Sam Allardyce’s unbeaten run as Everton manager continued with a hard-fought scoreless draw against Chelsea.
The Blues had to be at their resilient best to earn a point that highlighted the defensive organisation instilled into the team by Allardyce since he took charge at Goodison Park last month.
Everton also owed a debt of thanks to Jordan Pickford, who made a series of saves, including three from Spain international Pedro.
There were few clear-cut chances for Allardyce’s men over the course of the 90 minutes, but this will surely be seen as a point gained against opponents which had beaten the Toffees twice earlier in the season, both in the Premier League and Carabao Cup.
It means Everton head into Christmas on a seven-match unbeaten run, having won four and drawn two since Allardyce’s appointment in late November.
Chelsea’s visit to Goodison was the first of four matches in the space of 10 days over the Christmas and New Year period. With clashes against West Bromwich Albion, Bournemouth and Manchester United to follow, Allardyce freshened up his defence by bringing in centre-back pairing Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka for Ashley Williams and Mason Holgate.
The Blues also had to contend with the loss of the in-form Wayne Rooney, who missed the game due to a heavy cold. Rooney had netted in the previous three Premier League matches against Liverpool, Newcastle United and Swansea City.
Chelsea began the day third in the table and they forced much of the early play in this lunchtime kick-off.
Pedro curled the first real opportunity narrowly wide of the post, and the Toffees had to be thankful to the watchful Jagielka when he used all his experience to read a threatening situation, anticipate danger and twice make goalline clearances from N’Golo Kante and Willian within the space of just a few seconds.
The statistics revealed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin had won the third-most aerial duels in the Premier League this season, and he battled hard in the opening stages, winning a number of headers and flick-ons despite being outnumbered by the visitors’ three-man defence.
However, the first quarter of the contest passed by without an Everton opportunity of note, other than a goal-bound effort from Gylfi Sigurdsson which was blocked bravely by a Chelsea body.
Willian then struck a free-kick over the bar and a swift counter-attack involving Tiémoué Bakayoko and Pedro culminated in Pickford producing a smart, reflex save to tip the Spaniard’s stinging drive over the bar.
Chelsea continued to occupy the bulk of possession as the half wore on, but there were openings for Everton. Tom Davies had half-a-sight of goal in the lead up to the break, although he dragged wide from a promising position 25 yards out.
Arguably the Toffees’ best chance in the first half arrived in stoppage time, when Calvert-Lewin persisted to win possession off Andreas Christensen on the touchline, barged his way to goal and had a shot blocked. Another option might have been to lay the ball off to Idrissa Gana Gueye and Sigurdsson who had galloped forward to join the attack.
Everton were still well in the contest at the break, but Allardyce felt changes in personnel were needed. Off came Davies and Aaron Lennon, with Sandro Ramirez and Williams taking their place in a reshuffled three-at-the-back formation.
The Everton manager then needed to make his third change of the afternoon just five minutes into the second half due to an injury to Gueye. Beni Baningime took the Senegal international’s place in midfield, meaning that Yannick Bolasie - back in the matchday squad for the first time in over a year - was forced to wait at least another game before making his return from a long-term cruciate knee ligament injury.
Pickford made his second and third important saves of the afternoon on 50 minutes, firstly denying Pedro and then kicking away Marcos Alonso’s follow-up.
Pedro, for the third time in the game, was later frustrated by the England goalkeeper again as he continued to pull off top-drawer stops, this time getting down low to his left to beat away another crisply-hit shot.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, the crossbar came to Everton’s rescue. Victor Moses smashed over a cross and Williams threw his head at it, indadvertedly directing it backwards, off the frame of the goal and out to safety.
The clean sheet was a fifth in seven games for the Blues, who now begin preparations for their Boxing Day trip to the Hawthorns.
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