Chelsea's job more or less done

SOCCER/Chelsea 3 Everton 0:  Patience is one of Chelsea's many virtues and they practised it once again yesterday.

Denied an immediate opportunity to clinch the Premiership title by Manchester United's victory over Spurs, they methodically ensured a win of their own against Everton. Jose Mourinho's side also exploited Lee Carsley's dismissal in the 47th minute to extend a 1-0 lead.

The day was as pleasing as it could be without a coronation. They are nine points ahead with three games remaining. The first opportunity to retain the title, with no more than a draw required, comes against United themselves on April 29th.

Supporters are a vindictive breed and some will find an attraction in the delay to the glory timetable. There is, after all, the prospect of seeing United players being forced to witness more jubilation at the Bridge.

The dispassionate view yesterday, however, was of a job more or less done. Can the human mind accommodate a Mourinho team being beaten in three consecutive games? Even if there were such a shift in the natural order, United would still have to make up a gap in goal difference of 12.

Scoring was simplified here by that red card for Carsley, after a bad tackle on Didier Drogba. The Ivory Coast striker has already told people in France he will stay with Chelsea despite flurries of antagonism towards him. Judging by the kisses from two girls he recognised in the crowd after scoring, Drogba has a secure place in the hearts of Chelsea's followers.

Having lost the ball in the 28th minute he charged back, won it off Tim Cahill just inside his own half and went back on attack. With Carsley unsure whom to cover, he passed for Frank Lampard to score his 20th goal this season with a low drive from the fringe of the area.

Drogba deservedly took more from the day than praise for his industriousness. In the 62nd minute he charged in front of the otherwise secure Joseph Yobo at the near post to power a header into the net from Lampard's corner. While Everton had only themselves to blame then, David Moyes had a litany of other grievances.

The manager complained that Carsley's red card had been draconian and railed against an alleged culture of indulgence towards Chelsea that saw Arjen Robben allowed to trot on to the pitch when it suited him, some moments after the second half had started. A more material issue was the verdict by the referee Rob Styles that Leon Osman, after 74 minutes, had intentionally rolled a pass back to the goalkeeper Richard Wright when he appeared merely to mishit the ball.

All the same Chelsea's third goal did not derive immediately from that decision. After the free-kick Lampard's attempt was charged down. Claude Makelele competed for possession on the right and Michael Essien spotted the opportunity to use his speed and power to gather the ball, thunder into the area and spank a finish past Wright at the near post.

The single disquiet for Chelsea was an injury to Petr Cech. As he came out towards James Beattie, who was about to lift a flick over the bar from an angle on the left, the covering William Gallas trod on the goalkeeper in the 32nd minute. After extended treatment he continued but he had hurt his knee and Carlo Cudicini took over for the second half.

Mourinho believes no harm has been done to the structure of Cech's knee. In any case Cudicini was always planned to replace him, according to their usual policy, for the FA Cup semi-final next Saturday. The Italian will hardly be seen as a liability when they meet Liverpool and return to their pursuit of the double.

They are honing the right characteristics for an encounter with the durable Anfield team. Since the galling defeat by Fulham Chelsea have kept clean sheets in five of their last six matches. The defensive record is already inferior to last season's but the mean look is returning to a back four in which Geremi is establishing himself as the preferred right back.

CHELSEA: Cech (Cudicini 45), Geremi, Gallas, Terry, Del Horno, Essien, Makelele, Lampard, Robben (Joe Cole 62), Crespo (Wright-Phillips 75), Drogba. Subs not used: Duff, Huth. Goals: Lampard 28, Drogba 62, Essien 74.

EVERTON: Wright, Neville, Weir, Yobo, Naysmith, Cahill, Carsley, Osman, Kilbane (Ferguson 70), McFadden, Beattie (Davies 69). Subs not used: Turner, Ferrari, Van der Meyde. Sent off: Carsley (47).

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).