Everton grab late lifeline

Everton 1, Chelsea 2 (half-time)

Gary Naysmith gave Everton a lifeline with a goal two minutes from half-time after Mario Stanic and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had given Chelsea a commanding two-goal lead at Goodison Park.

Chelsea were constantly quicker to the ball but even so Everton might have reduced the arrears after 37 minutes.

David Unsworth won the ball and fed Campbell who put Radzinski in oceans of space down the left.

The Everton striker jinked inside the defence and unleashed a skidding 20-yarder which Cudicini did well to hold on to low down to his right.

The Everton frustration, brought about mainly by inaccurate passing, was building but they got right back in the game two minutes before half-time.

It was a swift interchange of passes this time which put Naysmith one-on-one with Cudicini and the Everton midfielder took his time before guiding his angled shot past the Chelsea goalkeeper’s out-stretched right-hand.