Fantastic first win for Roberto

, ToffeeWeb Match Reports , 14 September, 0comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton 1 - 0 Chelsea
Roberto Martinez surprised a few observes with a rather conservative line-up, only Gareth Barry of his new acquisitions starting in a side that included the likes of Naismith, Osman and Jelavic — all rather ineffective thus far this season. Gibson and Alcaraz aren't yet fit, Lukaku is ineligible,and Kone and Pienaar are both missing from the squad. But at least Ross Barkley made his fourth start of the season, allowed to play with much more attacking intend under Martinez — According to Alan Stubbs!

Everton started in confident style, continuing the comfortable possession play and slow build-up from the back but nothing came of it and Chelsea were the first to mount far quicker and more dangerous attacks, wining the first corner, then Eto'o heading over.

But it was Naismith who broke well down the right and picked out Jelavic but the lack of pace on the ball meant an easy save for Peter Cech. More good work by Naismith won a corner but the ball was played all the way back to Howard!

Osman squandered simple position but Barry was there to mop up, the City loanee settling in instantly and showing some much needed composure in the middle. Everton were doing more than holding their own, playing well in the centre of the park, but as ever, creating that final threat on goal was not really happening, with Jelavic lacking the strength and guile to evade his marker.

Howard produce an unbelievable error, PATB, gifting the ball to Hazard, and Barry saved Everton blushes with a brilliant block to incredibly prevent Eto'o scoring an easy open goal.

Mirallas switched over to the right combined woth Coleman and Naismith, making a great play and picking out Naismith whose shot should have been better, under pressure from Luiz.

An absolutely brilliant save by Howard off Ramierz saved another seemingly certain goal, Naismith then breaking quickly but halting and making the most dreadful of passes to ruin what should have been an incisive counter, putting the Everton goal under more pressure again.

More danger, as Schrurle scooped an easy goal shot well over the bar after Baines had stalled. A good free-kick opportunity was then wasted with an awful pass from Osman, and again, more pressure with a free-kick for Chelsea, Barry fouling again. Ivanovic glanced the delivery over the Everton bar, a Chelsea goal only a matter of time...

Everton had played quite well in the first half, but with precious little in the way of threat on the Chelsea goal; possession only pays if you actually hold onto the ball and Osman was perhaps the worst culprit, putting Everton under increasingly heavy pressure approaching the break, Howard's goal leading a charmed life under some serious Chelsea chances.

But, in the added minute before the half-time whistle, the patient passing approach finally paid off after a good interception by Naismith. A neat move with some concise passing was fittingly finished off by Naismith after a superb cross from Osman to Jelavic, heading back over Cech from the far post, set up a lovely easy header from 2 yards for the other half of the ex-rangers pairing to put the Blues into the lead at the break.

No changes at for the second half, with Moruinho delaying his players' return to the pitch for a couple of minutes. Baines this time gave the ball away and Schulre seemed to have clipped his shot easily over Hoard but thankfully into the side-netting.

Some shocking sloppy stuff at the back saw Distin roill the ball needlessly out of play, Mourinho's mind-games having seemingly done the trick with Everton looking simply terrible, Eto'o getting in a shot that Howard blocked well, and thankfully no-one following up. Everton were pinned back for 5 mins before they briefly got the ball forward, such was Chelsea's pressure and dominance.

Naismith got into a great position to set something up but his scooped choip for Jelavic was all wrong, Then Jelavic had a chance in plenty of space off a great ball from Barry but the Croatian's header was very poor. Everton were having to work very hard in defence and Mourinho made a couple of early chances, one being Everton's nemesis Lampard.

Barkley had been quiet but he did get free down the left, however his forward ball was given just too much weight. He had a chance to carry the ball forward through the midfield but again his decision-making was wrong, losing possession instead of making the pass. And yet again, trying to be too clever, and ending up fouling Mikel, James McCarthy then came on for Jelavic, with Mirallas moving up front.

A final change for Chelsea, with Torres on, throwing the kitchen sink to try and get back into this game with 20-odd minutes left, an excellent contest in prospect.

Hazard blocked Mirallas, and a great free-kick opportunity had the crowd well up for something from Baines but it was a low strike by Mirallas, saved at the post by Cech, and a handful of Everton corners followed, but no chance developed.

Osman agian gave up possession cheaply in tthe danger area but McCarthy and Naismith rescued him. However, Chelsea were piling it on thick. Barkley seemed to have space for a shot but he could not dig one out and the ball was right back in Howard's area, as the pace and intensity of the game accelerated even more.

A tremendous cross by Eto'o and Howard having to pull out all the stops. Barkley and Mirallas forced the pace down the left, the Belgian putting in a fearsome shot that Cech blocked away.

What looked at first like a clear penalty but Coleman was adjudged to have been fouled by Hazard fractionally outside the Chelsea area but Baines powered the cross way tooo far to the back post, with 10 mins left.

Luiz, dragged Mirallas back, but it was in the middle of the field and Howard only gave a yellow, with Goodison howling for the red card this disgustingly cynical foul by Chelsea. Naismith then fouled but it was no threat and Barkley looked to break but yet again he played it wrong, showing too much to the Chelsea defender.

Barkley again got a chance to run forward, so tired, but he drew the foul in a wonderful position. Naismith was then withdrawn for Stones as Baines lined up the free-kick and clipped it off the top of the Chelsea angle! Chelsea were quickly back the other end but into added time and still Everton resisted with tremendous passion and commitment. Mirallas won an excellent handball off Luiz, and Mirallas was then swapped out for a cameo from Deulofeu (why so late?!?!)

Everton kept playing up as they could, running down the seconds of added time, Osman getting a great chance but his shot was awful, spooned over. The last Chelsea attack petered out and Goodison Park erupted with joy and relief in equal measure — an excellent first win for Roberto Martinez.

Everton: Howard; Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Coleman; Naismith,Barry, Barkley, Osman, Mirallas; Jelavic.
Subs: Robles, Heitinga, Oviedo, Deulofeu, McCarthy, Gueye, Stones.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic Y:65', Cole, Luiz Y:78', Ramires, Mata (57' Oscar), Mikel Y:86', Schurrle (57' Lampard), Hazard Y:80', Terry, Eto'o.

Kick off: 5:30pm
Referee: Howard Webb

Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Reports





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