everton 1-1

Independent:

Baines pains below-par champions
Chelsea 1 Everton 1:

Ancelotti angry with his players after another limp display allows improved Everton a point
By Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge

Having threatened to run away with the Premier League title, Chelsea are losing ground by the week. In the past six matches they have scored three goals and taken a mere five points, surrendering the leadership first to Manchester United and now to Arsenal, both of whom they face later this month, after an away game at Tottenham.
At least as worrying as the statistics yesterday was a feeble performance against one of the few sides who traditionally enjoy a visit to Stamford Bridge. Everton left with a fifth successive draw on this ground, this one fully deserved and all the more meritorious after they had been so badly beaten at home by West Bromwich Albion last week. That result had dropped them into the bottom six.
"We had harsh words but the players responded really well," Everton's manager, David Moyes, said. "We deserved the result. Chelsea are hurt and needing a result and in the first half we were hanging in there for some periods."
It was hardly the stuff of desperation even then. John Terry, playing on the back of only three days' training, hit the bar but it took a penalty to bring the champions a goal, Didier Drogba striking it confidently for his first League score in eight games. By his own admission, the Ivorian striker is not fully recovered from his dose of malaria; of his partners in attack, Nicolas Anelka had one of his more frustrating days and Salomon Kalou became the butt of the crowd's wrath.
Michael Essien's return after suspension added some drive to the midfield that still failed to translate into scoring opportunities – of which Chelsea had barely one in the whole second half – and more hope than ever is now being invested in Frank Lampard, who has not started a game since August. If he is not back soon – next weekend is being pencilled in – the title may slip away.
Carlo Ancelotti admitted to being "angry" at the way the performance tailed off in the second half, accusing his team of deserting their natural game for long-ball football. "The first half was good but the second half was totally different," he said. "We work towards a particular kind of football and I don't understand why we changed. Second half we were afraid, scared and unable to play our football, just big ball to Didier alone up front."
After a stunning start to the season that brought five successive wins and 21 goals, Ancelotti knew "a difficult moment" would arrive at some point. "But not for so long," he said last night. He will not agree, publicly at least, that the changes to the coaching hierarchy forced upon him, with the popular Ray Wilkins being brutally sacked, have had any effect. "The problem is not on the bench, it's on the pitch," he said.
In addition to Chelsea's self-inflicted problems, those created by Everton stemmed from the excellence of Leighton Baines, the left-back who was in line to go to the World Cup before Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock stole his place as reserve to Ashley Cole. Yesterday Baines overshadowed England's first choice with his runs and crosses. He would have a decisive effect on the result.
In the first half, Terry and Petr Cech dealt with them and the visitors' only direct threat on goal came in the first half-minute, Cech holding Louis Saha's low drive. Then the referee, Lee Probert, became a central figure. He might have dismissed Florent Malouda and Tim Howard in separate incidents. Malouda reacted to two fouls from behind by Phil Neville with a hand-off to the face but did not receive a card of any colour. "Phil got up and got on with it, then a minute later their player got him booked," Moyes claimed. "I was disgusted."
Everton received the benefit of any doubt a few minutes before the interval when Howard blocked Anelka to concede a penalty but was allowed to stay on the pitch. Drogba thumped in the penalty and all seemed well with Chelsea's world. It was an illusion. Throughout the second half they worried Everton just once, when Seamus Coleman possibly fouled Cole, who was about to turn in a cross from the substitute Paulo Ferreira. It was significant that the move involved two full-backs.
Another back, however, was becoming the dominant figure. From one Baines cross, Jack Rodwell headed against the inside of a post. From his corner, Phil Jagielka back-headed over the bar. Finally, four minutes from time, Baines hoisted another centre, Tim Cahill nodded back across goal and Jermaine Beckford, equally loosely marked, headed in.

Attendance: 41,642
Referee: Lee Probert
Man of the match: Baines
Match rating: 6/10


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Observer:

Jermaine Beckford's late equaliser piles the pressure on Chelsea

Chelsea 1 Drogba (pen) 42 Everton 1 Beckford 86

Anna Kessel at Stamford Bridge

If a victory over Everton would have "resolved everything" for Chelsea, then where exactly does yet another draw leave Carlo Ancelotti's flagging side?
"Disappointed" was the manager's response. "Angry. Not just for the result, but we played a poor second half. We lost our idea to play our football. Just a long ball, we were scared. I didn't like this."
Are his team still smarting from the fallout of that controversial reshuffle among his backroom staff? "The problem is not there on the bench, it's out there on the pitch," he said, citing a lack of concentration and focus. "Obviously I am worried because we didn't win a lot of games. We have to do better."
That much is crystal clear after Chelsea lost their way in a match in which, early on, they appeared to have the upper hand. With just one win in their past six Premier League games, the London club have slipped to third in the table and, judging by today's performance, may falter further as the December fixtures pit them against a series of high-calibre opposition: Tottenham, Manchester United, Arsenal and Bolton.
today, despite the feted return of John Terry and Michael Essien to the side, Chelsea's performance still left much to be desired. Certainly, though, the captain's return helped. Chelsea's talisman brought instruction and good practice all over the pitch: from defensive headers at the back to a double strike at the front, which almost gave Chelsea an early lead.
An eventful game, during which the referee, Lee Probert, could easily have reached for the red card on several occasions, grew bad-tempered when Everton's returning captain, Phil Neville, made a two-footed tackle on Florent Malouda which led to the France winger petulantly retaliating – although, to his credit, Neville let the matter lie.
But the Everton captain's sense of responsibility deserted him just minutes later, when he clouted Didier Drogba around the side of the head with a loose arm. Worse was to come when Neville inexplicably chose to play a casual backpass into Drogba's path which sent his goalkeeper Tim Howard recklessly crashing into the Ivory Coast striker to make the save. Neville gasped in horror as Howard sent Drogba tumbling.
A sending off did not materialise, instead just a yellow card and a penalty. Drogba duly scored, leaping into the air – elated – after his first league goal since early October. At the half-time whistle, his side 1-0 down, Neville sought the refuge of the tunnel, eyes down, red-faced.
With Neville in chaotic mode, it fell to Leighton Baines to take the hero's role for Everton in the second half. The left-back instigated the visitors' comeback with a series of threatening and inspired breaks down the flank.
Ancelotti tried to stem the flow, substituting an ineffective José Bosingwa for the experience of Paulo Ferreira, but Baines could not be stopped, firing in crosses that brought his team-mates ever close to an equaliser.
Before it came, there was more controversy in the Chelsea goalmouth when Tim Cahill's studs struck Petr Cech in the face as the keeper dived for the ball. Terry was furious with Cahill, defender and striker grabbing fistfuls of each other's shirts while Cech lay immobile on the pitch for several minutes receiving medical attention to a cut above one of his eyes. Remarkably the referee again failed to send anyone off.
With Chelsea in disarray, Everton had the momentum and Baines popped up with yet another beautiful weaving run; Cahill nodded on and the substitute Jermaine Beckford headed home only his second league goal of the season. With seven minutes of injury time to negotiate, Chelsea clung on to a single point for dear life.
"The players responded well," said David Moyes of his side's fourth draw in six games. "When we have had a bad one [a reference to the 4-1 defeat by West Brom], players here tend to respond in the right fashion. Chelsea are hurting right now because they need a result so we knew it was going to be tough."
It was Moyes's 400th game in charge of Everton, but the manager's passion certainly has not receded. Asked whether Cahill should have been sent off for the challenge on Cech, Moyes reacted furiously. "Because he [Cech] has a history of injury does not mean my players don't go for tackles," he said. "He [Cahill] better go for it. After our performance last week? He'd better go for it. If he hadn't gone for that I'd have been out there wringing his neck."
Everton remain just two points off the relegation zone in a season that Moyes had hoped might be his best yet at the club. He will have to continue hoping; Champions League qualification looks like an impossible dream.


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Mail:

Chelsea 1 Everton 1:

Jermaine Beckford strikes late as Carlo Ancelotti prepares to grill 'scared' stars
By Malcolm Folley

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti - anger burning in his eyes if not in his voice - last night promised his players an uncomfortable reunion on the training ground today. Judging by his mood, Chelsea's extravagantly paid and highly pampered players are not so much reporting for training as an inquest. Chelsea's slump is becoming contagious and Everton's thoroughly deserved draw brought more anxiety to Ancelotti ahead of upcoming matches with Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United.
Those games, over 15 days this month, could define their season.'Of course I am worried,' said Ancelotti. 'There are no smiles around the club because there is no reason to smile. I explained tonight what I feel.'And tomorrow we have a training session to talk about this more. Tomorrow, we have to change our behaviour to training. We have to be more focused, show more concentration. This difficult moment has gone on too long. We have to change something about our behaviour.' The confidence and bravado that was the hallmark of Chelsea's play during their boisterous romp to the summit of the Premier League is now a distant memory.
They have won only five points from their last six matches. Ancelotti was infuriated by the unexpected manner in which Chelsea abandoned the principles he demands, as Everton produced a second-half resurgence springing from the enterprise of left-back Leighton Baines. Ancelotti said: 'I'm disappointed, angry, not just because of the result, but because we played a poor second half. We are working to play a particular kind of football - and I don't understand why we changed this. We lost our ideas, we played long balls as I thought we were scared and afraid to play. I don't like this.' Ancelotti is at a loss to explain the disintegration of Chelsea's season. Only last month he was powerless to prevent the club sacking coach Ray Wilkins. He also appeared mystified when Michael Emenalo was elevated from the club's scouting network to a senior coaching role in Wilkins' place, while Paul Clement was promoted to be his first lieutenant. Evidence that the club had become destabilised increased when their sporting director Frank Arnesen announced that he wished to leave at the end of this season.
Since then, Chelsea results have gone south, as games against Liverpool, Birmingham and Sunderland were lost in close harmony. Coincidence? Ancelotti is unwilling to assume otherwise.'The problems are on the pitch, not on the bench,' he said. He had called yesterday's game the "most important of the season". Unfortunately, his players did not rise to the occasion. Everton's belief and confidence on the ball ensured Chelsea became hesitant and reliant on striking the ball from one end to the other. And Everton manager David Moyes, smarting from his own discomfort with his team's slide towards the relegation zone, a condition exacerbated by last Saturday's 4-1 loss at home to West Brom, watched with growing pride as his men redeemed themselves at the home of the champions. Even Chelsea's goal smacked a little of good fortune. When Nicolas Anelka took possession from a careless back pass by Phil Neville, he flicked the ball one side of goalkeeper Tim Howard, then opted for a route through the American. The two men collided hard and referee Lee Probert awarded Chelsea a penalty.
'Howard couldn't get out of the way,' said Moyes. 'But if it was me, I'd have wanted a penalty. I was just relieved it was not seen as a sending off.' It left Drogba to score his first Premier League goal for two months with a flawless penalty. Justice was served however, when Baines dribbled through Chelsea's defence in the 86th minute and his cross was met by Tim Cahill, whose header back across goal was headed in by Jermaine Beckford. Ancelotti's patience is close to breaking point, as he will remind his players at today's training session for Wednesday's Champions' League match in Marseille - but which is now nothing less than a wake-up call.

MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa (Ferreira 65min), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel (Sturridge 88), Malouda; Anelka (Ramires 78), Drogba, Kalou. Subs (not used): Turnbull, Bruma, Kakuta, McEachran. Booked: Terry.

EVERTON (4-4-1-1): Howard; Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Pienaar (Bilyaletdinov 87), Fellaini, Rodwell, Coleman; Cahill; Saha (Beckford 58). Subs (not used): Mucha, Heitinga, Osman, Yakubu, Anichebe. Booked: Neville, Howard, Coleman, Jagielka. Referee: L Probert (Wiltshire).


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Star:

CHELSEA 1 - EVERTON 1 - BECKFORD GOAL PAIN FOR CARLO ANCELOTTI
By Tony Stenson

CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti hit out at his “wasters” after they failed to kill off brave Everton.
Striker Jermain Beckford came off the bench to inflict another wound on a manager who has seemingly lost his way.
Boos from Chelsea fans will been heard all the way to owner Roman Abramovich’s £70million floating gin palace as he celebrated Russia winning the 2018 World Cup. Roman does not do failures.
Chelsea, top of the table only a month ago, took a controversial lead only to lose it and they’ve now gone four games without a win. Fans were streaming out long before the final whistle.
Abramovich was last seen hitting high fives after his country had won the rights to host the 2018 event.
But this swiftly brought him down to earth and you fear here for Ancelotti. His side seriously squandered a chance to go back to the top of the table as Everton stopped their own rot.
But Everton skipper Phil Neville should hold his head in shame after almost costing his side the game.
Neville almost got keeper Tim Howard sent off but overall Everton displayed a snarling, fighting quality few rarely thought them capable of.
They refused to be overawed and stuck rigidly to a format that paid off. Chelsea did not have a plan B as Everton closed down all the corridors.
Everton manager David Moyes, celebrating his 400th match in charge of the club, has gained a reputation for producing the kind of team that makes him one of the favourites to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Yesterday this was Everton in the raw, a side of the club rarely seen.
When Tim Cahill lunged studs-high into the face of Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, you realised then they were fighting for their professional lives.
Blood dripped from Cech’s eye. Not nice, while Cech had been previously been inspirational.
Neville, booked earlier for clattering into Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, had acres of space in the 40th minute and colleagues nearby when he stroked a casual 40th-minute back-pass to keeper Howard.
Drogba’s strike partner Nicolas Anelka seized the moment and headed for goal. Howard leapt from his line and collided with the Chelsea striker for a definite penalty – and nailed -on dismissal.
But referee Lee Probert chose not to send him off because other defenders were closing gaps and Anelka made such a meal of the collision.
Howard should have gone, but it would only deflect from Chelsea’s poor performance and Everton’s fighting spirit which was richly rewarded in the 85th minute.
Leighton Baines crossed for the left, Cahill headed back and Beckford rose to score.
Everton had earlier survived a decent penalty call when Sylvain Distin looked to try and control a ball that had sneaked through Salomon Kalou in the 10th minute.
The woodwork prevented Chelsea from taking the lead in the 27th minute when captain John Terry, back after a sciatic nerve injury, sent a shot against the bar.
Everton arrived with their reputation in shreds, having taken just 16 points from their opening 15 matches – and just one win in the last seven.
But, despite their first half bombardment, Moyes’s men deserved everything they got yesterday.


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Mirror:

Chelsea 1-1 Everton:
By Paul Smith

The crisis engulfing Chelsea continued to deepen as they failed to see off struggling Everton at home.
On the balance of play the visitors thoroughly deserved to pick up a point but in a first half embarrassingly dominated by Chelsea they failed to take their chances and go into the break firmly out of sight.
Returning captain John Terry hit the crossbar before Didier Drogba scored a penalty after Tim Howard fouled Nicolas Anelka five minutes from the interval.
Victory would have seen Chelsea reclaim top spot with Manchester United’s game at Blackpool postponed.
But instead they slipped to third, with Arsenal moving up to first after defeating Fulham.
Needless to say it was Chelsea’s woeful performance in the second half that would have set the alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power at Stamford Bridge.
As good as they were in the first half they were dreadful in the second.
“I am very disappointed and very angry because we got what we deserved,” said Carlo Ancelotti.
“In the first half we played well with good spirit. In the second half we were awful, lost our way and played with fear.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose the game but I need to understand why the team is playing like they are.
“Of course it worries me. Everyone knows it was an important game for us to move on from a difficult moment we still find ourselves in.
“We knew a victory would take us back to the top of the table and improve our confidence. We didn’t take it.”
In contrast Everton boss David Moyes was delighted and even felt his side’s second-half dominance should have yielded all three points.
“The second half we deserved the result,” he said. “We expected it to be tough; it always is when you come to Chelsea.
“I thought our lack of quality in the final third of the game prevented us from winning the game.
“Leighton Baines’ run for the goal was terrific. Obviously the best left-back in the country plays for Chelsea but arguably the second best was playing for Everton yesterday.
Despite worrying form of late Chelsea laid siege on the Everton goal from the opening minute.
It was all Everton could do to defend in numbers, sitting deep and inviting Chelsea to come at them.
Yet despite embarrassingly dominating play the defending champions could find no way through.
Chances came and went and futile claims for penalties were swiftly waved away until Terry hit the Everton crossbar with a tenacious chip in the 26th minute.
They had to wait until eight minutes from the break before they threatened the Everton goal again, Salomon Kalou woefully heading over from barely seven yards out.
The game eventually exploded into action in the 40th minute when Nicola Anelka raced through on goal only to be rugby tackled by Tim Howard in the penalty area.
Referee Lee Probert immediately pointed to the spot but refused to send Howard off despite widespread protest.
Didier Drogba, without a goal in six matches, stepped up to emphatically convert the spot kick.
The home side continued to dominate as they looked to increase their lead. But as the break approached a second goal continued to elude them.
Everton returned after the interval to put up a more convincing fight.
Indeed in the opening ten minutes of the half Everton put Chelsea under more pressure than they had in the entire opening 45 minutes.
In the 61st minute they were denied an equaliser when Jack Rodwell struck the post with a header from Leighton Baines cross.
To their credit Everton maintained the momentum, as Chelsea looked increasingly fragile.
As Chelsea stood back Everton began to threaten with increasing regularity much to the annoyance of Ancelotti and the home fans.
Yet ironically Chelsea should have extended their lead before Everton’s second half dominance finally paid off four minutes from time.
Substitute Paulo Ferreira crossed low for the right and Ashley Cole was inches away from getting a clinical touch as he slid in at the far post.
Everton immediately moved upfield and when Baines deep cross was headed back across the face of goal, sub Jermaine Beckford headed home unchallenged.
Even seven minutes of extended time couldn’t save Chelsea. Long before Beckford had found the net for the Toffees the Blues had completely run out of steam.


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