Match report as it happened by The GuardianWhat is a bigger motivator in sport – a friend or an enemy?
Putting in that extra yard for a pal, or channeling a hate (or at least disdain) for your opposite number? Revenge can be satisfied but real friendship is forever, right?
One of José Mourinho’s most endearing qualities, apparently, is that he makes his players feel like his friends - texting sweet nothing to his players (in out-of-work-hours!) to make them feel warm and fuzzy inside. Come game-day ... boom! Are they fired up or what!
But what happens when your friend plays for the opposition? Enter Kevin Miralles, who’s been gobbing off about his close friendship with compatriot Eden Hazard, even going so far to say he is an ‘older-brother figure.’ Sickening isn’t it? The answer is of course, enemies (or at least rivalries) are much more entertaining. Ali v Frasier, Coe v Ovett, Vieira v Keane and Maximus Decimus Meridius v Commodus all were driven on by their passion to beat t’other. Football is a tribal game, and it’s no fun when the battle lines are blurred.
So let us go – friends, enemies, fellow MBMers – into the breach. Glory (or an 0-0) awaits. And if you feel like sharing anecdotes of your favourite sporting rivalries (or friendships) via email or Twitter, I will be all ears.
Kick-off: 12.45pm
Updated at 12.16pm GMT
12.25pm GMT Today's teams
Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Terry (c), Cahill, Ivanovic, Matic, Lampard, Oscar, Willian, Hazard, Eto’o. Subs: Schwarzer, Cole, Ramires, Torres, Schurrle, Salah, Ba.
Everton: Howard, Baines, Distin, Jagielka (c), Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, Pienaar, Osman, Mirallas, Traore. Subs: Robles, Hibbert, McGeady, Deulofeu, Naismith, Barkley, Stones
Referee: Lee Probert
Updated at 12.26pm GMT
12.29pm GMT
Frank Lampard starts for Chelsea – this appearance (his 572nd) will put him joint second on the all-time Premier League appearance list, only behind Ryan Giggs (630 apps) – while Lacina Traore makes his first PL start, playing up top in place of the ineligible Lukaku.
David James, a BT pundit today, is the man Lampard will draw level with. Incidentally another pundit, Neil Warnock – I don’t know why he’s there either – just called Juan Mata, John Mata.
12.35pm GMT
Gareth Barry is fifth on that appearance list by the way, with 518. He’ll anchor Everton’s midfield today, and I’ve been hugely impressed with him all season. Is it too outrageous to suggest he should go to Brazil, as a back-up?
12.38pm GMT Today's first email
Not entirely related to this match, but entirely related to laughing at William Gallas,, here’s the ex-Chelsea man showing the Premier League what it’s missing (courtesy of my colleague Ian McCourt)
12.42pm GMT
Word on the airwaves is that Lacina Traore has hurt himself in the warm-up. Steven Naismith will replace him. Not exactly ideal for Everton, although Naismith has scored against Chelsea in his last two appearances.
12.43pm GMT WE WANT GOALS
4 - There have been four goals in the opening 15 minutes of the last four meetings between Chelsea and Everton. Early.
12.43pm GMT
The teams are out, it is absolutely gloriously sunny at the Bridge. This feels like the first day of spring. I’m EXCITED.
12.46pm GMT
Both teams are lining up 4-2-3-1. Martinez’s pragmatism has seen Osman come in for Barkley. There is a minute’s silence for Sir Tom Finney, which cautiously breaks out into 56 seconds of applause for the the Preston legend.
12.47pm GMT Peeeeeeeep!
And we’re off
12.48pm GMT
1 min: Hazard is straight into his stride, attacking Coleman, who concedes a corner. This is going to be a fascinating battle today. Howard collects Lampard’s inswinger.
12.51pm GMT
3 min: Azpilicueta, again preferred to Cole, breaks down the left to feed Eto’o. The Cameroonian turns Jagielka inside out but can’t get his shot away. It’s all happening down Chelsea’s left.
12.56pm GMT
5 min: Hazard is looking reemo. His slide rule pass just intercepted by Jagielka. Everton fans are in top voice, though. One of their best chants I’ve heard is (adopted from Wigan last season) for their goalkeeper Joel Roble, on the bench today.
“Joel! He is the best guy in gooooooal.
He’s got the power to show. He’s indescructable! Always believe in.....Believe in Joel!”
12.57pm GMT
7 min: Baines gets to Chelsea’s byline and flashes a cross across the six-yard line. A desperate toe from Cahill is all that stop it reaching Naismith. That was a certain goal otherwise. A year ago, this match might have been the battle of England left backs, but with Cole benched, Baines is surely Mr Roy’s No1.
12.59pm GMT Today's first Moyes dig
‘As an Everton fan I have become relatively familiar with a strong, solid and pragmatic defence. Early on here, Jagielka was caught on the ball marauding forwards and my nerves are instantly on edge. When Man Utd sack Moyes, can we have him back as a defensive coach please?’, asks Duncan Smith.
It’s Chelsea who’s defence is the best in the league this year.
1.02pm GMT Close!
10 min: Great save from Cech! A lovely lay-offfrom Naismith entices Osman from midfield, who hits it first time with his laces. Cech gets a tip on it over the bar. Lovely stuff, reminiscent of a save Lloris made a few weeks back from Osman when Everton travelled to Spurs. Corner.
1.03pm GMT
12 min: Chelsea break so quickly don’t they? Straight from the cleared corner, Oscar is left one-on-one with Jagielka but the Englishman does well to hold proceedings up. everton have come more into this in the last few minutes, but counter-attacking look Chelsea’s strong suit.
1.05pm GMT
15 min: Another chance for Everton, another lay-off from Naismith, who’s looking tidy. A bouncing ball inside Chelsea’s box falls to Miralles, but he scuffs it into the ground. Cahill get’s a half block on it. A cleaner hit there on target and it’s in. The Belgian will be disappointed.
1.07pm GMT
18 min: Pienaar and Osman are being given the freedom of the centre-circle, no pressure whatsoever. Naismith is dropping deeper and not being picked up. Perhaps Mourinho, who is very animated on the touchline, didn’t account for the Scot’s movement. Traore would have played a lot higher, had he not been injured in the warm up.
1.09pm GMT
21 min: Free-kick to Everton, but headed clear. I don’t think Chelsea have been in Everton’s half in about eight or nine minutes. It’s deathly quiet at the Bridge, save the Toffee fans.
1.13pm GMT
23 min: Matic and Lampard are finally seeing some of the ball. Was hugely impressed with him against City but can’t say I’ve seen much more. Is he worth the hype? Hazard has swapped wings to the right but having no more joy against Baines. Barry is cleaning up all the scraps. #BazzaforBrazil
Updated at 2.17pm GMT
1.16pm GMT
25 min: Ivanovic and Hazard combine well down the right, the latter squaring a low cross to Eto’o in the middle. But oh no! A complete miskick, which actually goes backwards. Better from Chelsea.
1.18pm GMT
27 min: Two potshots from the Chelsea full-backs. First Ivanovic tries his luck – he’s scored two in his last three league games – but a better effort from Azpilicueta. On target but straight into the midriff of Howard.
1.21pm GMT
30 min: Everton corner and Distin is up from the back. I’ve stood next to him and he is, more than any other player I’ve seen in the flesh, a man mountain. Great chin as well. Everton play it short, with Miralles getting a better angle to deliver. Jagielka gets to it first but can only manage a glancing effort wide.
1.24pm GMT
‘Hi Michael,’ emails Peter McDonnell. ‘any chance someone can have a word with our good friend Opta Joe about his constant use of one-word sentences at the end of his stat-laden tweets? Nauseating.’
I don’t know Joe I’m afraid, and because he sends me nice emails with lots of pre-match stats like ...
‘Everton have scored 10 goals through defenders this season in the Premier League, more than any other side. Their opponents Chelsea have seen six goals from defenders (third most)’
... I’m going to stick up for him.
Updated at 1.25pm GMT
1.27pm GMT
34 min: Snapshot from Eto’o, saved by Howard. That somehow bumbled it’s way to the Chelsea’s forward. Their attacks don’t look designed, rather they are playing percentages, crossing the ball and hoping for the best. Quite unlike normal proceedings.
1.28pm GMT
38 min: Terry using Cahill as a launch pad for the corner but can only headbutt it wide. Terry is back in the side after three games away.
1.29pm GMT
40 min: Lampard is limping, a heavy touch inviting a challenge from Baines. Everton are really up for this, that’s a couple of challenges that have left their mark – McCarthy left one in on Terry earlier.
1.32pm GMT
42 min: Another brilliant Everton break, McCarthy showing Lampard a clean set of heels before releasing Naismith on the left, but Cahill shepherd’s him back into traffic. There hasn’t been any clear-cut chances this half, but Everton have worked some promising positions. Miralles has definitely out-friended Hazard
1.34pm GMT
44 min: And just as I write that, Miralles scuffs another. More good work from Naismith down the left, with a square ball that bounces to the Belgian, but another scuffed shot! Again blocked by Cahill or Terry, I can’t tell which one.
1.34pm GMT Peeeeep!
Half time: Chelsea 0-0 Everton
1.37pm GMT
A thoroughly impressive half from Everton who, have shaded the half. Miralles will be kicking himself wishing he could ‘shoot’ the ball properly, but his link up with Naismith has yielded the best opportunites of the half. After a bright first ten, Chelsea and Hazard have been quiet, and limited to long-range shots and an Eto’o bumble.
1.40pm GMT Half-time entertainment
To celebrate Duncan Ferguson this week being appointed as Everton’s first-team coach, here he is throwing a Guv’nor to the floor.
1.44pm GMT
‘Swap the Tim Cahill of ten years ago for Kevin Mirallas or Leon Osman, and we’d
have ten more points by the end of the season’ emails Gary Naylor.
Hmmm, not sure about that, mainly because Cahill was playing for Millwall ten years ago. Ten points is a bit steep even if I am wrong. I would say Mirallas is a more potent threat, especially in this Martinez team, even if he’s left his shooting boots back in Liverpool.
Updated at 1.48pm GMT
1.48pm GMT
Worth noting that three of England’s back four (Baines, Jagielka, Cahill) are on show today here, the most impressive has been Jagielka, and not only just because he managed a Higuita-esque scorpian clearance.
1.49pm GMT
Some wise words from Big Nev.
So far so good need a goal now Chelsea won't play as bad next half
— Neville Southall (@nevillesouthall) February 22, 2014
1.50pm GMT
The teams are back out again, Ramires is on for Oscar. He could have come on for any of Chelsea’s midfield to be honest, perhaps save Hazard. I wouldn’t expect Lampard to last past the hour mark.
1.50pm GMT Peeeeep!
And we’re off again
1.53pm GMT
46 min: Ramires’s first task is to kick Pienaar repeatedly on the ground, who had fallen over trying to protect the ball. Drop-ball. Even though it’s not a proper drop-ball, Ivanovic just kicks it back to Everton.
Updated at 1.54pm GMT
1.55pm GMT
47 min: You are of course asking for injury, but I’d love to see a good ol’ drop ball back in the Premier League.
1.57pm GMT
49 min: Lampard ghosts into a pocket of space inside Everton‘s box, but the angle makes it a straightforward save for Howard, followed by a magnificent block from Distin on the rebound. From the resulting clearance, Eto’o tries to claim handball against Jagielka, nothing doing. Corner.
Updated at 1.58pm GMT
1.59pm GMT
51 min: Good start from Chelsea, but Cahill, still up from the corner goes down to earn a free-kick in a good position. Probably a dive if we’re being strict, he saw Barry coming and started going down before the challenge game. Lee Probert bought it. Willian is poised over this set-piece.
2.00pm GMT
52 min: Blazed over. Rubbish.
Updated at 2.00pm GMT
2.03pm GMT
55 min: Eto’o has looked tidy today but what has most impressed me today has been his work-rate. Chases down a lost cause on the left and so nearly wins the ball off Coleman, who just gets a toe to slide-tackle it to Distin. Naismith’s work-rate for Everton has been good too, but so far well-shepherded by Cahill this half
2.05pm GMT
57 min: Great save by Cech! Another Everton cut back from a wide area, Osman hits it first-time toward Cech’s near post, but it clips Mirallas’s heel on the way through, not re-directing it entirely but making life difficult. Cech turns it round the post
2.09pm GMT
58 min: Oooooo top spice! Now Howard is in on the act with a great double save! Hazard teases Barry on the edge, working some space to strike through a crowd of players, Howard getting down well, only for it to break to Ivanovic from three yards out, albeit from a tight angle. But Howard stands tall and taking a thunderous volley flush in the chest. Trading blows, these two sides.
2.10pm GMT
60 min: Trading subs too it seems. Fernando Torres is on for Willian, while Ross Barkley trots on for Osman. Chelsea with two up top here. Mourinho smells blood.
2.12pm GMT
63 min: Everton emerge from their half with a four on three, but Ivanovic refuses to dive in, and Pienaar wastes the final ball. Barkley should have gone on the overlap there.
2.13pm GMT
65 min: Eto’o seems to be playing wide now, although it might just be temporary. Baines picks his pocket, he hasn’t lost a challenge all game.
2.15pm GMT
67 min: Seems Eto’o was playing wide, as he goes off for André Schürrle, who goes to the left. Hazard, who hasn’t had a sniff this half, to the right.
2.17pm GMT
Matt Dony (aka captain_corduroy) has piped up.
‘Yes, Barry for Brazil. Because, as a Liverpool fan, I crave opportunities to directly compare Barry with Xabi Alonso. And, eventually, I’m going to see what Rafa saw.’
#BazzaforBrazil
Updated at 2.17pm GMT
2.18pm GMT
71 min: Torres is getting well riled up! Not only has he lost his form for the past few years, he’s just lost a throw in, and conceded a free kick, studs up on McCarthy there, even though no contact. Steam. Ears. Etc. A quiet word from Lee Probert.
Updated at 2.19pm GMT
2.24pm GMT
73 min: Blatant foul on Schurrle but missed by Probert. Mirallas is off, Deulofeu on. Everton are a fountain of youth at the moment. Fear not, Martin McCarthy, it still might happen for you!
‘I put Deulofeu into my fantasy teams as the cheap wildcard who’d be the revelation of the season. I feel somewhat justified in having done that as he’s looked like a great prospect when he’s been on the pitch. What’s the word on him staying at Goodison next season, and when will Martinez put him back in the first team to help my woefully under-performing FF XI???’
That hamstring injury in December really halted the young Spaniard when he was hitting form.
Updated at 2.24pm GMT
2.25pm GMT
76 min: Fuming Torres has a potshot but such is his luck, it hits Quiet Hazard and goes out for a goal-kick. There has been a real dearth of chances in this game.
2.27pm GMT
79 min: Everton are really going for it, but I fear it might be there undoing. Pienaar off, McGeady on. Chelsea to nick it in the last ten?
2.28pm GMT
81 min: Deulofeu picks up a loose ball but slips, can’t beat the first man on the edge of Chelsea’s box. Shame, he’s a real box of tricks. Some of the goals he scored for Barcelona B last season were outrageous.
2.29pm GMT Evidence
2.32pm GMT
84 min: Ivanovic clips a ball in but Schurrle can only volley over. Commentator asks ‘Has the diving header disappeared from football?’ Has it? Didn’t Nathan Dyer score one against Cardiff for Swansea? Shuddddddupppp.
2.33pm GMT
85 min: Are Ivanovic and Coleman the best two right backs in the league? I would say yes. Barkley meanwhile gets one-on-one with Terry but the defender uses all his experience, simply snatching the ball from him in the area. Great tackle.
2.35pm GMT
87 min: Everton looking a little desperate in defence, hacking clear the second ball after a few waves of Chelsea crosses/attacks. On the plus side, they do have numbers in attack on the counter, but Barkley wastes possession.
Updated at 2.35pm GMT
2.37pm GMT Close!
89 min: Ramires hits a piledriver from range, think a daisycutting Essien v Arsenal 2007 strike that finds the wrong side of the post. So close. If there is going to be a goal, it feels like it will be either from range or a set-piece.
2.38pm GMT Goal! Chelsea 1-0 Everton (Terry 90+1)
From a set-piece!
John Terry
2.40pm GMT
Lampard whips in a cross, scooting over the head of everyone and just as it looks like it is going to nestle in Howard’s arms, Terry slides and somehow finds the faintest of toes to bamboozle the American keeper, rolling into the net. Harsh on Everton but they have been far too deep in the last five minutes
2.42pm GMT
94 min: Two minutes left, this time a set-piece for Everton. Cleared but from the clearance, another lump nearly finds Distin, Terry this time glancing it away. Shocking corner from Deulofeu, doesn’t even clear the first man. Cech eventually gathers.
2.43pm GMT Peeeeep! Full time: Chelsea 1-0 Everton
That is massive for Chelsea
Updated at 2.43pm GMT
2.50pm GMT Summary
This definitely feels like one of those results that decide a season. Chelsea are now four points clear at the top, despite never really getting out of second gear. Mourinho extends his home league record to 74 (74!) games with 58 wins, 16 draws, while Everton are now eight points adrift of fourth. Can they claw it back? I think not.
2.53pm GMT
Disappointing for Everton. They weren’t clinical enough in the first half, but I would say that their best players today – Mirallas and Osman – were wrongly substituted. Barkley and Deulofeu didn’t have an impact. That said, they are one of my favourite teams this year, echoed by Leon Flegg.
‘I’m a liverpool fan and i’d like to say, i’m extremely impressed by everton. If you compare them, LFC and spurs, they’re the team that is most playing above their potential. Spurs have massively under-achieved for their squad strength, LFC have done well but still have some untapped potential and everton play some great football and get results without any world-class or exceptional players and not much squad depth. martinez is extremely impressive; interesting debate is whether he could’ve done better at LFC than rodgers has.