By Arindam Rej
BBC Sport
Chelsea skipper John Terry gave his team a 2-0 lead before half-time
First-half headers by Daniel Sturridge and John Terry, followed by a Ramires tap-in after the break, earned Chelsea a comfortable victory over Everton.
Ashley Cole crossed for Sturridge to head in Chelsea’s first on 30 minutes.
The hosts went 2-0 up in first-half injury time when Terry nodded home after Tim Howard failed to collect a Frank Lampard free-kick.
Ramires added a third from Juan Mata’s cross, before Everton substitute Apostolos Vellios scored a consolation.
Mata was the orchestrator of both the first and third goals and, although Chelsea were nowhere near their best, his moments of ingenuity helped them ease to victory against opponents who traditionally perform well at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard’s vision and touch led him to pick out Cole with a lofted, long-range pass, and the England left-back delivered for Sturridge to open the scoring.
Mata was again to the fore for the third goal, bursting forward and exchanging passes with Didier Drogba before crossing perfectly for the Brazilian Ramires.
Continue reading the main story
It takes time to get used to how the manager likes football to be played but we’ve got used to it quickly. Ever since then, we’ve played attractive, attacking football
Daniel Sturridge
The downside for Chelsea was that Ramires was injured in scoring and had to be substituted.
Chelsea, who went into the game with a disappointing recent record against Everton, having won just one of their last nine Premier League meetings against the visitors, introduced Branislav Ivanovic alongside Terry in central defence as David Luiz was rested.
Jon Obi Mikel started in midfield, while up front they were again without the suspended Fernando Torres.
Everton, who have drawn on their last five league visits to Stamford Bridge, were unchanged from the Merseyside derby, Jack Rodwell’s red card in that game having been overturned.
The Toffees created the early openings but Tim Cahill’s tame header drifted wide following Leon Osman’s cross from the left, before Louis Saha had a long-range strike gathered by Petr Cech at the second attempt.
Ramires struck a shot over the bar from 20 yards midway through the first half, but Chelsea were struggling to impose themselves.
The home team finally broke through in the 31st minute when Mata picked out Cole on the left-hand edge of the six-yard box. The Chelsea left-back clipped the ball across for Sturridge to head in.
The hosts started using the ball more assertively from that point and were gifted a second by Everton keeper Howard just before half-time. Lampard curled in a left-sided free-kick and Howard’s flap at the ball allowed Terry to head home.
Everton started the second half well as Osman’s curling, 25-yard shot struck a post. But Chelsea ended any hopes of a comeback when Mata played his one-two with Drogba then crossed for Ramires to tap in the third.
Chelsea were in cruise control as the half continued, but again failed to hold on to a clean sheet. Everton gained their consolation goal when Vellios scored with his first touch – just eight seconds after coming on – as he slid in to meet Royston Drenthe’s cross.
Afterwards, goalscorer Sturridge said: “It was important for us to move the ball quickly. It takes time to get used to how the manager likes football to be played but we’ve got used to it quickly.
“Ever since then, we’ve played attractive, attacking football.”
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- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+4:04 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
- 90:00+3:26 Royston Drenthe delivers the ball, save made by Petr Cech.
- 90:00+2:20 Foul by Royston Drenthe on Oriol Romeu, free kick awarded. Jose Bosingwa takes the free kick.
- 90:00+1:01 Frank Lampard takes a shot. Save by Tim Howard.
- 88:12 Free kick awarded for a foul by Apostolos Vellios on Branislav Ivanovic. Free kick taken by Petr Cech.
- 87:05 Centre by Tony Hibbert, Branislav Ivanovic manages to make a clearance.
- 84:47 Free kick awarded for a foul by Nicolas Anelka on Leighton Baines. Direct free kick taken by Tim Howard.
- 83:07 Apostolos Vellios is ruled offside. Oriol Romeu takes the direct free kick.
- 82:54 Didier Drogba takes a shot. Save by Tim Howard.
- 82:26 Royston Drenthe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jose Bosingwa. Branislav Ivanovic takes the direct free
kick. - 81:43 Phil Neville challenges Florent Malouda unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Florent Malouda.
- Correction – 80:40 The assist for the goal came from Royston Drenthe.
- 80:40 Assist by Leon Osman.
- 80:40 GOAL – Apostolos Vellios:Chelsea 3 – 1 Everton Apostolos Vellios finds the back of the net with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Chelsea 3-1
Everton. - 79:47 Phil Jagielka takes the direct free kick.
- 79:47 Substitution Apostolos Vellios on for Louis Saha.
- 79:47 Free kick awarded for a foul by John Terry on Louis Saha.
- 78:50 Leon Osman has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
- 76:43 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Frank Lampard, clearance by Phil Neville.
- 75:39 Substitution Nicolas Anelka joins the action as a substitute, replacing Juan Mata.
- 75:39 Substitution Oriol Romeu replaces Mikel.
- 74:18 Florent Malouda gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marouane Fellaini. Phil Jagielka takes the direct free kick.
- 74:03 Centre by Daniel Sturridge, Phil Jagielka manages to make a clearance.
- 71:06 Substitution Tim Cahill leaves the field to be replaced by Phil Neville.
- 69:20 Free kick taken by Tim Howard.
- 69:20 Booking Daniel Sturridge is cautioned.
- 67:31 The ball is delivered by Daniel Sturridge, Tim Howard makes a save.
- 64:22 Substitution Florent Malouda is brought on as a substitute for Ramires.
- 60:58 Assist on the goal came from Juan Mata.
- 60:58 GOAL – Nascimento Ramires:Chelsea 3 – 0 Everton Goal scored by Ramires from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Chelsea 3-0 Everton.
- 59:52 Indirect free kick taken by Sylvain Distin.
- 59:52 Substitution Seamus Coleman goes off and Royston Drenthe comes on.
- 59:52 The official flags Daniel Sturridge offside.
- Correction – 58:26 Marouane Fellaini gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Didier Drogba. Branislav Ivanovic takes the direct free
kick. - 58:26 Marouane Fellaini gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Didier Drogba. Direct free kick taken by Branislav Ivanovic.
- 58:18 Leighton Baines delivers the ball, clearance made by Branislav Ivanovic.
- 57:43 Seamus Coleman is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Frank Lampard takes the indirect free kick.
- 57:02 Shot from outside the penalty box by Leon Osman goes wide right of the goal.
- Correction – 56:45 Leighton Baines takes a shot. Ramires gets a block in.
- 56:45 Leighton Baines takes a shot. Blocked by Ramires.
- 56:18 John Terry concedes a free kick for a foul on Louis Saha. Phil Jagielka restarts play with the free kick.
- 51:02 Jose Bosingwa crosses the ball, Phil Jagielka manages to make a clearance.
- 50:22 A cross is delivered by Jose Bosingwa, Sylvain Distin makes a clearance.
- 48:29 The referee blows for offside against Didier Drogba. Sylvain Distin takes the indirect free kick.
- 47:56 Jose Bosingwa challenges Tim Cahill unfairly and gives away a free kick. Leighton Baines restarts play with the free kick.
- 45:17 Leon Osman has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box that bounces off the post.
- 45:01 The second half has started.
- Half Time
- 45:00+2:30 The first half comes to an end.
- 45:00+1:28 Assist by Frank Lampard.
- 45:00+1:28 GOAL – John Terry:Chelsea 2 – 0 Everton John Terry finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Chelsea 2-0 Everton.
- 45:00+0:53 Seamus Coleman challenges Ashley Cole unfairly and gives away a free kick. A cross is delivered by Frank Lampard,
- 44:26 Louis Saha takes a shot. Blocked by Branislav Ivanovic.
- 43:20 Ramires challenges Tim Cahill unfairly and gives away a free kick. Leighton Baines takes the direct free kick.
- 42:10 Tim Cahill is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Mikel.
- 40:51 Jose Bosingwa takes the direct free kick.
- 40:51 Booking Leighton Baines goes into the referee’s book.
- 40:46 Leighton Baines concedes a free kick for a foul on Daniel Sturridge.
- 40:27 Free kick awarded for a foul by Leon Osman on Daniel Sturridge. Direct free kick taken by Petr Cech.
- 39:09 Unfair challenge on Sylvain Distin by Ramires results in a free kick. Tim Howard restarts play with the free kick.
- 38:29 The assistant referee flags for offside against Leighton Baines. Free kick taken by Petr Cech.
- 37:01 Free kick crossed by Leighton Baines, Petr Cech makes a save.
- 37:01 Booking Ashley Cole goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
- 36:56 Unfair challenge on Tony Hibbert by Ashley Cole results in a free kick.
- 36:09 Tim Cahill gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Frank Lampard. Juan Mata restarts play with the free kick.
- 34:31 Leon Osman takes a shot. Ashley Cole gets a block in.
- 33:50 John Terry challenges Louis Saha unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tony Hibbert takes the direct free kick.
- 30:29 The assist for the goal came from Ashley Cole.
- 30:29 GOAL – Daniel Sturridge:Chelsea 1 – 0 Everton Daniel Sturridge grabs a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Chelsea 1-0 Everton.
- 27:44 Louis Saha is ruled offside. Branislav Ivanovic takes the indirect free kick.
- 27:30 Ashley Cole crosses the ball, save by Tim Howard.
- 26:47 Corner from the right by-line taken by Frank Lampard, Seamus Coleman makes a clearance.
- 26:17 Ramires gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marouane Fellaini. Sylvain Distin takes the direct free kick.
- 25:33 Jose Bosingwa sends in a cross, clearance made by Tony Hibbert.
- 24:49 Centre by Jose Bosingwa, save by Tim Howard.
- 24:07 Louis Saha is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Branislav Ivanovic restarts play with the free kick.
- 23:28 Ramires gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Louis Saha. Direct free kick taken by Phil Jagielka.
- 22:04 Effort on goal by Ramires from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
- 21:11 Corner taken by Leighton Baines from the left by-line, clearance by John Terry.
- 20:07 Jose Bosingwa produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.
- 15:37 John Terry takes the direct free kick.
- 15:37 Booking Marouane Fellaini goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
- 15:31 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ramires by Marouane Fellaini.
- 14:59 The ball is crossed by Ashley Cole, Sylvain Distin manages to make a clearance.
- 12:47 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Seamus Coleman by Ashley Cole. Phil Jagielka restarts play with the free kick.
- 12:18 Centre by Daniel Sturridge, clearance by Phil Jagielka.
- 10:22 Louis Saha takes a shot. Save by Petr Cech.
- 8:15 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Leighton Baines, Petr Cech makes a save.
- 7:48 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Louis Saha by Ramires. Leighton Baines takes the direct free kick.
- 6:11 The referee blows for offside against Seamus Coleman. Indirect free kick taken by John Terry.
- 5:30 Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Tim Cahill misses to the right of the target.
- 2:22 Unfair challenge on Branislav Ivanovic by Leon Osman results in a free kick. Petr Cech takes the free kick.
- 0:00 The referee starts the match.
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