11/03/2000  Chelsea 1 Everton 1

Not even the virtually single-handed efforts of captain 
Dennis Wise were able to prevent Everton punishing Chelsea for 
their alarming weaknesses up front as the Blues were held to a 
draw at Stamford Bridge.

Wise may have been switched from central midfield onto the 
right flank to accommodate changes to the starting line-up but 
he was still the Blues' most impressive performer.

That he was also clearly their most potent attacking force 
was more worrying though.

Although he gave the home side the lead on 30 minutes with 
his second goal in just four days - after scoring the vital 
winner against Marseille in midweek - Chelsea laboured to 
threaten Everton keeper Paul Gerrard again and simply coasted 
along.

But while they escaped with a slender victory against 
Marseille despite numerous threats by the French side, this 
time they succumbed to even less pressure as Danny Cadamarteri 
capitalised on a long throw-in to strike from close range with 
21 minutes left.

Again, despite the best efforts of not only Wise but also 
keeper Ed De Goey and centre-back Emerson Thome, Chelsea's 
defence was unconvincing yet their strikeforce was even worse.

Tore Andre Flo, Chris Sutton and Gianfranco Zola have 
failed to score a single Premiership goal between them since 
January 4 and how it showed as they struggled to make any real 
impact apart from a couple of attempts by the Norwegian.

Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli may have declared just before 
the game that the current packed fixture schedule was like 
``being able to eat caviar and smoked salmon and to drink 
champagne every three days''.

However, this encounter at Stamford Bridge was more like 
Arsene Wenger's proverbial `bangers and mash' as the Blues 
laboured to impose themselves upon Everton from the kick-off.

Vialli had again rotated his squad to keep his players 
fresh for the demands of playing twice a week this month, with 
Thome, Roberto Di Matteo, Sutton and Jon Harley coming in for 
Marcel Desailly, Didier Deschamps, Flo and Gus Poyet.

However, even though Wise and Harley were still playing out 
of position on the flanks, it was still that duo who caught 
the eye early on, with Harley's first cross just bypassing 
Sutton and Wise, while his second found the Chelsea captain at 
the far post.

On this occasion, Wise volleyed over the bar but after Zola 
had come even closer with a free-kick, the midfielder made no 
mistake to put the home side ahead.

Di Matteo's persistence was instrumental in harrying the 
Everton defence and, via Sutton, the ball fell to Wise, who 
struck his shot confidently past keeper Gerrard into the far 
corner.

That was about it though for Chelsea's attacking threats 
before the break as while Sutton was effective with his back 
towards goal, it was a completely different proposition when 
he turned round, while Zola was constantly trying without ever 
really succeeding.

Everton, meanwhile, who were themselves without a host of 
first-team players and had to play John Collins at left-back, 
had brought Cadamarteri in to partner Joe-Max Moore up front.

The diminutive striker was their main threat throughout the 
game with his persistent runs, taking the ball around Frank 
Leboeuf with ease on one occasion in the first-half only to be 
denied by the onrushing figure of De Goey.

Apart from the goal, Everton were at least holding their 
own in terms of possession but they still struggled to create 
another real chance, with Collins' free-kick just over the bar 
being their only other dangerous effort before the interval.

Chelsea continued to push forward after the break, with Flo 
on for Zola, and the Norwegian put one shot just wide and 
headed another chance over the bar, while Thome fired two 
powerful shots off-target.

However, the Blues were coasting rather than attempting to 
force home their advantage and they were duly punished for 
their attitude when they failed to cope with a long throw-in 
into their penalty box and Cadamarteri equalised.

Sutton went for the ball in the air with Richard Gough but 
missed it completely and it fell at the feet of Cadamarteri, 
who was allowed the time to twist and fire in a shot which 
gave De Goey virtually no chance.

With Poyet replacing Harley, Chelsea were at least awoken 
from their slumbers by the equaliser but they continued to 
struggle to find a way through the determined Everton 
rearguard.

After Moore's powerful drive had been parried by De Goey, 
the best chance fell to Jody Morris in the final minute as he 
dived to meet Flo's cross.

But he planted his header straight into keeper Gerrard's 
arms and Chelsea's fate, amid a committed Everton display, was 
deservedly complete.