Ferguson inspires barnstorming display to slay Chelsea

Everton produced a full-blooded, high-octane performance for caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson to claim three precious points against Chelsea at a raucous Goodison Park.

Richarlison reprieved the excellent headed goal he scored at Leicester to put the Toffees ahead with just five minutes gone and Dominic Calvert-Lewin plundered a brace either side of Mateo Kovacic's well-taken goal that looked like it had brought the visitors back into the match at 2-1.

With Gylfi Sigurdsson preferred to Tom Davies alongside Morgan Schneiderlin and Theo Walcott deployed out wide, Ferguson's team sheet had raised a few eyebrows but he was rewarded with a blistering start and an early goal.

Richarlison picked up Calvert-Lewin's lay-off and worked the ball wide to Djibril Sidibe and the Frenchman swung in a peach of a cross for the Brazilian to power home a header from six yards.

A pin-point Jordan Pickford kick forward found Walcott who played Calvert-Lewin in behind the Chelsea defence but his shot from the angle was well saved by Kepa before an error by Michael Keane at the other end almost let Willian in but he and Tammy Abraham were closed down.

Everton rode their luck somewhat as Willian and Mason Mount flashed balls across the face of the Blues' goal with Abraham lurking but the 1-0 lead held until half-time.

The second half was less than four minutes old when Kurt Zouma skied a clearance and Calvert-Lewin profited from a fortunate bounce as the pair fought for the ball on the edge of the box and the striker tucked his shot past the stranded goalkeeper.

Chelsea were back in the game just two minutes later, however. Lucas Digne's clearance out of his six-yard box following an attack down the Blues' right fell to Kovacic who despatched a first-time shot just inside Pickford's post from 25 yards.

The expected onslaught from Frank Lampard's side didn't really materialise, however, and it was Everton who might have scored next but when Walcott burst past the last defender, his shot was beaten away by Kepa.

Mount spurned a good opportunity when he lashed wide, Andreas Christensen also drove off target from distance and Cesar Azpilicueta's effort was tipped over but Everton put the result virtually beyond doubt in the 84th minute.

Kepa gave the ball away to Walcott and he picked out Calvert-Lewin who back-heeled in turn to substitute Davies. Despite sheer determination, Davies couldn't quite dig the ball out of his feet but it broke kindly for Calvert-Lewin to prod it through the keeper's legs on the stretch.

Christian Pulisic headed a late header straight at Pickford late on but nothing was going to ruin Ferguson's day as he drank in the celebrations after the final whistle.

The Scot had overseen a victory that lifts Everton out of the bottom three for now and eases some of the crushing pressure that had been building at Goodison Park following a dreadful run of results under outgoing boss, Marco Silva.

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