Everton v Chelsea: Carling Cup Semi-Final 2nd-Leg, Goodison Park, 23rd January 2008

The team also welcomed back Manuel Fernandes for this game. The Portuguese midfielder had looked set to join Everton after impressing while on loan last season. But a last minute change-of-heart saw him move to Valencia.

Things didn’t fare well for Fernandes in Spain and when the January transfer window opened he took the opportunity to return to Everton on loan. Hopefully this time Everton will permanently sign up the talented midfielder.

Leon Osman also returned to the squad. Having recovered from injury in time for the last game at Wigan, it was good to see Osman playing again. It’s no coincidence Everton has had a hard time of it since he has been out of action. His quick feet and constant running always provide an essential link between defence and attack.

It’s safe to say the Chelsea squad was looking a little thin. Without John Terry, Frank Lampard, Michael Essian, Andriy Shevchenko, Didier Drogba, John Mikel Obi or Michael Ballack; it was a chance for some of the fringe players to stake a claim.

But Chelsea manager, Avram Grant, could still call on Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Philips, and Nicolas Anelka, the new £15 million-pound man. Each of these players could start for nearly any EPL team; together they make a talented and exciting attacking line.

Under the floodlights at a boisterous Goodison Park, the game was set to start. The prize for the winners, a trip to Wembley to face Tottenham Hotspur, who had emphatically dispatched Arsenal 5-1 in the other semi-final the night before.

The game began at a frantic pace with two early Chelsea shots landing off target, while Everton had a Joleon Lescott header saved on the line as each team looked for an early advantage.

As the game settled down it became obvious Chelsea was going to sit back and try to absorb the Everton attack. Time and time-again Everton concentrated its play down the wings but couldn’t deliver a ball into the area. For all his flicks and tricks Mikel Arteta couldn’t get past Chelsea's stern defense. Out of frustration Andrew Johnson resorted to a long-range shot that never troubled Petr Cech.

For as deep as Chelsea was playing, Everton’s back line was very high up the pitch. In a show of good organization, the Everton back four constantly caught Anelka off-side. This tactic also allowed Fernandes enough time to dominate the midfield, but still Everton came up scoreless.

As the half came to an end both teams attempted shots from distance but never managed to hit the target.

At the interval you had to wonder if Everton’s chance had passed it by. One goal could still win it for the home team, but with all the effort they had spent in the first half they had only managed one real scoring attempt on the Chelsea goal. It was going to take something special to get past the well-drilled Chelsea defense.

The second half started at the same torrid pace as the first, but a lack of concentration allowed Anelka to turn and shoot from just outside the Everton area. The well struck shot had Howard beat but hit the cross bar and deflected away.

This should have been a wake up call for Everton as Chelsea looked to be more adventuress in the second half. Though Everton needed to score it couldn’t afford to leave gaps at the back.

It did just that midway through the half when Florent Malouda found Joe Cole unmarked in the Everton area. His smart volley nestled into the back of the net.

1-0 Chelsea.

David Moyes brought off Lee Carsley for Victor Anichebe immediately as Everton searched for a way back into the tie. The substitution nearly brought dividends as some good work down the right allowed Johnson to fire in a fierce shot only to see it tipped around the post by Cech.

But with 20 minutes to go it looked an uphill task as Everton now needed to score twice to force over time.

Everton tried to pick up the pace again but even the introduction of James Vaughan couldn’t produce any results. With time ticking away Lescott moved up form defence to try to force a goal but still there was no way past the Chelsea back line.

After 4 minutes of injury time referee Steve Bennett blew the final whistle that sent Chelsea through to the Carling Cup final.

You have to give Chelsea credit. It showed up with a game plan and stuck to it. Knowing Everton had to score they sat back and attacked on the counter. It wasn’t exciting to watch but ask any Chelsea fan and they’ll say so what. The result is what matters not how pretty the football is.

Everton are left to rue what might have been but mustn’t get too downhearted as it still has the UEFA Cup to play in and the small matter of the league.

There is one hell of a battle developing for that all-important fourth spot. And with difficult games coming up against Tottenham and Blackburn, Everton must put this disappointment behind itself quickly.