It's not so grim up north for Chelsea

English FA Premiership: The trouble with indulging in mind games is that when the provocation fails to rile, the reality is all the more demoralising. Back in December Alex Ferguson eyed the title chasers' remaining fixtures and spotted where Chelsea might be vulnerable. "It's when they come north, you'll see," he said. "They have to go to Liverpool and Everton. They'll find it difficult." Therein lay Manchester United's hope.

Such optimism has withered since. An ugly victory here on Saturday ensured Chelsea have beaten both Merseyside clubs without conceding to add to similar successes enjoyed at Blackburn and Middlesbrough. They have also won at Old Trafford and Newcastle in the League Cup, their pursuit relentless on four fronts. So much for perceived weakness in the windswept wilds of the north.

With each efficient win earned by Chelsea, conviction drains from those at their shoulder. "We didn't want to give Arsenal or United anything to bite on," said Joe Cole. "You pinpoint matches over the course of a season which are turning points.

"Winning at Spurs was one of those, as was winning at Liverpool. This was another. As for the games up north, wherever you go you just jump on a plane - whether it's to Manchester, Barcelona or Timbuktu. If you're good enough, you win. We know we have enough to beat anybody."

Against such bloody-minded self-belief, the mind games employed by the chasers smack of desperation. This win was chiselled out remorselessly, the unwise temptation to seek reward via pizzazz suppressed in the face of Everton's blanket defence, with sheer persistence eventually seeing Chelsea home.

Just as it seemed that Nigel Martyn's heroics were starting to frustrate, Paulo Ferreira's cross was flicked on to the bar by William Gallas and Eidur Gudjohnsen tapped into the empty net to gain reward from an afternoon of constant pressure.

Once ahead, stifling defence deflated the locals. Since Arjen Robben broke a foot at Blackburn, Chelsea have reverted to their early-season grind. Petr Cech has now gone 961 minutes without conceding a league goal. Their championship will have been won with only fleeting glimpses of the sumptuous play which marked Arsenal and United's recent successes, not that Jose Mourinho could care less.

The Portuguese benefited here from James Beattie's crass stupidity. Chelsea might not have monopolised possession with such ease had Everton's record signing not mindlessly chased, pushed and butted Gallas in the back of the head eight minutes into the match, with the ball trickling out of play yards ahead. Mike Riley flourished his 10th red card in 27 games this season, and the first of Beattie's career, leaving the hosts no choice but to retreat into their shells.

"Our heads barely touched and he made a meal of it," pleaded the striker afterwards. "I had a word with the referee and he accepts my explanation. It's not in my nature to head-butt anyone: if I'd gone to do it properly, I think he'd have stayed down longer."

Moyes and his squad left for a break in Portugal immediately after the game, allowing heads to remain buried in the sand of the Algarve while the incident was replayed endlessly over the weekend. No club sanction will be taken against Beattie, who will now be suspended until any sixth round of the FA Cup, Manchester United on Saturday permitting, or the Anfield derby on March 20th. Duncan Ferguson was fined two weeks' wages for flinging an elbow at Charlton's Herman Hreidarrson in December; the inconsistency is brazen.

The hosts' only consolation was Liverpool's meek defeat at Birmingham which ensured the gap to fifth place remains five points, though sloppy delivery from set-pieces saw them muster a solitary effort on target. Lee Carsley's header from Kevin Kilbane's free-kick was saved and Chelsea strolled to success.

The Londoners do not play again in the Premiership until March 5th. Ferguson had added in December that, should United win seven games 1-0 in the second half of the season then "we would definitely win the league". Chelsea have won four since St Stephen's Day by that margin and have not conceded in over two months. The United manager will be drawing his own conclusions.

Guardian Service