Chelsea 1-0 Everton: Terry Tap-in Saves Tepid Chelsea

Jose Mourinho may have claimed in his post-match press conference that Chelsea were always in control against a resilient Everton, but another uninspired display will give cause for concern after requiring a Tim Howard blunder in added time to secure the three points. A foul by Jagielka on Ramires gave Lampard the chance to whip in a free-kick, where an sliding John Terry got enough of a touch on the ball to distract the American keeper into flapping what should have been a routine collection into his own net. Everton can count themselves unlucky to lose, and perhaps even not to win after enjoying many of the game's best opportunities in the first half. The match was played at a rapid pace, but where Everton's defence coped comfortably with Hazard and Willian's repetitive movement and reticence in releasing the ball, Chelsea struggled to contain the quick, intelligence exchanges between the away side's front men. Leon Osman enjoyed the game's first noteworthy opportunity, stinging Petr Cech's fingertips with a long range strike from a knock-back by the lively Mirallas, who saw a decent opportunity of his own blocked by John Terry five minutes later. With the outstanding Barry and McCarthy running the midfield, Chelsea had little response, with Tim Howard easily saving tame shots from Azpilicueta and Eto'o. Questions must once more be asked of the lack of variety in Chelsea's attack. Hazard's excellent performances against Man City and Newcastle encouraged comparisons with Ronaldo and Messi, but the Belgian has repeatedly struggled to break down defences too narrow and deep for him to run behind. His ability to swap wings with Willian would be a more useful trick if the two didn't play in near-identical fashion. Oscar, anonymous once again as the side's supposed playmaker, departed at the break with an injury Mourinho refused to describe as anything other than painful. Or perhaps he was referring to the Brazilian's dismal recent form. Chelsea improved in the second half, though chances remained hard to come by. A rare Hazard through ball in the 49th minute, the sort of pass the Blues have been missing since the departure of a certain Spaniard, provided Lampard with an early chance, but his left-footed snatched shot was easily palmed away by Howard at his near post. Chelsea continued to pressurise with little serious threat, but forced into wayward shots from distance by Everton's expertly organised defensive unit. Fernando Torres' arrival on the hour reinforced the seriousness of Mourinho's dearth of attacking options, with the Spaniard suffering half an hour of relentless humiliation, whether watching his attempts on goal fly increasingly further wide or being outpaced repeatedly by the 36-year old Sylvain Distin. In his defence, fellow substitute Schurrle was no more effective in making a convincing case for himself after replacing Eto'o. As Everton withdrew late in the match, content to allow an increasingly frustrated Chelsea to push forward with plenty of effort but little guile, Ramires fell under the challenge of Barry and Lampard's subsequent free-kick saw deflections off Terry and Howard on its way into the net. The home side celebrated another victory of persistence over poise. Man Of The Match: Gareth Barry