Birthday boy Steven Naismith ended Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season as Everton took a top four scalp at Goodison Park.
Team News
Toffees manager Martinez had to make two changes from the goalless draw with Cardiff City. With Marouane Fellaini sold and Steven Pienaar injuring his knee in training there was a debut for loan signing Gareth Barry and a start for Naismith.
Other deadline captures Romelu Lukaku and James McCarthy had to wait for their bows as the former was ineligible against his parent club, and the latter warmed the bench.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho meanwhile made four changes after suffering penalty shootout heartbreak in the European Super Cup. Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard, Oscar and Fernando Torres made way.
Club captain John Terry, John Obi Mikel, Juan Mata and debutant striker Samuel Eto’o made starts as the Special One rotated the spine of his side.
Match Report
Eto’o headed a delicious Ramires cross over early on as Chelsea’s new boy showed signs of rust. Nikica Jevic then headed straight at Petr Cech down the other end from a Naismith centre.
Barry made a sensational block to keep Eto’o from tapping into an empty Everton net as the hosts overplayed it at the back. The pendulum swung back their way though as Naismith skewed wide following good work by Kevin Mirallas.
Tim Howard then tipped away a Ramires effort when Eto’o split down the right and teed him up. This cut and thrust first half ended with the Toffees going in ahead. Naismith headed home after Jelavic knocked down a Leon Osman cross at the back stick.
Mourinho’s men came out after the break with renewed purpose and made the better openings. Andre Schurrle lifted over Howard but into the side-netting. The Everton stopper then parried Eden Hazard’s bending effort and Eto’o shanked the rebound wide.
Lampard and Oscar came on before the hour as the Blues continued to search for an equaliser. Mourinho also threw on Torres, so the visitors went two up top. Mirallas forced Cech to palm away a free kick at full stretch, however.
Howard thwarted Eto’o again with a reaction near post stop. Mirallas then worked Cech again as Martinez’s Toffees went straight up the other end. Last man David Luiz only saw yellow when he felled Ross Barkley, though the home side midfielder was in his own half.
For the 20 plus shots Chelsea mustered on goal few truly threatened. Leighton Baines curled a late free kick against the angle of post and bar. Everton held on and climb into the top half, joining Merseyside rivals Liverpool as the only Premier League clubs yet to taste defeat.
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Match Stats
- Everton: 24 Tim Howard, 23 Seamus Coleman, 6 Phil Jagielka (c), 15 Sylvain Distin, 3 Leighton Baines, 21 Leon Osman, 18 Gareth Barry, 14 Steven Naismith (26 John Stones 89’), 20 Ross Barkley, 11 Kevin Mirallas (10 Gerard Deulofeu 90’+2), 7 Nikica Jelavic (16 James McCarthy 66’) 4-2-3-1
- Goals: Steven Naismith 45’+1
- Chelsea: 1 Petr Cech, 2 Branislav Ivanovic, 4 David Luiz, 26 John Terry (c), 3 Ashley Cole (9 Fernando Torres 69’), 7 Ramires, 12 John Obi Mikel, 14 Andre Schurrle (8 Frank Lampard 57’), 10 Juan Mata (11 Oscar 57’), 17 Eden Hazard, 29 Samuel Eto’o 4-2-3-1