RESULT
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
Match report

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

By Sam Lyon

"Chelsea fail to regain top spot AGAIN, none of the top teams seem to want the title this year..."
Torresque on 606
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"Can the real Big Four please stand up? No win for a fortnight, it seems the players have taken their vacations early this year!"
Capital(RED) on 606

2156: All of that means, of course, that Liverpool will top the table at Christmas - and for that they owe no small thanks to their deadly rivals. And if you can't get along at this time of year when can you hey? Ah, the magic of the festive period... And that's that folks, cheers for your company. Have a cracking Christmas and make sure you're back for what promises to be some cracking Boxing Day action. See ya!

2154 - FULL TIME
And that's it. Chelsea's 11-match winning streak away from home comes to an end but, more importantly, they fail to regain top spot in the Premier League. Tough for Everton - they will be happy with a point I'm sure, but they were the only team that looked like snatching the three points for most of the second half.

2152: Chelsea push forward in search of a late winner but a decent attack involving Ashley Cole and then Jose Bosingwa comes to nothing. This is headed firmly for stalemate.

"I agree it was offside but I thought Ballack, not Pienaar, kicked it out of Cech's hands."
hippo on toast (mufc) on 606
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2147: Goal disallowed! Everton think they've taken the lead as Pienaar forces the ball over the line after Cech initially spills Leon Osman's close-range finish, but the goal is wiped out for offside. TV replays suggest offside may have been a really tight call but, to be fair, it looks like Cech got back to get both hands on the ball before Pienaar swept in anyway, so it may have been a foul had play been allowed to continue.

2145: Everton look like they fancy the three points here and Arteta lines up a free-kick in an attempt to earn it for them. His effort flies over, though.

2142: Oh, that's even closer for Everton. Leighton Baines is the creator, the full-back firing the ball into the box and Marouane Fellaini gets a touch on it from six yards out... but the ball drifts millimetres wide.

2140: Close! Pienaar feeds Hibbert on the right and the full-back's attempted cross deflects off Lampard and looks to be dipping under the bar, forcing Cech to tip over. Then, from the resulting corner, Lescott heads goalwards but Cech tips away from the corner. Much better from Everton.

2137: Everton are not the only ones guilty of a poor final ball here, Lampard doing his bit to ease their embarrassment with a poor corner that Tim Howard grasps with ease. The midfielder attempts to make amends moments later, but his 25-yarder flies high, wide and not very handsome.

2134: Cracking defending, that, as Joleon Lescott shows his muscle against Drogba, refusing to allow the Ivorian to get the better of him inside the box, and a half-chance for Chelsea goes awry.

2131: Haha, that's a strange one - Ballack is convinced that the wall is not far enough back on a free-kick so referee Phil Dowd counts it out again, decides the wall was fine, and books Ballack for dissent. I'm not sure you can be booked for asking a question can you? Anyway, Alex has his shot from the free-kick blocked.

2128: Phil Jagielka - who's been cracking this season hasn't he? - forces a good block from Alex in the Chelsea defence as he gets a head on the end of a Mikel Arteta cross, and Tim Cahill then glances another header wide. Everton starting to ask questions.

2125: Another all-too comfortable claim for Petr Cech as Leon Osman's corner is easily plucked out of the sky by the Chelsea keeper. I won't lie, this match is pretty blooming dull.

2123: And, yep, that's Yobo's evening over. Leighton Baines comes on and the Everton physio makes his way to the boardroom to ask for a pay-rise.

2122: A worry for Everton as Jospeh Yobo pulls up after doing well to clear another Chelsea attack. It looks like a hamstring pull and he's already looking to the bench...

"You seem to have been awfully impressed by Tony Hibbert tonight Sam. He's normally dreadful."
Pizzorno8 on 606
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(To be honest mate, you're right - I'm not normally his biggest fan either, but he's done well tonight)

2118: For all the sides' bluff and bluster at Goodison, there's a distinct lack of quality in the final third on show so far, highlighted this time by Lampard's long, looped free-kick into the box and Alex's tame header wide. Ho hum.

2114: Cracking ball from Tony Hibbert, the right-back swinging beautifully into the box, but Fellaini can only aim his header straight at Cech - a waste.

2111: It's wasted, though, as the wall clears before Mikel fires tamely wide from 20 yards out. Drogba yet to touch the ball in this half, by the way, but watch out when he does - he's scored in his last four games against the Toffees.

2109: Good work from Ashley Cole down the left, getting the better of Hibbert, and Chelsea have an early chance to swing the ball into the Everton box...

2106: Scolari rings the changes, with Nicolas Anelka and Joe Cole replaced by Didier Drogba and Branislav Ivanovic. Sounds like it will be a 4-4-1 formation for Chelsea, then. Everton get us back under way... where's your money now?!

"I hope Terry will get a major ban, around 5-6 matches, he could have injured a fellow player badly."
SpanishMemberName on 606
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"Haven't seen the tackle but it was definitely red."
Liverpool fan via text

"No way was that a red card and that's from a Liverpool fan. Anyone who says otherwise is not watching the same game."
John_Mandrake_III on 606

2057: Lots of half-time chat over whether Terry deserved to go or not. Graham Poll on Setanta says the red card was the right decision and, funnily enough, quite a few Manchester United and Liverpool fans on 606 seem to agree. Has the game been over-sanitised or can Terry have few complaints? I can tell you Scolari was fuming as Dowd left the pitch, apparently repeating the question "Are you afraid? Are you afraid?" to the official. Not sure we've seen the end of this...
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"So is that Terry Christmas and Goodnight? I'll get my coat...."
Forest Forest, in the Forest via text

"That was a mis-timed, one footed challenge, no way a red!"
Tom, Newcastle via text

2050: HALF-TIME
And that's pretty much the last action of a half notable only really for the Chelsea skipper's Terry-ble tackle. (Ey fank yaow).

2049: More excellent work from Tony Hibbert as the defender cuts out Ashley Cole's through-ball with Nicolas Anelka lurking in the box.

2046: Arteta's free-kick hits the wall but the ball finds its way to Jospeh Yobo and the defender's decent turn-and-shot is well kept out by Cech.

2044: Chelsea need to settle down a bit here, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole go into the book for backchat after Dowd awards Everton a free-kick 20 yards from goal. Mikel Arteta stands over it...

2042: Luiz Felipe Scolari is out in his technical area directing traffic as he attempts to reshuffle his Chelsea pack in the wake of that dismissal - Mikel will drop into defence for now but it looks like big Gene Hackman is going to wait until half time before considering any personnel changes.

"Stupid challenge from Terry and definitely a red... from a Chelsea fan."
IrishBlue85 on 606
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2037 - SENDING OFF: JOHN TERRY
Ouch! That's reckless from John Terry, the Chelsea captain diving in at Leon Osman on the sprint, catching him high on the shin, and referee Phil Dowd pauses only momentarily before dismissing the defender. I don't think he can have any complaints there and Osman is fortunate to limp away from it relatively OK. That could be a massive fillip for Everton.

2035: One of the biggest cheers of the night as a Phil Neville crossfield pass... erm, goes into row Z. Easily pleased this Everton lot aren't they?

2032: Dum de dum - could do with a goal here. A bright start but without any clear chances the atmosphere has gone a bit flat. Everton just about holding their own, though.

2027: ...and it comes to nothing either. Lampard may have been distracted by some rather colourful chat from the Everton fans behind him, bless.

2025: That would have been a lovely goal as Chelsea work it brilliantly down the left, but Joe Cole's near-post effort is deflected behind by Hibbert. Deco's corner twice comes to nothing, but Chelsea then earn a free-kick wide on the left...

2022: Another close shave for Everton! Lampard's goalbound shot is deflected over by Tony Hibbert's desperate tackle on the dive - but the referee awards a handball against Nicolas Anelka earlier in the move.

2020: Erm, almost a complete jinx on Everton from me there, apologies! Joe Cole lifts the ball into the box and Alex's header is deflected onto Tim Howard's post by Nicolas Anelka from six yards out - he was offside anyway, though.

2019: Hhmm, that's a waste - Mikel Arteta's corner flies straight into Cech's grateful hands in the Chelsea box. Still, the Toffees are working their socks off at the moment, and Chelsea are just struggling to break them open at the other end.

2012: Everton making the most of the running, now, and Leon Osman - found brilliantly by Steven Pienaar - lobs in a cross to the back post that Tim Cahill heads goalwards, only for Cech to save.

2009: Decent effort, that. Tim Cahill harries the Chelsea backline into a mistake and Phil Neville tries his luck from range - his shot skims across the surface but into the arms of Cech on the dive. Quite an open start this.

2008: Everton finally get their foot on the ball and immediately have an opening with a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Mikel Arteta swings in the cross but it floats through to Petr Cech and Chelsea can clear.

2006: The corner comes to nothing but Chelsea retain possession - Everton playing a spot of watch-ball at the moment.

2004: Almost a dramatic start at Goodison as Ashley Cole makes the most of a sleepy moment from Tony Hibbert and lashes a volley goalwards, keeper Tim Howard just about forcing it over the bar for a corner...

2002: Chelsea get us started...

"I'm sure Mr Mourinho at Inter Milan will look at Chelsea's bench today with interest..."
TheShanklyGates on 606
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"Maybe Scolari is sparing Didier over the hectic festive schedule. After all a Drog is for life, not just for Christmas..."
Alex, Northampton via text

1957: The teams make their way into the tunnel and we're moments away from kick-off folks.

1954: So Scolari clearly doesn't think Drogba and Anelka can play together up front - blimey. Can't see Drogba being content with splinters in his backside for the foreseeable future and, lest we forget, the ol' transfer window re-opens next month. Hhmm...

"I'm pretty sure Fellaini was waiting in front of me on Saturday night at Disco 69 in Kirkby..."
THFC_Jake on 606
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1949: "I have played Nicolas Anelka up front before and I have decided to go with that again. Playing both Anelka and Drogba up front is difficult and we have played well in midfield with five there."
Luiz Felipe Scolari on Setanta

"Be glad it is Fellaini's hair tonight and not Cisse's."
SimpreZola on 606
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"Come on Everton! (Ooh I feel so dirty haha)."
ObiRed on 606

1944: "It's not just David Moyes at Everton you have to ask about his side's home form - Chelsea might always worry and a few others too. Anyway, we always want to win at Goodison and we've played well lately so, no, I wouldn't take a point now."
David Moyes on Setanta

"Everton have a perfectly good striker in young Lukas Jutkiewicz. I know he has little Premier League experience but he was excellent as a 16/17-year-old in the rough and tumble of league one. Give him a chance Everton, you did pay Swindon �1m for him!"
Nathan via text

1941: Right then, while the teams warm up at Goodison Park there's time to address the big discussion point of the night. Not Scolari's continued preference of Anelka up front on his own ahead of Drogba, not Everton's struggles to keep their frontmen fit, and not David Moyes's failure to beat Chelsea in 13 meetings... but... Marouane Fellaini's hair. What's that all about?

"The niggling concern is your comment about the form table. That table has a nasty habit of only appearing to be good at getting overturned leaving all the turkey, spuds and gravy in an unpleasant mess on the floor."
nutmegsfromnevin on 606
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"So, tonight will decide who is Christmas number 1. Well, it's not going to be my beloved Blackburn so I for one won't be singing Hallelujah."
Miserable Matt via text

"There's the possibility though that the Goodison boys might just nick this one and I fancy them with a 1-0 victory."
reddevil on 606

"Drogba on the bench again? That has significantly lowered my confidence. It has to be either Drogba and Anelka, or Drogba on his own. Saying that, I will quite happily eat my words if Anelka scores and we win the game."
The Unused Substitute on 606
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1930: Let's have a look at the teams then. Chelsea are unchanged - Nicolas Anelka continuing up front, with Didier Drogba on the bench again - while Everton make just the one change, Phil Neville replacing Segundo Castillo. Tim Cahill will again play the lone striker role with the Toffees unable to pick a fit frontman in the 11.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Neville, Osman, Arteta, Fellaini, Pienaar, Cahill.
Subs: Nash, Baines, Van der Meyde, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz, Gosling, Kissock.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Joe Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Deco, Anelka.
Subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Drogba, Malouda, Bridge, Kalou, Belletti.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

1928: That's your cue to get involved in a massive, massive way folks - leave me your missives on 606 or get in touch via text on 81111. I want your very best football chat, your best Christmas jokes and/or puns and, finally, any ideas you might have for presents for my dad. Nice one, cheers.

"If Chelsea earn an emphatic win tonight, I'll be starting on the Christmas drinks early. Probably the mince pies too!"
boydy262 on 606

"Where's my money? At the shops with the Mrs!"
Chelsea Defender on 606
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1925: Anyway, a look at the form table suggests the three points are heading in only one direction and it doesn't look good for the Goodison Park boys. While Everton have notched just the single league win at home this season, Chelsea are looking to extend their record run of successive away league victories - a win tonight would make it 12. The best away team in the league against one of the worst home teams? Where's your money?

1921: Talking of Christmas shopping, is there anything more smug in the world than a family member that finished all that jazz weeks ago? It provokes a level of frustration and envy in me equal only to that of a child being forced to give their last fondant fancy to a younger sibling. Hhmm... fondant fancies...

1917: That's right, it's time to set aside the panic over your utter failure to have wrapped up all your Christmas shopping, put your feet up, and get involved in some top level Everton-Chelsea chat. Chelsea are targeting the win that would see them return to the top of the table, while Everton are a win away from taking their total of post-war league victories to an even 1,000. This might just be a cracker.

1915: Oh hello, ready for one final fling of Premier League action before Christmas?

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