Lescott nods into his own net under intense pressure from a towering Shaun Wright-Phillips. Yep you read it right. Grant’s men edge a tempestuous Carling semi having gone down to ten, to get the advantage at half-time in the tie. Read on for my notes on tonight’s encounter…
Chelsea Everton
The game seemed to turn on the dismissal of Obi early in the second-half. His “one-footed” tackle saw him get his second straight red of the season, Grant withdraw the creative Cole to compensate and, suddenly, Everton were in the ascendancy having looked second best.
Chelsea would have probably held on had Hilario not flapped and floundered at McFadden’s free-kick. His capers allowed Yakubu to rifle in a half-volley into the roof of Chelsea’s net to level the match. Everton will miss the Nigerian whilst he’s away at the African Cup of Nations, but probably not half as much as Chelsea are missing Cech right now.
Poor Lescott had the last word though, nodding forlornly into his own net under pressure from Wright-Phillips, who somehow lept above him like the proverbial salmon. The Chelsea man had earlier showed great composure in a crowded penalty area to curl a beauty past a sprawling Howard.
Lineup wise Chelsea had Obi in the side for this last 54-minute appearance before departing for an early bath. Carvalho returned from a 3-match ban. Most significantly Malouda returned after missing two months with a knee injury.
Grant restored Carvalho to the defence then, alongside Alex with Ben-Haim back on the bench amidst waves of transfer talk. Belletti was again preferred to Ferreira. Bridge got the nod over Ashley Cole who was out of the sixteen. In a 4-3-3 come 4-5-1, Malouda and Joe Cole lined up out wide with Wright-Phillips providing support to Pizarro the lone striker and Ballack and Obi patrolling the centre of midfield behind him.
It was Wright-Phillips that glittered – not least for producing an unfeasible leap to pressure Lescott into the winner. I mentioned in previous notes that he and Joe Cole may well take on more responsibility with Chelsea still lacking firepower up front. Tonight Wright-Phillips stepped up.
Malouda’s return could also be of interest. He looked lively, slotting in Wright-Phillips for the first. He has an eye for goal despite his record of just one in eleven Premiership appearances, and will play a major role at set-pieces with Lampard still out . His value has dropped considerably in the Fantasy Premier League game – peaking at 9.2 million, he’s now available for 8.3. Could be one to watch if Grant begins to hand him regular starts.
Elsewhere Belletti appears to have taken the right-back spot back from Ferreira, although he is now on four bookings after tonight. Meanwhile, Bridge clearly has the edge on Ashley Cole at left-back. Cudicini returned to the bench tonight after overcoming a rib injury. If Cech is still out for the weekend, then he could well get the nod over Hilario at the weekend after tonight’s error.
Everton had Cahill back from a knee injury after missing the Premiership fixture with Boro and the FA Cup tie with Oldham. Yobo and Yakubu played their final game before departing for the African Cup of Nations. They were without Pienaar who has already joined up with the South African squad.
Moyes opted for a 4-4-2 with Johnson and Yakubu up front. McFadden operated wide on the left with Neville on the right and Cahill alongside Carsley in central midfield. Lescott was once again at left-back with Yobo and Jagielka in the centre.
Things will change for the weekend clash with City with the two Nigerians off to Ghana and with Arteta returning from suspension. I can see Moyes sticking with 4-4-2. That’s likely to see him restore Neville to right-back with Arteta returning in front of him in midfield. Vaughan or Anichebe could get the start alongside Johnson while Baines seems set to come in at left-back to allow Lescott to shift to the centre.
McFadden looks likely to take the left midfield berth in Pienaar’s absence and his twinkled-toed run in the second-half, which saw him denied only by the woodwork, acted as a reminder of his undoubted talent. He’s a striker in the Fantasy Premier League but priced at a fairly decent 5.7 million currently. In the Fantasy League he’s certainly a better option, classed as a midfielder and valued at 3.9 million.
Injuries and Suspensions
Obi will serve a 4-match ban for his red tonight having already seen red against United earlier in the season. The good news for Chelsea is that he’ll serve his entire ban whilst at the African Cup of Nations, becoming eligible again on January 30 for the Reading game. Belletti picked up his fourth booking tonight and is therefore on the verge of a suspension.
Everton’s Hibbert moved on to four yellow cards so he is just a booking away from his second suspension of the season.