Chelsea-Everton: Toffees Extend Ancelotti's Winless Run

Chelsea’s winless run in all competitions extended to four games at Stamford Bridge on Saturday after Everton scrambled a point in an entertaining 3-3 draw. Blip more than a crisis, but a further two points dropped on the back of recent results calls into question the Blues prematurely anointed status as champions-elect.

Paying little heed to such recent reverses, the home team began the game assured in possession and threatening in attack, as they have been for much of the season.

After such a positive start, Chelsea fans were distressed to see their team concede first, with a Louis Saha header wrong footing Petr Cech and the ball bouncing off the post and into the goal off the unfortunate keeper’s head to give Everton a 12th minute lead.

The response was swift and decisive, as one has come to expect this season. Frank Lampard set up Didier Drogba on the edge of the box and the Ivorian showed exceptional skill to curl a precise shot beyond Tim Howard with time and space at a premium.

Not content with restoring parity, Chelsea pressed aggressively and took the lead minutes later. Everton failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Nicholas Anelka at the back post, who guided the ball expertly above Howard and into the roof of the net.

Everton were undeterred and ventured forward in search of an equaliser. Yakubu, on the field for the injured Jo, was the beneficiary as Branislav Ivanovic and Ricardo Carvalho failed to clear on the edge of the six-yard box and the substitute was able slot the ball into the net and make the score 2-2 deep into first half injury time.

Chelsea began the second half in similar fashion to the first, pressing Everton deep into their own half, exchanging tight passing and employing Ashley Cole and Ivanovic to good effect down the flanks, the latter crossing for Didier Drogba to volley home his second and Chelsea’s third in the 59th minute.

Five minutes later and Chelsea conceded again from a set piece. Continuing the theme of amusing deflections, Didier Drogba smacked his clearance into the back of Louis Saha’s head, causing the ball to loop over Cech and into the Chelsea net.

Everton’s forward line tired and their resistance dimmed in vigour, if not in tenacity. Chelsea occupied the opposition half for much of the last quarter and shots wide of goal came from Anelka, Mikel and Malouda amongst others, but the league leaders ultimately failed to create the decisive opportunity that could have secured three points.

David Moyes will be more than satisfied with an away point at Stamford Bridge and the good fortune involved in two of his team’s three goals cannot belie the endeavour and ambition few other teams have demonstrated at the Bridge this season.

For all the talk of dropped points and winless runs, Carlo Ancelotti’s team displayed assurance in possession and threat in attack against a team who’s league position is hardly an accurate reflection of their true quality and they could easily have snatched the win on another day.

As for recent defensive lapses, the rub of the green will have at least as much say as decisive defending in future games and Chelsea fans will be hoping that they have received their share of freak deflections for the season in the past two weeks.

World Cup Scouting (Players on display from Australia’s Group D)

Lucas Neil (Australia): Pim Verbeek’s captain found himself starting tonight in the absence of a number of regulars and alongside the diminutive Heitinga struggled early on to deal with the physical challenge posed by Drogba and the intelligent movement of Anelka. Improved as the game went on and began to restrict Drogba aerially in the closing stages.

Michael Ballack (Germany): Germany’s talismanic midfield has never shone as brightly in the colours of Chelsea as he does the national team. A work man like performance on the right of Chelsea’s diamond.

Branislav Ivanovo (Serbia): Proving a more than adequate replacement for the absent Bosingwa, Ivanovic was assured in defence and threatening in attack, matching the endeavour shown by Ashley Cole on the left flank and providing an assist for Drogba’s second.