The game today was a serious battle, with a lot of pace and determination seeing both sides proving to be a threat on the break.
Chelsea were unable to convert their chances despite having 22 goal attempts, Naismith’s forst-half stoppage time header proved to be the decider between both sides.
Gareth Barry and Samuel Eto’o were handed debuts for Everton and Chelsea respectively, with Barry formidable in the heart of the midfield throughout.
Eto’o, on the other hand, was guilty of wastefulness in front of goal, as he saw two chances to score on his Chelsea debut go begging.
Eto’o nearly opened his account inside five minutes after an inviting cross from Ramires, but was unable to direct the ball to goal before a magnificent challenge from Barry denied him an easy tap in.
Chelsea had the bulk of the possession in the early stages but Everton looked a threat on the break and had a good chance through Nikica Jelavic, but he sent the header straight to Petr Cech.
As the half progressed, everton came more into the game closing down balls quickly giving Mourinho’s men a lot to think about.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard almost gifted Eto’o a debut goal when he delayed his clearance too long and Andre Schurrle was quick to pounce as he stole the ball and fed Eto’o in front of an empty net, but Barry came out of nowhere to make a sensational block.
Everton were the happier of the two sides at half time with Mourinho angered by his side’s lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and they joy increased at the stroke of half-time as Naismith head a ball passed Cech, finishing a great ball from Barkley, Leon Osman and Jelavic.
Chelsea supporters thought they had equalised immediately after the break, but Schurrle’s clipped effort could only find the side-netting.
The Blues upped their pace and had a penalty turned down just on the hour mark, when substitute Oscar was sandwiched by Sylvain Distin and Osman.
With Chelsea going to the three at the back, Everton had chances to extend their lead but couldn’t make their opportunities count. Leighton Baines came close to sealing the points with a minute left on the click, when his free-kick rattle the cross bar, but in the end they had done enough to claim their first win of the season.
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