Champions produce great escape

Everton - 2 Chelsea - 3:Chelsea will simply not be shrugged from the pursuit of their title. A sloppy performance had threatened to cast them further adrift of Manchester United here only for the visitors, apparently suffocating under Everton's feverish approach, to conjure a pair of goals of such majesty in the closing stages to transform near disaster into triumph.

The champions often provoke contrasting emotions; yesterday it was hard to register anything other than admiration.

It was Didier Drogba who settled this glorious contest. The hosts were still digesting the blow of Chelsea's stunning equaliser, Frank Lampard having fired an equaliser across Tim Howard and into the top corner six minutes earlier, when Drogba gathered Andriy Shevchenko's flick. The ball cannoned up from his chest and Drogba spun instinctively to hammer home a wondrous 35-yard dipping volley.

Jose Mourinho tore off down the touchline, arms pumping in celebration, as those present gasped or wailed at the splendour of the winner. The Chelsea manager spoke of his team's "character" in the aftermath, and it is their dogged refusal to wilt which must send shivers of apprehension down Alex Ferguson's spine.

The champions were generally unimpressive here and still trailed nine minutes from time, but quality will out in the end. Those last few exchanges could prove pivotal in the title race.

The Chelsea manager departed down the tunnel kissing his wedding ring as his coaching staff vied for a celebratory hug. His team are enduring a mid-season dip and haven't purred through 90 minutes since hammering Watford over a month ago. But, when you boast such pedigree in your ranks, a dearth of form does not necessarily stem the flow of points. "If you can play great music then you play great music, but if you cannot then at least play something," said Mourinho. "That's what we're doing."

They laboured yesterday, riled by Everton's industry and the adventurous running of the livewire Andrew Johnson and Victor Anichebe, and needed the manager's regular half-time tactical rethink to spark them into life. Michael Essien had switched to right-back to accommodate an extra forward. Almost immediately, Lee Carsley handled Claude Makelele's flick and Michael Ballack curled a 20-yard free-kick which cannoned off a post and, with Howard in mid-dive, the ball dribbled in off the goalkeeper's back.

Logic suggested parity would prompt an avalanche but Chelsea were rarely assured. Anichebe personified the home side's refusal to cave in, the 18-year-old unsettling his illustrious markers as Everton forced a flurry of corners. Mikel Arteta swung over a third with Drogba and Essien unable to prevent Joseph Yobo rising unchallenged to nod in. John Terry, sitting in the dug-out suffering from a strained back, had been sorely missed.

Briefly Everton believed and United, awaiting kick-off at West Ham, dared to dream. The sight of Drogba drilling high and wide fuelled that hope with Shevchenko's hapless backheel, surrendering possession wastefully, hinting that Chelsea were spent. Yet if Mourinho sat deadpan as his team toiled, his trust remained total. Lampard, fed by Kalou, duly eked out space on the corner of Everton's box and seared a shot diagonally across Howard and in.

Everton have a makeshift air at present, Phil Neville, Arteta and Leon Osman were forced to play through the 90 minutes here after barely recovering from injury. They deserved reward for their first-half efforts alone, as they smothered Chelsea's threat.

Johnson and Anichebe buzzed effectively. The England forward had burst on to his strike partner's flick 18 minutes in, eluding Khalid Boulahrouz who pushed the forward as he broke into the area. Johnson touched over the advancing Hilario and vaulted the goalkeeper before tumbling to the turf.

Mourinho had to be restrained by the fourth official from admonishing the linesman, demanding a caution for what he claimed was a dive. But when Anichebe collected Johnson's pass and spun off Boulahrouz, the Dutchman's blatant clumsy foul prompted the penalty. Arteta duly slid in Everton's opener. For Chelsea, that might have meant disaster. As it is, they awake this morning with their pursuit gathering pace.

Guardian Service