Re: AN EVERTON VIEW
Essien keeps Blues in hunt
Chelsea kept alive their title hopes with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
Michael Essien's goal four minutes before the break proved to be enough to give Avram Grant's men the points.
The midfielder, who scored in Monday's draw with Wigan, repeated the trick with a clinical finish over Tim Howard to maintain Chelsea's pursuit of leaders Manchester United.
The win closes the gap on United to two points, while Everton remain five points behind Liverpool in the battle to finish in fourth spot.
But Everton had the first real chance when Manuel Fernandes saw a stinging free-kick palmed away by Petr Cech - the ball bouncing up alarmingly in front of the goalkeeper.
On the half-hour, Everton were thwarted by a fine saving tackle from Essien, after Joleon Lescott had found Andrew Johnson on the penalty spot with time to work.
Five minutes from the break, Chelsea made the decisive breakthrough.
Neat passing involving Kalou, Essien and Wright-Phillips ended with the ball deflecting off Phil Jagielka straight into the path of the Ghanaian - who lifted the ball into the top corner with clinical ease.
The pattern changed little after the break, with Everton trying their best but meeting stern resistence from John Terry and Carvalho.
Everton at last made an impression and Fernandes produced a stunning, dipping free-kick which missed the far post by a coat of paint, With the hosts daring to venture forward, the gaps were there for Joe Cole and Wright-Phillips to exploit.
