06/04/2002  Chelsea 3 Everton 0
 
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's superb double strike helped keep 
Chelsea firmly on course for a Champions League place with 
victory over woeful Everton.

The Dutchman struck twice from distance in the first half 
before Gianfranco Zola added a late third in stoppage time to 
move Chelsea above Newcastle into fourth place in the 
Premiership having played two games more than their 
rivals.

Hasselbaink had not scored in four Premiership outings 
before this match, but he terrorised a shaky Everton defence 
to underline his claims for the PFA player of the year 
award.

His first came after 25 minutes when a delicate 25-yard 
chip beat goalkeeper Steve Simonsen, and he took his tally to 
29 for the season with a low piledriver from a similar 
distance just before half-time.

Everton have not won at Stamford Bridge since 1994, and 
never even looked like scoring until Tomasz Radzinski and 
Duncan Ferguson wasted two late chances which could have made 
it 2-2.

David Moyes' reign at Goodison has been all about goals, 
but Everton have now conceded 13 in his five games in charge, 
and the Merseysiders are not yet safe from the drop.

Chelsea should have been in front inside five minutes when 
Mario Stanic rose to head a searching Hasselbaink cross, but 
his effort flew inches wide.

Hasselbaink forced Simonsen into a smart low diving save 
seven minutes later but the home side were dealt a blow when 
John Terry limped off injured.

Manager Ranieri clearly sensed blood because he threw on 
winger Boudewijn Zenden as replacement.

And the Dutchman almost made an immediate impact after 
receiving a neat pass from Hasselbaink. Zenden took aim from 
25 yards and fired a blistering shot just wide of the 
woodwork.

Danish midfielder Gravesen raised Everton spirits, 
controlling Clarke's header from a corner on his knee and 
turning Marcel Desailly inside out. But Chelsea keeper Carlo 
Cudicini was equal to his shot from just inside the box.

And then Hasselbaink took over. His wonderful piece of 
skill after 25 minutes broke a four-match scoring drought, and 
he was clearly desperate to get on the scoresheet.

The Dutchman held off the challenge of Steve Watson and 
received a fortunate rebound off Peter Clarke before skipping 
past David Weir, who slipped at just the wrong moment.

But there was nothing lucky about his delicately floated 
chip over the stranded Simonsen from 25 yards.

Everton came close to an equaliser after 41 minutes when 
Niclas Alexandersson scampered into the box to unleash a 
fierce drive.

But Cudicini was equal to it, and the stretching Ferguson 
could only put the rebound wastefully over from close 
range.

Hasselbaink made him pay moments later with his 23rd 
Premiership goal of the season.

Zenden played the ball to him from a free-kick 25 yards out 
and Hasselbaink blasted a swerving low shot into the bottom 
corner.

Chelsea seemed content to defend their lead after the break 
with their opponents offering little going forward.

But Alessandro Pistone almost made them pay for failing to 
finish the game off after 58 minutes.

The Everton full-back beat Stanic to a precise chip from 
substitute Tobias Linderoth, who had only been on the pitch 
for four minutes.

And Cudicini did well to save from his sharp shot with an 
outstretched left foot.

Everton were looking for inspiration from captain Duncan 
Ferguson up front before his three-match ban for being sent 
off against Bolton begins.

But the Scotsman was conspicuous by his absence, and strike 
partner Radzinski was given short shrift by the towering 
Desailly.

Such was Chelsea's degree of comfort that Ranieri decided 
to give a Premiership debut to 18-year-old prodigy Carlton 
Cole, the scorer of a prolific 37 goals for the reserves.

Cole replaced hero Hasselbaink, who was given a standing 
ovation from the Stamford Bridge faithful, and the teenager 
forced Weir into a fine block with his first touch.

Everton finally threatened with four minutes remaining, 
Watson's hopeful punt upfield foxing Desailly for Radzinski to 
race clear.

But the Canadian international was forced wide by advancing 
keeper Cudicini, and dragged his effort wide of an open 
goal.

And Chelsea were fortunate again moments later when 
Radzinski floated a deep cross to Ferguson, whose shot on the 
stretch hit the crossbar.

But they made sure in stoppage time when Gianfranco Zola 
blasted past Simonsen from Gudjohnsen's right-wing cross.