As Jonathan Wilson’s report comes in, I’ll say my farewells. Thanks for hanging with me. Chelsea with much to ponder during the international break. Everton with momentum as they fight for survival. Til next time…
James Tarkowski earns the player of the match award. Right call, I think. He was a titan at the back, blocking about a million shots and heading away almost everything that came his way. He was responsible for the penalty but was otherwise perfect.
Here’s Ellis Simms:
It’s a great occasion to do it. A massive point against a top opposition.
I’m delighted. I can’t put it into words. It’s a dream come true to score my first Premier League goal.
It’s about patience. I just had to wait for my chance. I have to work hard in training and when I get the opportunity I have to take it with both hands.
Dyche on the penalty:
Once there is minor contact he’s already going down. I think it was a tight one, for me.
On the relegation battle:
It takes wins and takes performances. We’re staying focussed [on us]. You have to rely on yourself. Slowly but surely the mentality is improving every time.
How does this team compare with Burnley?
There is certainly talent here. We showed a different way of winning at Burnley. We’re trying to give them the freedom to play. The attitude to defending was great but they’re very good players. I think there is more to come from this group.
Sean Dyche speaks with Sky:
Of course, we all planned it like that. Keeps our heart rate low when we do that.
I’m really pleased with the growing mentality. There was a lot of criticism about their away form in previous seasons. It’s tough coming to a place like this. We showed a little too much respect [in the first half] and did well to come back twice
[On Simms] he’s a young lad earning his spurs. He’s realising the hard yards are important and he’s maturing into it. He just felt with his pace and his power… he’s delivered with that to break free [and score].
A lot has been made of the goalscoring and the lack of a striker. But it’s a team mentality. The intent to score has improved. We kept our shape and kept it tight [in the first half]. A really good intent to score the goal and try win the game.
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That will certainly knock the wind out of Potter’s sails. He arrived today on the back of a three game winning streak but this dull performance will serve as a reminder that this Chelsea outfit really needs work. Just uninspired and they rightly leave with more questions than answers. If I were a Chelsea fan I’d be deeply frustrated by what I saw.
Look at what that points means to the Toffees faithful:
The Everton players applaud the travelling Toffees!!! #CHEEVE pic.twitter.com/dCXJzbIJgy
— 𝐓𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐄 𝐓𝐕 (@ToffeeTVEFC) March 18, 2023
Chelsea are back in the top half of the table with that point. Everton now two points clear of the relegation zone. They’re in 15th.
Chelsea weren’t good today. Yes, they took the lead twice, but the first was a scrappy scuff from broken play and the second was a penalty. Both legitimate goals but this is evidently a team that isn’t functioning as it should. Hard to pick out a single player that produced anything close to a world class performance.
Full-Time: Chelsea 2-2 Everton
Chelsea can’t do it. Everton have stolen a point. Actually, that’s not fair. They fought back twice to earn a hard fought draw with a 21-year-old bagging their second in the 90th minute. If they survive the drop they’ll look back on this one. Excellent graft and you know what, they absolutely deserved that.
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90+5 min: Nope, another corner. For real, the very last chance now.
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90+5 min: The free kick is not a clever one but Chelsea still keep it. James againb. Drops a shoulder and dinks a ball in. Havertz’ header goes out. Corner given for some reason. One last, last chance.
90+4 min: James is the outlet. He gets it and wrong foots McNiel, who is on a card already, and wins a free kick. One last chance.
90+3 min: Pickford comes to punch the ball clear from the corner. Chelsea still with it. James sends the ball in and Tarkowski heads it away. Everton clinging on.
90+2 min: Havertz has a great chance to header from a brilliant Chilwell cross from the left but makes a right mess of it. It hits the top of his head and goes backwards somehow. Still, the ball is kept alive and Chelsea win a corner.
21-year-old Ellis Simms! Fantastic. Brilliant goal that had everything you want from a striker. Five extra minutes.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 Everton (Simms, 90)
What the what! His first Everton goal! Simms has come off the bench and grabbed a late equaliser. He brushes off Koulibaly with great strength bursts into the box and composes himself before shooting across Kepa. The keeper gets a hand on it but it bobbles under him and hits the back of the net!
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88 min: Badiashile has had a good game. He scampers across the park and collects a ball played in behind Chelsea’s line down the left.
86 min: Cholobah replaces Fofana to maintain a back three.
85 min: Koulibaly just hands the ball to Simms who can’t believe his luck. He doesn’t know what to do with it and dallies long enough before shooting so Badiashile can gert back and block it.
Joao Felix makes way for Chukuemeka.
83 min: That was Lampard-esque from Gallagher who seizes on a loose ball, dribbles past three defenders and drives towards the byline. That’s where the comparison with the Chelsea legend ends as his cross is poor and it’s an Everton goal kick.
82 min: McNeil flashes a low shot from inside the box on the right across goal. Kepa seemed to have that covered but it shows the danger that Everton do possess. Simms at the far post would have had a tap in had Kepa diverted it his way, maybe that’s why he pulled his arms back.
80 min: Gray jiggles the ball between either foot but there’s no room to cross from the right. So he goes backwards and when Everton attempt to get behind the line the Chelsea defence is firm. Everton looking a little frantic.
Kovacic hands the armband to Kepa as he makes way for Loftus-Cheek.
Simms replaces Gueye. Can the young striker make a difference?
Yellow Card! Chelsea (James, 78)
In a scuffle that followed the goal, James pushed an Everton player and has landed himself in the naughty book.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Everton (Havertz, 76 pen))
Havertz converts and Chelsea are back in front. He’s calm. That really is a slick penalty. He waits for Pickford to move and then lifts it the other way. He stutters in his run up but doesn’t take his eyes off the ‘keeper. Tucks it home with aplomb. Three goals in his last three games.
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Penalty! Chelsea, 73
Having just got themselves level Everton could be behind. James causing all the trouble with a great run into the box and Godfrey clips him before Tarkowski puts him on the floor.
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72 min: Havertz twists and turns from the edge of the box on the right and shoots with his left foot. It’s on target and Pickford grabs it after a little bobble. The game has come alive.
That’s what Everton were hoping for. Sustained pressure from a series of set pieces and they scrapped their way to an equaliser. They might even pinch this.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Everton (Doucoure, 69)
Everton are level! It doesn’t bulge the net but it crosses the line. A second corner is put in the box and Tarkowski at the far post gets it back in the mixer. Came off his shoulder but that doesn’t matter. Doucoure is there to nod it past Kepa. It’s cleared, but not soon enough. All square again.
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67 min: A corner for Everton after McNeil’s effort from the left is blocked by James. Onana might have shot himself from the centre but instead he flicked it on for McNeil. Everton growing. Chelsea won’t mind that.
66 min: Good work from Gray. He had to wait and wait and wait for a buddy to come to his aid. He waited as long as he could and put a ball in the box for McNiel but it was still too early and Kepa pounced on it.
65 min: A slight lull in the game. Everton are taking a breath before the final foray, perhaps. Dyche looks busy on the touchline. He’s got to make a change. Tawkowski, who has been immense, fouls Joao Felix with a high boot.
63 min: Reece James plucks a ball from the stratosphere. He’s offside but wow! What a take. He’s having a brilliant game.
61 min: Fofana leaps high to the Chilwell corner but can’t direct it anywhere near the goal.
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60 min: James on the right again. He’s causing loads of trouble out there. His ball finds Chilwel who again plays it first time. It breaks and Kovacic on the edge of the box shoots with the side of his foot and it’s deflected over the bar.
Pulisic is subbed off for Gallagher. A handy performance from the American. A switch to a 3-5-2 likely.
58 min: Keane at the near post has to do better. It looked like the ball went through his head! Not sure how he hasn’t met that with a firm header after a great ball in.
Yellow Card! Chelsea (Koulibaly, 57)
Harsh, I think. Seemed he won the ball but Iwobi went down theatrically and Everton also have a great chance to put on in from the right, just outside the box.
56 min: The ball is in the back of the Everton net after some wonderful play from Chelsea. Joao Felix again involved with a delicious back heel into the path of Pulisic who curls a screamer into the far corner. But Joao Felix was offside. Still, the best bit of play all game. Definitely a change in mood after that goal.
55 min: Everton have a free kick and launch it into the box. It breaks kindly and Ofana’s fizzed low cross bounces off Keane and spoons to Kepa. That could have gone anywhere.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Everton (Joao Felix, 52)
Finally! A breakthrough. It was scrappy but it’s given Chelsea the lead. Joao Felix, who has been the best player in blue, takes control at the edge of the box after a good switch ball to Chilwell breaks for him and he shoots low across Pickford to sneak it in off the far post. Chilwell’ did well to play the ball first time which meant the Everton defence wasn’t set despite blocking that cross. Joao Felix was alert to it and though it scuffed the shot, he placed it perfectly.
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51 min: Pulisic attracts the attention of three defenders so has to turn back. The ball goes right again to James who is seeing a lot of it. Enzo Fernandez makes a good run and collects on the gallop before shooting, but, for the umpteenth time today, Tarkowski blocks.
49 min: That’s a good chance. Havertz at the far post from a cross from the left headers well, he gets above it and knocks it back to where it came from. But it lacks a bit of oomph and Pickford can get both hands to it and parry it away. Gray at the other end fizzles a low shot that Kepa dives on.
48 min: It’s not a good corner but Onana scuffs his clearance so there’s another corner. It’s short. Pulisic puts it in and Everton clear and break up field. James scampers back and nicks it off Gray and Everton drive the other way. Pulisic on the edge of the box drops a shoulder and finds James who crosses. Chelsea pressing.
47 min: The game settles into the familiar patter. Chilwell brings down a ball on the left. It switches for James on the right who crosses and it’s out for a corner. Chilwell to take.
Teams are out again. More of the same for Everton. As the game gets on they might even steal a chance or two. 10/10 as far as the plan is concerned. Keane and co at the back have beeb solid. Chelsea need a spark.
Elsewhere, Erling Brut Haaland already has two goals. Just unreal, isn’t it?
Please stay with me, but if you must dip out momentarily, here’s the City v Burnley game:
Half-Time: Chelsea 0-0 Everton
An absolutely forgettable half of football comes to an end. That was painful viewing. Chelsea dominated the ball with more than 70% possession but did so little with it. Kovacic volleyed from broken play after a corner but scythed it wide and Joao Felix did som running and jinking but his shots were either tame or blocked. Seven attempts at goal and three on target but no one will remember any of them. Everton for their part have done well to cling on. They’re 45 minutes away from leaving London with a point.
45+2 min: Rather than stick it in the box, Chelsea work a clever routine. It goes to the edge of the box where Joao Felix has space to shoot but not enough room to get the ball on target. Yet another block from Everton who have thrown their bodies on the line.
Yellow Card! Everton (McNeil, 45)
The Everton winger gets a card. He had no choice really, had to bring Enzo down.
45 min: Pulisic down the right. Havertz on the overlap. Tarkowski does well to clear for a throw in. James’s cross isn’t a good one but he gets a shooting chance. That’s blocked as well. Enzo Fernandez stands up McNeil and then wins a free kick on the edge of the box to the right.
43 min: Everton rallying now. Pulisic is muscled off the ball and the men in pink exchange a few passes. Chilwell is on the ground after he gets his leg in the way of a pass and is floored. Weird one. I remember watching Alan Smith’s broken leg after copping a John Arne Riise bullet. This was like then, just a thousand times less.
42 min: The ball breaks for McNiel who shifts it round one defender and then has Koulibaly in front of him. He jinks left then right but the big defender stays on his feet and gets a toe on the ball. It bobbles off McNeil for a goal kick.
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40 min: It’s so insipid fro Chelsea. They bustle about with intent but there’s no spark, no clear plan on how they want to work an opening. Everton are dross, they look content to just hack their way to a draw, but at least you know what they’re about. A cross from Pulisic on the left is too close to Pickford who grabs it.
Break in play and a chance for a drink as Pulisic, still with his bum on the floor, receives attention. He’s now being guided off the field. Can’t be too careful with head injuries. He should be fine, I’d imagine.
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36 min: Gray’s shot clatters Pulisic straight in the face. The America goes down immediately.
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35 min: A poor tackle from Badiashile, right through the back of Guyeye (I think) gifts Everton a free kick within range on the right. Perhaps the angle is too acute for a shot.
33 min: Gray does well this time to sprint ahead of Fofan and pick up a loose ball on the left. But Chelsea swarm and get the ball back. Chilwell on the left doesn’t cross and instead gives it to Enzo Fernandez at the dop of the D. He then feeds Joao Felix in the box who drills a low shot straight to Pickford.
32 min: Gray shoves Koilibally in the back as the Chelsea defender was backed into a corner and facing the wrong way. Silly challenge from Gray who needs to be more composed in those areas.
30 min: James fetches a long ball from the corner. It’s moved from right to left for Chilwell to deliver a cross. But Everton clear, those centre backs have looked comfortable in the air. But the ball comes right back at them. It’s relentless Chelsea pressure. It’s almost a training exercise with attack versus defence. So far defence is winning. Apart from that shanked Kovacic volley they’ve created nothing.
Yellow Card! Everton (Gueye, 29)
That’s a late challenge and he’s in the book. That was for earlier when he brought down Pulicic.
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29 min: Everton’s narrow midfield is proving to be a challenging obstacle. Unless your name is Joao Felix who drops a shoulder and bursts through to the box, Havertz makes a run to the near post but Joao Felix can’t find him from the left.
27 min: Pulicic does so well to keep the attack alive before he’s upended. Then Joao Felix, who is having some game, produces a delicious turn to leave his marker. Chelsea build but the final ball isn’t there and Everton repel them once more. It’s pretty, but it’s at arm’s length.
26 min: A monstrous tackle from Koulibaly wins the ball back off Onana who goes down in a heap. Joao Felix does really well, from his knees, to keep the ball in play. But the recycled attack fizzles out.
24 min: A poor Iwobi clearance allows Chelsea to keep the pressure on. It’s worked to Joao Felix on the right byline and his little chip to the back post drifts out over the bar.
23 min: An Everton free kick from their own half is launched into the Chelsea box. That’s route one for sure. A second dink in the mixer almost finds Tarkowski at the far post but it’s out for a goal kick.
That was Coleman, by the way, who put in the decisive touch to deny Joao Felix from cantering through after the break earlier.
21 min: Pickford in the action again. He gathers a low cross from the right but how close was Joao Felix from making contact?! Millimetres from the opener as he slid in at the near post.
20 min: A shot from Havertz. He collects the ball on the inside left and no one closes him down. So he sets himself and shots, looking to curl it in. There’s no power so it’s a comfortable save for Pickford.
19 min: A poor pass from Kepa puts James under pressure but the right back recovers well. That opens space in midfield and Chelsea are in here. But the pass back in field to Joao Felix is behind him and Everton clear it away.
18 min: McNeil takes a pop shot from distance and it’s a mile over the bar.
17 min: Chelsea’s attack breaks down on the edge of the Everton area and the visitors counter. It’s a long ball again but Gray does well to win a throw-in deep in Chelsea territory.
14 min: Chelsea with 87.2% possession. Surprised it’s not higher. They have a free kick in their own half and Badiashile carries it forward. But Everton get it back only to launch another hopeful ball up the field. Bit stodgy at the minute. Everton won’t mind that.
13 min: Havertz on the right wing now gets into a tussle with Godfrey and gives away a free kick deep in Everton territory, but that was good hustle from the Chelsea forward. He’s started brightly.
13 min: It’s all Chelsea. When Everton win it back a nothing long ball gives Gray no chance of keeping it under control. He’s looking isolated already.
11 min: Havertz, from a standing start, jumps and headers the corner over the bar. Just couldn’t climb high enough to keep it down.
10 min: Good work from Kavacic sees him wriggle out of a tight spot and keep the ball alive. Enzo Fernandez gets involved too. Havertz down the left is staying quite wide. James’ cross from the right is too deep but it’s still Chelsea’s ball. Joao Felix is put into space in the box, he turns and shoots but it’s blocked for a corner. Chelsea looking good.
8 min: Chelsea look composed with a back three. They’re well set to stifle Everton’s build up and the mifdield in front of them look assured too.
Pulicic darts down the left and it’s cleared for a throw in. Chelsea keep the ball.
7 min: Everton swing in a free kick from the left. Chelsea break with Haverts up the flank. But Everton snuff out the danger.
6 min: Kovacic lashes a volley wide! Big chance. The corner isn’t cleared and sits up for the midfielder. He perhaps tried to hit that too hard and sliced it off his boot. In the end it’s well wide.
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4 min: Chelsea have a free kick out on the left. It’s a good angle to whip in a cross. Chilwell’s left foot it is. It’s a good ball and Keane nods it behind for a corner.
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3 min: There’s a shot blocked from the edge of the Everton box. That was fired in by Enzo Fernandez. An appeal for a handball is ignored.
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1 min: Cagey start – aren’t they almost always so? A stat has just come up that Everton are the league leaders under Dyche at playing the ball long. Chelsea’s back three exchange the ball a few times before they launch it long.
Peeeeep! The whistle blasts out and Chelsea, in their royal blue, kick off with Everton in pink.
Not long now. They’re lining up in the tunnel. Chelsea start this game out of the top half of the table. They’re 11th. A reminder that an Everton win would take them 12th. Can we call this a six pointer? Does that pass the threshold?
Everton have won just once away from home this season. Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 27 home games in the league against the Toffees (W 15 D12) since they lost 1-0 in November 1994.
Stats are for the birds but that’s quite something.
Graham Potter speaks before the game:
We’ve been a little more positive, more aggressive in our approach. A little but of luck as well. Pleasing for the boys. We;’ve had a tough time and stuck at it.
Wins help [with the mood]. Performances weren’t as bad as the results we were getting. We need to keep going. There is confidence and belief there.
Did you catch this strange plot twist? Chelsea could buy another football club! Weird, right? Ed Aarons & Romain Molina reveal all:
A recap of the other Premier League games on today:
Aston Villa 3-0 Bournemouth
Brentford 1-1 Leicester
Southampton 3-3 Tottenham
Wolves 2-4 Leeds
That’s a big point for Southampton who snatched it at the death with a 93rd minute Ward-Prowse penalty. More misery for Spurs.
The Saints are just a point behind Bournemouth now but still bottom of the log. Leicester are in trouble as Leeds climb all the way to 14th.
As for our game, a point at least would seriously help Everton who are now down to 17th, though a win could lift them to 12th.
Wolves v Leeds has descended into anarchy. It’s 4-2 to Leeds after a 97th minute goal for Rodrigo and two red cards for Wolves.
Follow along here:
For those of you counting, Ben Chilwell reaches his half century for Chelsea today.
Something has definitely shifted at Chelsea. Potter was caught on camera swearing, like a real person, as he bantzed with some fans at an event. But was does this really mean? Barney Ronay gets to the bottom of this:
Not sure if you’ve seen this, and also not sure if you feel like welling up, but if the answer to those questions are ‘no’ and ‘yes’, take a quick peep.
This is Harry’s story. 💙
— Everton (@Everton) March 15, 2023
And it’s one we want to share with you… pic.twitter.com/zIoKfFu4As
He’s copped a lot of heat since he settled in the hot seat at Chelsea, and he’s even received death threats after some poor performances, but Graham Potter seems to have found a rhythm now.
Karen Carney says that this once stuttering Chelsea side is starting to play to their manager’s beat.
Everton unchanged
Sean Dyche has clearly seen something he likes and starts the same team that beat Brentford.
Everton: Pickford; Tarkowski, Keane, Godfrey, Coleman (c); McNeil, Onana, Doucoure, Iwobi, Guyeye; Gray
Replacements: Begovic, Holgate, Mina, Coady, Mykolenko, Davies, Garner, Maupay, Simms.
⚠️ Team news is in! ⚠️
— Everton (@Everton) March 18, 2023
Sean Dyche names an unchanged XI from the win against Brentford.#CHEEVE pic.twitter.com/Ut3C9C4Y5r
Pulicic given chance to shine
The American magician starts as Potter goes in search of a fourth straight win. N’Golo Kante returns and will start on the bench.
Chelsea: Kepa; Badiashile, Koulibaly, Fofana; Fernandez, Kovacic (c), Chilwell, James; Pulicic, Joao Felix, Havertz
Replacements: Bettinelli, Chalobah, Cucurella, Chukwuekmea, Gallagher, Kante, Loftus-Cheek, Madueke, Murdryk
Your Chelsea side today! 🔵#CheEve pic.twitter.com/ALcbzDwcly
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 18, 2023
Preamble
Good afternoon folks and welcome to this MBM of a game between two teams who have felt the blues for various reasons this season. Everton have produced a load of ol’ dross and find themselves just one point above the relegation zone. Depending how other results go they could end the weekend bottom of the log.
Chelsea haven’t exactly lit the place up either but three wins on the bounce for Graham Potter, as well as progression to the Champions League quarterfinals, has the manager in a chipper mood.
Three points won’t see them catapult up the table (though they will nudge ahead of Fulham in ninth who are occupied with the FA Cup). Still, league tables are less important right now than vibes and those have been good at Stamford Bridge of late.
My name is Daniel. Thanks for joining me. Do drop a line if you fancy.
Kick off at 17:30. Teams and other bits to come.
