Everton 1-1 Chelsea

Line-ups

Everton made 3 changes from the team that drew with West Ham with Billy coming in for Osman on the left side and Jack Rodwell  playing off Saha in a 4-4-1-1 system with Anichebe and Beckford benched. Chelsea played their usual 4-3-3 system with one change from their rout at the Reebok seeing our nemesis Frank Lampard replacing Mikel with Essien playing as anchor. Everton’s strategy was to press Chelsea high up the pitch, regain possession and get the ball into the box as often as possible. Everton played with Fellaini, Arteta and Rodwell in the centre of midfield to go like for like with Chelsea’s midfield 3 of Essien, Lampard & Ramires. Rodwell had a really good game and played the more advanced of the 3 when Chelsea were in possession although Fellaini was also pushed forward to lurk on the edge of the Chelsea box when we were in possession to meet diagonal aerial balls pitched in for him.

First half stalemate.

The first half was something of a stalemate with only one real clear cut chance for each side.  Everton’s steady run of form (just 1 defeat in 10 games) has coincided wih Marouanne Fellaini hitting top form and the big Belgian was again instrumental today. His energy was superb and it was his persistent pressing up field that led to our best chance of the first half when his harrying of Frank Lampard (screenshot A) and then John Terry (screenshot B) forced Chelsea back 40 yards before he finally wins possession allowing Saha to tee up Jack Rodwell who shot straight at Cech.

Screenshot A

Screenshot B

Chelsea were always a threat on the break and almost opened the scoring soon after when Heitinga was caught square by Malouda’s through ball enabling Anelka a clear run at the Blues goal but luckily Howard was equal to his shot and the game was goalless as the half time whistle went.

Blues take control

Whilst the first half was fairly even the Blues started the second sharper than their opponents and deservedly took the lead when a trademark Baines corner was met by Saha whose clever movement inside the 18 yard box enabled him to lose Terry and tuck into Cech’s net. Saha deserved the goal for a textbook display, his work rate has been rightly questioned this season but today his effort particularly outside the box was a real boost to the Blues. It was also the 8^th assist of Baines productive season. The Blues could have had a second when good work again from Saha led to Baines putting in a great cross which was first met by the excellent Coleman’s head and then after Cech had spilled it Coleman went in to smash it home with his right foot only for a truly superb tackle from Essien to deny him. As well as playing well when with the ball we also showed great focus when Chelsea had the ball, keeping our shape well with few gaps between our defence and midfield (circled in red) making it hard for Chelsea to play through us.

Mikel Arteta was another who was playing with more confidence today, with good ball retention and also taking on two long range efforts which went close. His free kick delivery was also improved, whipping in one quality free kick for Fellaini whose header was repelled by Cech. The midfielder was guilty of ball watching on the equalising goal though. As Anelka broke down the left the Spaniard got sucked into the centre allowing Kalou to make a curved run behind him before dragging a shot past Howard who was slightly unsighted by Distin in front of him.

There was still time for both teams to almost win it late on, firstly when Ramires struck a post with a long range drive and then when substitute Jermaine Beckford fizzed a half volley which was well saved by Cech, who had a great game in goal for the West Londoners.

Conclusion

There were plenty of positives to take from this cup tie with our midfielders in particular on top form which enabled us to win the key battle in the centre of the park. It was a display of great courage and endeavour mixed with good quality from the Blues and we were unlucky not to progress. A replay at a ground we haven’t won at since 1995, the year we last won the trophy will be a tough ask but with the form we have shown against the top sides and with Cahill back there is no reason why we can’t go there an give them a game. The only worry for me was the way we let Chelsea back into the game, the 9^th time we have lost a lead this campaign.

Chelsea 1-1 Everton

Line-ups

Everton unexpectedly made 5 changes from last weeks inept surrender to West Brom, with Rodwell and Fellaini coming into midfield, Saha replacing Yakubu and Coleman coming in on the right in a man marking brief to eliminate Ashley Cole down Chelsea’s left.  Chelsea retained their 4-3-3 system with a rigid back four playing deep to accommodate the returning Terry . Everton lined up with a flexible 4-5-1, more 4-2-3-1 without the ball with Fellaini and Rodwell protecting the defence. Fellaini played on the left side of the centre, the spot recently occupied by Arteta, and his defensive solidity gave Everton a much better balance in midfield. Pienaar, Cahill and Coleman occupied the more advanced positions. Diagram A below shows the average positions both teams occupied with Everton in blue and Chelsea in red.

Diagram A – Average Positions Everton (blue) Chelsea (red)

Early Deadlock

The first 30 minutes of the game was complete deadlock. Moyes deployment of Coleman as a man marker for Cole shutdown the Chelsea left (diagram 2). Chelsea where showing more going forward but Everton where pressing well and squeezing the space centrally. Indeed, a focus of the game would be on two English left backs with Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines pivotal to proceedings. Chelsea’s lack of width in midfield gave Baines the freedom of the left flank to smash 5 potent crosses from dangerous areas. In contrast, Cole was extremely well marshalled by Coleman, who forced him into making zero successful crosses (Chalkboard A).  Stephen Warnock is of course somehow ahead of Baines in the England pecking order, but if anyone can give a plausible reason as to why this is the case I would be interested to know.

Chalkboard A – Baines v Cole                          Chalkboard B -Everton before/after Beckford

Everton’s robust showing  was undermined on the 42^nd minute when Neville inexplicably passed back to Howard when potential offensive passes where on, gifting Anelka the opportunity to steam into Howard and win Chelsea a penalty. Probert’s decision to give Howard a yellow was the correct decision but to be fair it wouldn’t have been surprising if the knee jerk ref had dismissed Howard. The out of form Drogba duly lashed home from the penalty spot.

Diagram 1. Everton show Chelsea out to the flank and overload centrally

Diagram 2 Coleman tracking Ashley Cole in his man marking brief

Diagram 3. 2 solid banks of centre backs and centre mids always close together to squeeze space

Everton Second Half Dominance

The second half began with the Blues in determined mood. Clearly motoring, the Blues where sharper to every ball and pressing high up the pitch in contrast to the first 45 minutes. Pienaar was taking up a more central role with Baines almost playing as a left winger with Rodwell and Fellaini covering behind.  Despite this sharper bite, Everton were still struggling to provide traction to their attacking play, but this was to change on the hour mark with Beckford’s introduction . The change was to prove decisive, with the former Leeds man proving a thorn in ‘JT’s’ side, moving between his markers with greater regularity and getting in behind the Chelsea defence in a manner Saha failed to do. Chalkboard B shows this shift in play, with Everton forcing 7 shots in the first hour and then 11 in the last 30 minutes following Beckford’s introduction.

Beckford ‘s misses made headlines last week but you can’t doubt the strikers eagerness and ability to get into goal scoring chances. Indeed, in the last 3 outings the striker has carved out 9 goal scoring chances in 72 minutes, compared with Saha’s 2 in 150 minutes.   Beckford is still an unknown quantity at this level, but his potential and recent form mean that he must start the next game against Wigan.

Everton had already hit the post when Baines got free and whipped in a delicious cross that the impressive Rodwell unluckily flicked onto Cech’s post after great work from the dominant Fellaini. Cahill as ever was Everton’s leader today, at the fulcrum of all that was good for the Blues and he angered Chelsea’s gross skipper Terry when going in for a 50-50 with Cech. The Aussie connected with Cech but was well within his rights to go for the ball. The former England skipper and part time love rat had been throwing his weight around all afternoon, notably saving Malouda and Ivanovic from cards. His pressure to get Cahill into trouble with the referee summed up the double standards with English players when it comes to influencing referees.

Baines dominance down the left was so immense that Chelsea withdrew Bosingwa, clearly not as good defending as he is going forward, with the more defence minded Ferreira.  The only disappointing factor was that Everton didn’t go on to take the 3 points as Chelsea where there for the taking with 7 minutes added on for stoppages. But in truth this was much improved display from the Blues.

Conclusion

A great response by Everton following last week’s embarrassment to West Brom. Defensively Everton were water tight, restricting their opponents to few goal scoring chances until Neville’s moment of madness. Everton’s drive going forward, led by the determination of the midfield axis of Rodwell and Fellaini ( a refreshing change from the pedestrian offering served up lately by Arteta and Heitinga) enabled the Blues to press high in Chelsea’s half. This enabled Baines to get on the ball in dangerous area and this was where The Blues made their point. A great showing.