Chelsea show steel to soar into second place

Everton 1 Chelsea 3

David Moyes tried to avoid tempting fate by declining to be presented with his Manager of the Month award before the game, but he was still struck down by the curse that often comes with it as Chelsea went second in the Premiership.

November's undisputed man of the moment has now seen his side lose three times in the first week of December, although this was a game they deserved something from. As comprehensively outplayed in the first half-hour as they had been in Wednesday's 4-1 Worthington Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge, they chased an equaliser for most of the second half, only to end the game in disarray with the sending-off of David Unsworth and a third Chelsea goal that mocked their efforts.

Moyes finished the afternoon remonstrating with the referee, Eddie Wolstenholme, as the participants went down the tunnel. "David Unsworth was pulled down, wrestled his way back up and the referee has made a decision that he struck Jesper Gronkjaer," said Moyes. "I've had a chance to see it and it doesn't show that."

Indications were that Gronkjaer was also prepared to speak in Unsworth's defence. However, it would be tarnishing Chelsea's achievement in reaching such a lofty position to suggest the incident had any influence on the result.

Everton created the first chance of the game with Thomas Gravesen's diving header after 30 seconds, but Chelsea, taking up where they had left off on Wednesday, dominated the rest of the half.

In the fifth minute, Everton, already shaky, were caught out by Graeme Le Saux's corner. Emmanuel Petit distracted their attention at the near post and Mario Stanic, lurking deeper in the area, had time to measure a looping header beyond the goalkeeper Richard Wright.

With Stanic and Frank Lampard finding far too much space in midfield, Chelsea threatened a second long before they struck again in the 28th minute. Lampard's snap-shot was a good one, but Wright should have held on to it; instead, he palmed it to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who gratefully accepted the gift.

Everton, losing composure, almost got back into the game when Kevin Campbell's educated touch gave Tomasz Radzinski the chance to fire in a low shot, and were more successful three minutes before half-time when Campbell again nudged the ball into the danger area, Le Saux slipped and Gary Naysmith was able to slide his shot past Carlo Cudicini.

The second half, when it got into its stride, belonged to Everton; even when they are below their recent best, there is plenty of tenacity about them. Unfortunately, however, their leading goal-scorer could not find his finishing touch. Campbell, inside the space of a couple of minutes, saw a close-range shot cleared off the line by Le Saux, a header deflected over the bar and another finger-tipped round the post.

Even the introduction of the substitute Wayne Rooney did not do the trick. Cudicini saved at his feet, but was left helpless by a diving header from Lee Carsley that flashed wide of the post.

The danger lay in the counter-attack, and Chelsea appeared to have caught them out when Gianfranco Zola raced away only to fire too high. After Unsworth had gone, Zola broke again and this time squared the ball for Gronkjaer to score with ease.

It was a goal that flattered Chelsea, but it was extra reward for the determination with which they had defended their lead – not one of their dominant characteristics a couple of seasons ago.

With other results going in their favour, it was an excellent afternoon all round for Claudio Ranieri. "In the past we would have lost every time in a battle like that," he said. "But there is a new and great spirit about us." Ranieri says it is far too soon to start thinking about winning titles, but if Chelsea have a winter as good as Everton's autumn then anything is possible.

Everton 1 Chelsea 3
Naysmith 43

Chelsea 3
Stanic 5, Hasselbaink 28, Gronkjaer 90

Half-time: 1-2 Attendance: 39,396