Chelsea battle to victory

Michael Essien's first half strike kept Chelsea's slim chance of a late surge to the Premiership title alive tonight with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park. Everton still remain five points behind Liverpool.

It turned out that Michael Essien was to be the match winner in today's game and put in a superb solid performance in the middle of the park throughout.

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Chelsea could've taken the lead early on but for the excellent defending from Joseph Yobo, who whacked the ball clear after John Terry could've headed the ball home from a corner.

Manuel Fernandes has a great chance of scoring from a free kick just afterwards, but Cech palmed the ball clear.

The game was faily stagnant for the first 20, but on 26 minutes Salomon Kalou made a great run down the wing but Nicolas Anelka was unable to get to the ball.

It took until 41 minutes before the deadlock was broken, and Michael Essien played a great one-two with Shaun Wright Phillips and the Ghanaian scored from close range.

Even after 20 minutes of the second half Everton couldn't score but had improved. Everton never really looked like scoring while Chelsea lead thanks to their only real attempt on goal.

Everton were really pressing for a goal and Chelsea looked a little nervous as the team dropped very deep in defence.

Yakubu had a couple of great chance to score - but the result was secure for Chelsea who now move within two points of United.

Teams

Everton starting XI: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Neville, Carsley, Fernandes, Pienaar, Johnson, Yakubu.

Chelsea starting XI: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Obi, Essien, Joe Cole, Anelka, Kalou.