Late Willian strike ends Everton resistance

LONDON
Chelsea left it late as Willian's 89th-minute winner against Everton on Wednesday secured a 1-0 victory that conserved his side's seven-point lead in the Premier League title race. Chelsea also had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank for two saves to deny Everton striker Romelu Lukaku on a night when second-place Manchester City wrapped up a more comprehensive 4-1 victory at Stoke City.

BARRY SEES RED
Everton, who had Gareth Barry sent off, remain 12th.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho handed a first start to new signing Juan Cuadrado, who had made his debut in Saturday's 2-1 win at Aston Villa, while Cesc Fabregas returned from injury on the bench. Everton, beaten 6-3 at home by the Premier League leaders in August, recalled fit-again goalkeeper Tim Howard for his first appearance of 2015, relegating Joel Robles to the bench. Nemanja Matic shrugged off two challengers to fire the game's first shot over the bar.

Cuadrado saw an effort blocked and appealed in vain for a penalty when Steven Naismith flicked the rebound away with his shoulder. The home side continued to dominate, with Willian curling an effort just over, but there was a chance at the other end for Lukaku that saw Cech stick out a leg to deny the former Chelsea man. Within seconds Cuadrado had fired across goal and wide, and Howard did well to palm away a header from Loic Remy.



Everton were living dangerously and were relieved that Eden Hazard was unable to make contact right in front of goal and when a swift counter-attack saw Remy fail to hit the target.
Branislav Ivanovic's blushes were saved by an offside flag after he blasted over from close range, but Lukaku was still trying to prove a point and curled a low drive at Cech, who was preferred to Thibaut Courtois.

Howard was by far the busier goalkeeper, though, and did well to cling on to Ivanovic's low drive as blue shirts converged. Everton were grateful for the half-time whistle.