack curled the ball over and then Lampard, harried by Tim Cahill, ballooned his shot into the crowd. Still Chelsea attacked. John Terry joined the charge but was ignored by Nicolas Anelka, whose effort was blocked. It inevitably meant they were vulnerable to the counter-attack and when Jo broke, again, the ball was eventually squared to Cahill who turned quickly and sent in a low shot that was alertly held by Cech.
Both sides continued to size each other up. Chelsea probed and pushed, Everton held firm and threatened with the odd, dangerous jab. Cahill and Leon Osman buzzed in support of Jo. The latter turned the ball to Leighton Baines whose speculative shot looped off a Chelsea defender, had Cech in a momentary panic but then dropped over. From the corner, Chelsea countered. Anelka tore away but with Malouda waiting, unmarked, his cross was picked out by Howard. A waste.
But then Everton were wasteful also. Pienaar threaded a pass through to Jo. With Terry closing him down the striker still had a sight on goal but slipped as he shot and the ball bobbled away. In truth Chelsea were, to Hiddink’s obvious frustration, labouring. Maybe he would need to administer another team-talk in which harsh words were spoken.
Everton had also been denied what appeared to have been a penalty when Alex caught Baines’ leg. There were few appeals and referee Mark Halsey waved play on but replays appeared to show the defender had been fouled.
Still Hiddink didn’t make any half-time changes. Nor did he, this time, send his players out early. But they were almost caught cold. Another burst forward by Baines led to Osman crossing, Cahill diving to head towards goal and Cech making another accomplished save.
At the other end and Baines did well to hold off Lampard, as he almost wriggled through. Anelka then did, from Drogba’s flick, but dragged his shot disappointingly across Howard. Hiddink had seen enough and ordered a double change. On came the younger pair of John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou. Immediately Howard had to turn away a fierce shot from Terry.
Chelsea’s frustrations grew and then boiled over as Yobo brought down Malouda. Lampard’s shot was blocked, Kalou headed over, when he should have scored but still there was an Everton threat. Jo was relentless in his desire to create chances. But consistent in his ability not to take them and, once more, he shot wildly and wide when teed up.
Again Howard saved, turning away Kalou’s shot from another corner before Drogba came closest of all after being released by Mikel. But Chelsea couldn’t break through.
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Mail:
Chelsea 0 Everton 0: Halsey fouls up as Chelsea fall short in FA Cup final dress rehearsal
As a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup Final, it was Chelsea who forgot their glad rags. And their lines. A draw against Everton, the other victorious team in last weekend’s semi-finals, Wednesday night pretty much ended any pretensions, however faint, that they could win the Premier League title leaving them surely too far adrift of Manchester United.One trophy gone but still two to play for. However this was probably the worst performance they have delivered since Guus Hiddink’s arrival in February with the interim manager failing with that fabled golden touch even if Didier Drogba struck the bar with a powerful shot on the turn in injury-time.
Indeed Everton will rue not collecting all three points. Tim Cahill and Steven Pienaar missed glorious chances in the dying minutes while Petr Cech suffered a clash of heads with Jo as he bravely denied the striker. It would have earned their first win against Chelsea for nine years and, more relevantly, propelled them into fifth place in the league.
Hiddink had promised no rotation. And, good to his word, it was an unchanged line-up. Given the goals that Chelsea are chasing, the stakes and intensity, this in itself was remarkable. But the power players were, again, asked to increase the wattage with Frank Lampard racking up his 50th appearance of the season.
Their opponents, who had stayed down in London since Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United, succumbed to the need to make alterations with manager David Moyes introducing four changes, including the return of the cup-tied striker, Jo. He was afforded the first opportunity. Inside seven minutes, Segundo Castillo released the Brazilian but, clear on goal, his low shot was blocked by Petr Cech with his legs.
It provoked a response. Michael Ballack’s shot was deflected, but Tim Howard held on and Chelsea poured forward with Florent Malouda stealing the ball away from a hesitant Lars Jacobsen and Lampard eventually firing over from distance. The pressure grew but so did Everton’s resistance with Joseph Yobo, twice, denying Didier Drogba the chance to strike and Howard clutching a cross before the Ivorian could head home.
After Steven Pienaar had jumped into a tackle on Michael Essien, provoking another free-kick, Ballack curled the ball over and then Lampard, harried by Tim Cahill, ballooned his shot into the crowd. Still Chelsea attacked. John Terry joined the charge but was ignored by Nicolas Anelka, whose effort was blocked. It inevitably meant they were vulnerable to the counter-attack and when Jo broke, again, the ball was eventually squared to Cahill who turned quickly and sent in a low shot that was alertly held by Cech.
Both sides continued to size each other up. Chelsea probed and pushed, Everton held firm and threatened with the odd, dangerous jab. Cahill and Leon Osman buzzed in support of Jo. The latter turned the ball to Leighton Baines whose speculative shot looped off a Chelsea defender, had Cech in a momentary panic but then dropped over. From the corner, Chelsea countered. Anelka tore away but with Malouda waiting, unmarked, his cross was picked out by Howard. A waste.
But then Everton were wasteful also. Pienaar threaded a pass through to Jo. With Terry closing him down the striker still had a sight on goal but slipped as he shot and the ball bobbled away. In truth Chelsea were, to Hiddink’s obvious frustration, labouring. Maybe he would need to administer another team-talk in which harsh words were spoken.
Everton had also been denied what appeared to have been a penalty when Alex caught Baines’ leg. There were few appeals and referee Mark Halsey waved play on but replays appeared to show the defender had been fouled.
Still Hiddink didn’t make any half-time changes. Nor did he, this time, send his players out early. But they were almost caught cold. Another burst forward by Baines led to Osman crossing, Cahill diving to head towards goal and Cech making another accomplished save.
At the other end and Baines did well to hold off Lampard, as he almost wriggled through. Anelka then did, from Drogba’s flick, but dragged his shot disappointingly across Howard. Hiddink had seen enough and ordered a double change. On came the younger pair of John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou. Immediately Howard had to turn away a fierce shot from Terry.
Chelsea’s frustrations grew and then boiled over as Yobo brought down Malouda. Lampard’s shot was blocked, Kalou headed over, when he should have scored but still there was an Everton threat. Jo was relentless in his desire to create chances. But consistent in his ability not to take them and, once more, he shot wildly and wide when teed up.
Again Howard saved, turning away Kalou’s shot from another corner before Drogba came closest of all after being released by Mikel. But Chelsea couldn’t break through.
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Mail:
Chelsea 0 Everton 0: Halsey fouls up as Chelsea fall short in FA Cup final dress rehearsal
By NEIL ASHTON
They were queuing up to take a penalty after their FA Cup semi-final heroics at Wembley last weekend, yet this time Everton’s players were denied the chance to salute another spot-kick king.
Quite how will remain a mystery after referee Mark Halsey waved play on following Alex’s clumsy challenge, which flattened Everton left back Leighton Baines towards the end of the first half.
‘He definitely touched me, he clipped me when I was in the box, but the ball was out of my control,’ said Baines, but Everton’s impressive full back was being charitable.
After their 4-2 shootout victory over Manchester United on Sunday, any number of players would have fancied their chances of scoring from the spot, using the opportunity to draw first blood on their FA Cup final opponents and end their ambition of winning the title.
They were denied the opportunity to do both, although a draw at Stamford Bridge has almost ended Chelsea’s ambitions to win a third Barclays Premier League title.
This morning, just 24 hours after temporary manager Guus Hiddink challenged his Chelsea players to win the treble, they are six points behind leaders United with five games to play. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team still have a game in hand.
They will not give up, not while Hiddink remains in charge, but the Champions League and the FA Cup are the realistic targets after Everton’s third successive draw at Stamford Bridge.
David Moyes has hit upon a successful system against the muscle men, something Everton’s manager will surely take into the FA Cup final on May 30, the showpiece at the end of the season for two successful teams. This was not a goalfest like Chelsea’s 4-4 draw against Liverpool in the Champions League last week or anywhere near the quality of Arsenal’s 4-4 draw at Anfield on Tuesday. This was more like a goal quest.
Chelsea will point to their second-half chances, when Frank Lampard skewed wide, when substitute Salomon Kalou’s effort soared into the stand and Didier Drogba’s tight turn and shot cannoned off the bar in the final minute.
In Moyes’s mitigation he made four changes to the team who finally overcame United in the FA Cup semi-final, sparing Marouane Fellaini from duty and naming Phil Jagielka, Tony Hibbert and Louis Saha on the substitutes’ bench.
That is not the way at Chelsea, where the same 11 players who lined up at the start of their semi-final against Arsenal on Saturday were pressed into action again, sent out to try to maintain their 100 per cent record at home under Hiddink in the Premier League.
They fancied their chances of overhauling Liverpool after the game of the season at Anfield on Tuesday, yet failed to break down a seemingly impregnable defence. Chelsea survived a scare when Petr Cech rescued them with his legs as Jo, still searching for his first goal away from Goodison Park since he left Manchester City on loan in January, raced clear.
Ashley Cole was electric in the opening spell, underlining his terrific form with several bursts down the wing, latching on to Frank Lampard’s curved ball or tuning into the same frequency as Florent Malouda.
The Chelsea forward is showing signs that he has come of age at the club. He is certainly in the best form since his move from Lyon for £13.5million in July 2007, scoring the equaliser against Arsenal on Saturday with a well-taken strike from the edge of the area.
But now Malouda and his teammates will be looking more for success in the Champions League, starting with the first leg of the semi-final against Barcelona next week and the FA Cup, in which Hiddink will make his final salute in the Wembley final, rather than the Premier League.
Hiddink will be out of town after the FA Cup final, on his way back to Russia to prepare the national team for two World Cup qualifiers at the end of the season.
But his present club side remain determined to win their first trophy since the 2007 FA Cup final. Such has been their confidence under the temporary manager that they always fancy their chances of scoring, and they were taking pot shots from all over last night as they attempted to break the resolve of Everton keeper Tim Howard. Michael Ballack’s deflected effort was easily gathered, Lampard’s attempt to follow in the footsteps of Andrey Arshavin’s third goal against Liverpool on Tuesday drifted wide of the upright and Michael Essien’s strike followed a similar path.
They needed to feed Drogba, loving life at the Bridge again after scoring nine goals in his previous 11 games, a considerably better return than he gave Luiz Felipe Scolari during the Brazilian’s troubled six-month spell in charge.
For the most part Drogba was shackled by the imposing presence of Joseph Yobo, who shadowed the Chelsea striker’s every move during a considered first-half display after being thrust into the side in place of Jagielka. Defensively Everton were sound again, with Phil Neville crunching into tackles in the centre of midfield, earning a booking when he overstepped the mark and clattered into Lampard.
This was nowhere near Chelsea at their very best — their supporters have to go back to the 2-0 victory over Aston Villa last October for that — but they still have the belief that they can build on their short-term success.
Somehow Chelsea survived their streaky moments, such as Alex’s clumsy challenge on Baines, but this result will serve as a warning to Hiddink’s team. Not for the rest of the Premier League season, but for the FA Cup Final.
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Independent:
Chelsea call off chase as Moyes' men stand firm
Chelsea 0 Everton 0
By Mark Fleming
The Chelsea juggernaut hit the Everton brick wall with a thud. David Moyes' team were probably the last side Chelsea wanted to meet after their epic endeavours of recent weeks. Few outfits work as hard for their points as Everton which was not good news for Treble-chasing Chelsea, contesting their sixth game in 18 days.
At the final whistle the Chelsea manager, Guus Hiddink, accepted his side are now out of the title race. "I said before we could not afford to drop any points but the fact is we lost two points tonight so we have to be realistic," he admitted. "Mathematically there is a chance but you cannot afford to waste points. It is difficult. Now we have to focus on our other two roads, the Champions League and the FA Cup final with Everton."
Hiddink said he may now start resting his star players, starting with Saturday's trip to West Ham, with an eye on the Champions League semi-final with Barcelona next week. "We will see the analysis after the game," he said. "Some players may be in the overload zone. We have to focus more on the Champions League games, that's for sure."
Chelsea's effort could not be faulted. They threw everything at the visitors, particularly in a frantic second half, but the closest Chelsea came to scoring was when Didier Drogba hit the Everton bar in stoppage time.
Moyes' side in fact created by far the better chances, although they were on the back-foot for much of the match, and were it not for an inspired performance by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech the Merseysiders could have snatched a famous win.
Cech had come under fire for leaking eight goals in his previous three games before last night. But the towering keeper responded with a flawless performance and a string of saves that ensured Chelsea managed to avoid an embarrassing defeat to the team they will meet in the FA Cup final on 30 May at Wembley.
Twice in the opening 10 minutes Cech denied Everton's Brazilian striker Jo. The £17m striker, on loan from Manchester City, went close with a glancing header but should have done better than to shoot at Cech's legs when put clean through on goal.
Chelsea dominated possession but Everton maintained their concentration and defended with purpose to frustrate their hosts, a foretaste perhaps for what to expect from their Wembley encounter at the end of next month. Chelsea have profited from their height and power in recent games by scoring vital goals from set plays. But Everton stood firm and kept Chelsea' six-foot marauders at arm's length.
As the match started slipping from the home side's grasp captain John Terry decided to take matters into his own hands with a rasping effort from fully 40 yards that Everton keeper Tim Howard tipped round the post at full stretch.
Chelsea increased the tempo, but still it was beyond them to create clear chances. One of the best fell to substitute Salomon Kalou who headed over from six yards. The home side's desperation to score left them vulnerable to counter-attack, and Chelsea were fortunate to escape when first Tim Cahill and then Leon Osman fired shots wide late in the game.
In the final minute Cech showed tremendous bravery to dive in and head the ball away from Jo. The Chelsea bench feared the worst as Cech, who suffered a fractured skull at Reading in October 2006, fell to his knees. But fortunately the keeper was quickly on his feet and was able to resume.
For Everton the satisfaction came in stopping Chelsea's powerful side in its tracks. Moyes said: "It's another clean sheet, after 120 minutes against Manchester United on Sunday and now Chelsea. We can't afford to rest players. We have to keep ploughing away.".
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Ballack, Essien (Mikel, 60), Lampard; Malouda (Di Santo, 76), Drogba, Anelka (Kalou, 60). Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Belletti, Mancienne, Mellis.
Everton (4-4-2): Howard; Jacobsen (Jagielka, 86), Lescott, Yobo, Baines; Osman (Rodwell, 88), Castillo, Neville, Pienaar; Cahill, Jo (Saha, 90). Substitutes not used: Nash (gk), Hibbert, Vaughan, Gosling.
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Booked: Everton Neville.
Man of the match: Cech.
Attendance: 41,556.
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Guardian:
Lethargic Chelsea fail to awaken title hopes
Chelsea 0 Everton 0
Dominic Fifield
Dominic Fifield
Chelsea's title challenge may just have run aground at last. Talk of securing an unlikely treble, aired briefly and rather reluctantly by Guus Hiddink in the build-up to this occasion, was choked last night by a wonderfully rugged and committed Everton team to leave the hosts frustrated and forlorn. Manchester United perch six points clear of the Londoners this morning with a game still in hand. Even Hiddink's ability to eke the best from this squad may struggle to bridge that chasm.
The home side's was a leggy display which only rallied in the closing stages once desperation had set in, and even then most of the best chances fell to the visitors. There can be few opponents a team would wish to confront less for a sixth game in 18 days than David Moyes' workaholic Everton. Their energy may have been draining by the end, but their tenacity remained and Tim Cahill, thrashing a shot into the side-netting, and Steven Pienaar might still have earned a first win over these opponents in nine years.
There had been a lengthy exchange prior to kick-off between the two managers, their conversation littered no doubt with congratulations at the other's achievement in steering his team to the FA Cup final next month. This had duly become a dress rehearsal for that show-piece, a chance for players on both sides to size up direct opponents even if the visitors' selection had rather hinted at a team keeping their powder dry.
Everton had opted against returning triumphantly to Merseyside following Sunday's FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United, staying instead in a plush Kensington hotel ahead of this fixture.
The quartet of changes made last night reflected an energy-sapping season rather than any lingering hangovers from the post-Wembley celebrations. Yet the momentum generated by that success in the penalty shoot-out was carried by the altered line-up.
The visitors were the slicker team initially here, the smouldering frustration that pursued Moyes, down the tunnel at the break a reflection that his loanee forward Jo, cup-tied at the weekend, had missed two glorious opportunities to force his team ahead. Chelsea, notorious slow starters in recent weeks, breathed easier where they might have been buried.
The chances were both neatly created, if reliant upon the hosts' uncharacteristically ragged back-line. Michael Essien was sprawled on the turf at the other end early on when Segundo Castillo put Cahill through on goal in the inside left channel, only for his shot to strike the on-rushing Petr Cech. That served to calm the goalkeeper's early nerves though, two minutes before the interval and with Everton's rearguard having rarely been tested, he might still have been beaten. The hosts surrendered possession too readily in midfield and Pienaar liberated Jo down the right, only for the striker to slip under vague pressure from John Terry as he prepared to shoot.
Moyes cursed such profligacy, though there was encouragement to be drawn from the home side's lethargy. Cahill, gathering Jo's cross before spinning and spitting a shot at goal that Cech did well to save, and Pienaar had also come close while Chelsea laboured. Alex, too, may have been fortunate to escape conceding a penalty to Leighton Baines' darting run, which ended abruptly with what might have been deemed a trip. Confirmation that United led Portsmouth at Old Trafford did little to up the Londoners' tempo.
Yet Everton had cause to fear the revival. A little over a week previously, an equally lacklustre – and increasingly jittery – first-half performance from Chelsea had seen them trail comfortably at home to Liverpool in the Champions League to threaten their apparently serene progress into the competition's last four. The rat-a-tat of goals thereafter reflected the furious reaction of Hiddink and some of his more senior players in the dressing-room. This team may start sloppily under the Dutchman, but they have rarely remained becalmed for long.
The best they had mustered were efforts from distance from Essien and Frank Lampard, though there was more fizz to Chelsea's approach once Cahill had provided yet another wake-up call early in the second period, the Australian flicking a header which was gathered by a diving Cech. Anelka dragged a shot wide of the far post after scurrying through and, once the striker had been replaced, even Terry ventured up-field to force Tim Howard into a wonderful save.
Yet, for all the home side's sudden desperate urgency and Everton's own weariness, there remains such resilience and purpose to Moyes' team that the visitors simply would not yield. Joleon Lescott's block on Lampard's shot, smothered just as the net gaped, summed up the effort and endeavour that might have merited more than a point. Didier Drogba might have denied them when his shot struck the bar at the death. Chelsea's title challenge may just have gone with it.
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Sun;
Chelsea 0 Everton 0
By IAN McGARRY
WELL, the party had to end sometime.
That all-singing, all-dancing advert for English football that has dominated the past week was brought back to earth with a crash last night.
And what a crash it was. Chelsea and Everton defied the goalfest of the past few days to serve up a game that was absolutely worthless.
No goals. No winner. And no entertainment.
At least Liverpool’s Premier League challenge ended with a 4-4 bang of a game against Arsenal. Chelsea opted for a whimper as they handed the title to Manchester United on a night of drab nothingness at Stamford Bridge.
The Guus Hiddink revolution was brought to a grinding halt in a match devoid of any spark.
Billed as the FA Cup Final dress rehearsal, the best this match did was to scare the hell out of anyone thinking of going to Wembley Stadium next month. OK, both sides were a bit tired after the weekend’s exertions getting themselves into the showpiece game on May 30.
But given what was at stake, for the home side at least, the fans who turned up had every right to expect more than was delivered.
Hiddink has won every league match in his charge at home but his team showed very little ambition to make this a repeat performance.
In fact, this match became something akin to torture — the longer it went on the more painful it got.
And no one was willing to surrender. The nearest anyone got to threatening the stalemate was in the final minutes.
Chelsea’s best chance of goal came from Didier Drogba in the closing moments and the striker capped a frustrating evening with a shot which almost broke the crossbar.
Other than that, there was, well, not much at all really.
It was Frank Lampard who warned against the Blues’ habit of not waking up until they were a goal down.
There was little danger of needing to react here even though his words went completely unheeded in the eighth minute when Jo was allowed to bear down on goal. Petr Cech raced from his line and blocked the Brazilian’s shot with a leg.
In reply Drogba tracked to the halfway line only to wish he had not bothered when Phil Neville hacked him down. The Toffees skipper was booked. In fact, it took 33 minutes for the first serious danger when Jo broke on the right and crossed for Tim Cahill to swivel and get a shot off.
Cech was more than up to the task of blocking the effort but the sense of malaise which was prevalent in the opening period never lifted.
Lampard was the only Chelsea player willing to have a pop from distance and it took until three minutes from time before they really threatened.
Nicolas Anelka broke directly when an Everton corner was cleared but Tim Howard anticipated his cross.
Two minutes later Jo again found himself in the kind of space strikers usually only get in training matches.
IN keeping with the general standard of play he tripped and sliced an embarrassing effort wide.
At least the visitors looked more serious about the match after the break. Leighton Baines fed Leon Osman who cleverly evaded everyone on the right and pinged in a great cross.
Cahill did enough to direct the ball goalward but Cech was just as wary and made the save look easy. Chelsea slowly began to look like a team who realised there was a game and points to be won.
Michael Essien was willing to carry the ball and also the attack to Everton. He laid off wide to Anelka whose ball in was within a hair’s breadth of setting Lampard free on goal.
That flurry was just about as good as it got for the home support who had turned up with genuine hope of seeing their team power on in the league.
Hiddink effectively threw in the towel afterwards and no one was in a mood to argue.
Even the Chelsea boss recognised it is futile to pretend you are fighting on three fronts when no one else believes you.
So one down and two to go for the Chelsea and their flying Dutchman. It is all about knockouts now the marathon has been won by United.
Chelsea, though, will look on this match as an example of how to lose trophies rather than win them.
That all-singing, all-dancing advert for English football that has dominated the past week was brought back to earth with a crash last night.
And what a crash it was. Chelsea and Everton defied the goalfest of the past few days to serve up a game that was absolutely worthless.
No goals. No winner. And no entertainment.
At least Liverpool’s Premier League challenge ended with a 4-4 bang of a game against Arsenal. Chelsea opted for a whimper as they handed the title to Manchester United on a night of drab nothingness at Stamford Bridge.
The Guus Hiddink revolution was brought to a grinding halt in a match devoid of any spark.
Billed as the FA Cup Final dress rehearsal, the best this match did was to scare the hell out of anyone thinking of going to Wembley Stadium next month. OK, both sides were a bit tired after the weekend’s exertions getting themselves into the showpiece game on May 30.
But given what was at stake, for the home side at least, the fans who turned up had every right to expect more than was delivered.
Hiddink has won every league match in his charge at home but his team showed very little ambition to make this a repeat performance.
In fact, this match became something akin to torture — the longer it went on the more painful it got.
And no one was willing to surrender. The nearest anyone got to threatening the stalemate was in the final minutes.
Chelsea’s best chance of goal came from Didier Drogba in the closing moments and the striker capped a frustrating evening with a shot which almost broke the crossbar.
Other than that, there was, well, not much at all really.
It was Frank Lampard who warned against the Blues’ habit of not waking up until they were a goal down.
There was little danger of needing to react here even though his words went completely unheeded in the eighth minute when Jo was allowed to bear down on goal. Petr Cech raced from his line and blocked the Brazilian’s shot with a leg.
In reply Drogba tracked to the halfway line only to wish he had not bothered when Phil Neville hacked him down. The Toffees skipper was booked. In fact, it took 33 minutes for the first serious danger when Jo broke on the right and crossed for Tim Cahill to swivel and get a shot off.
Cech was more than up to the task of blocking the effort but the sense of malaise which was prevalent in the opening period never lifted.
Lampard was the only Chelsea player willing to have a pop from distance and it took until three minutes from time before they really threatened.
Nicolas Anelka broke directly when an Everton corner was cleared but Tim Howard anticipated his cross.
Two minutes later Jo again found himself in the kind of space strikers usually only get in training matches.
IN keeping with the general standard of play he tripped and sliced an embarrassing effort wide.
At least the visitors looked more serious about the match after the break. Leighton Baines fed Leon Osman who cleverly evaded everyone on the right and pinged in a great cross.
Cahill did enough to direct the ball goalward but Cech was just as wary and made the save look easy. Chelsea slowly began to look like a team who realised there was a game and points to be won.
Michael Essien was willing to carry the ball and also the attack to Everton. He laid off wide to Anelka whose ball in was within a hair’s breadth of setting Lampard free on goal.
That flurry was just about as good as it got for the home support who had turned up with genuine hope of seeing their team power on in the league.
Hiddink effectively threw in the towel afterwards and no one was in a mood to argue.
Even the Chelsea boss recognised it is futile to pretend you are fighting on three fronts when no one else believes you.
So one down and two to go for the Chelsea and their flying Dutchman. It is all about knockouts now the marathon has been won by United.
Chelsea, though, will look on this match as an example of how to lose trophies rather than win them.
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