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BARCLAYCARD FA Premiership League / Mon. 21st April 2003 / Kick Off: 3.00pm 
Chelsea
4
v
 1

EVERTON

Carsley 76m: Atten: 40,875


Everton: Wright, Yobo, Weir, Stubbs, Unsworth, Carsley, Gemmill, Li Tie, Nacesmith, Rooney, Campbell.

Bench:Gerrard, Alexandersson, Gravesen (on for Unsworth 52m), Ferguson (on for Li Tie 77m), Hibbert (on for Yobo 52m).

After the disappointment of Saturday the prospect of a trip to Stamford Bridge did not whet the appetite. Li Tie made a welcome return replacing Gravesen, and looked comfortable on the ball. Unfortunately this was not the case for the majority of the team. To be fair we did reasonably well for most of the first half but unfortunately we never looked like causing Chelsea too many problems. And once Davey Weir's badly timed slip let in Gudjohnson to open the scoring there was only ever going to be one outcome.

Half Time: Chelsea 1, Everton 0,

Shortly after the break another mistake by the out of sorts Yobo let in Gronkjaer whose cross was met by Jimmy Floyd in full flight. We then watched in slow motion as the ball looped in to the top corner of the net. Soon after Tony Hibbert replaced Yobo and Gravesen replaced Unsworth. Naysmith dropped back to full back where he looked far more comfortable, further up the field he seems to lack the ability to find the right pass.

Whilst I think it would be fickle to pick holes in Monday's performance and over criticise individual performances, I also think it is important to recognise that this team/squad has its limitations. Although the dozen or so players involved today are almost identical to the players involved in the wins against Arsenal and Newcastle, Monday's game showed that when we don't perform to our maximum potential and take our chances we can seem very ordinary. That said a better season we could not have wished for.

Gronkjaer made it 3 with 15 minutes to play, when Tony Hibbert allowed him to run from deep to met a long ball from John Terry. Big Dunc then replaced Li Tie (why can't he finish 90 minutes?) and Lee Carsley added a bit of interest to the closing stages when he finished neatly after a smart through ball from Archie. He could have made it very interesting with 5 minutes to go but he pulled his well struck volley a foot wide. Zola rounded off a miserable afternoon for the toffeemen with the last kick off the game. You can't deny the quality of Zola's finish but have to ask where was Wright going?

There are not too many contenders for star man. Lee Carsley put in his usual busy display but for me star man goes to Li Tie for his work rate in the first half and for always looking to play short passes to link the play rather than hopefully sending the ball long.


Team News

Only God and Moyesy know what team will picked for the Chelsea game. There is a big doubt over Steve Watson. He had a x-ray on Saturday night on his ankle, but he still travelled to London. There is still some doubt over the Rad. I expect a few changes and maybe Leon Osman will get his chance.

Moyesy said: "We are onto the next game now. The derby didn't work for us, but we know we must take three points from Chelsea."

"It's a very difficult game. We have been there already in the Worthington Cup and were well beaten. We changed things around there, played a different system and it didn't work. We have done well against the good sides this season, we have always been in the game and always had chances and I don't see this one being any different. We have got better since we were last at Chelsea and now we want to put on a show."

Sausage's eleven to start: Wright, Yobo, Weir, Stubbs, Unsworth, Osman, Li Tie, Gemmill, Naysmith, Campbell, Rooney.

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