06/11/2004  Chelsea 1 Everton 0
 
A superb goal from Arjen Robben gave Chelsea a 1-0 win over Everton in the Barclays Premiership at Stamford Bridge.

Robben outpaced the Everton defence to finish off Eidur Gudjohnsen's superb through-ball in the 72nd minute and condemn the visitors to their first away defeat of the season.

It was just reward for Jose Mourinho's men who had toiled in vain for a breakthrough in the face of stubborn Everton resistance all afternoon.

Robben, who scored the winner against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday night, was at the heart of all Chelsea's best moves.

Everton though had begun the game in fine style and caused consternation in the home defence with crosses into the penalty area from both flanks but Jose Mourinho's side scrambled the ball to safety on both occasions.

But once their initial pressure had been tamed by Chelsea's defence, the Blues began to construct a number of their own attacks.

It culminated in a chance for England midfielder Frank Lampard who was unlucky not to put the home side ahead when an error by Alessandro Pistone gifted the ball him on the edge of the penalty area. However, the Everton defender recovered in time to block Lampard's goalbound effort.

In the 18th minute, Everton demonstrated they had not merely come to defend. Indeed, had their finishing matched the approach work, they could so easily have opened the scoring.

Winger Kevin Kilbane made the most of some precious space on the left and singled out the former Millwall midfielder Tim Cahill in the six-yard box. Cahill looked certain to score but his powerful header was well saved by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.

But Everton soon found themselves with more defending to do four minutes later when Nigel Martyn tipped a stunning 25-yard volley from Robben on to the crossbar and then Tony Hibbert cleared off the line from Gudjohnsen as Chelsea pressed hard for an opener.

But at the first-half wore on, Chelsea struggled to win the midfield battle with Thomas Gravesen and Cahill determined to prevent Lampard and Claude Makelele from making any sort of telling contribution.

But, urged on by the home fans, Chelsea continued to search for an opener anda curling effort from Damien Duff almost brought success for Gudjohnsen in the 35th minute. The Icelandic striker just failed to make firm contact with the ball and as it ran free, Hibbert cleared for a corner.

Robben then wriggled free of the Everton defence a minute before the interval to send another left-foot piledriver just a foot too high.

Chelsea piled on the pressure in a bid to break the deadlock before the half-time whistle but for all their endeavour, they could not find a way through.

Chelsea began the second half in a similar fashion to the way the ended the first. But their almost continuous promptings from midfield found no route to goal.

Lampard began to take more control of the midfield but even his endeavours failed to reap any reward from Everton's miserly defence.

Even the mercurial Robben was unable to unlock the visiting rearguard and time and again his mazy runs finished in a dead end. When they did get in position to do some damage, Chelsea could not find the required range.

Tiago was left with a clear shot on goal from 25 yards out but his effort thundered into the upper tier of the stand behind Martyn's goal.

Mourinho's side were clearly in dire need of some inspiration and the manager turned to Serbian striker Mateja Kezman to provide it when he replaced Tiago in the 57th minute.

But before he could get into the action, Everton almost got their noses in front. Leon Osman's cross from a short corner on the right was met by the head of the unmarked Alan Stubbs. However, with the goal at his mercy, Stubbs failed to direct his header into the top corner.

Everton had clearly gained much confidence from their fine start to the season and refused to panic as Chelsea once again mustered their forces. Those forced conspired to produce a chance when Robben was felled by Pistone 25-yards out ina central position.

The Dutchman took the free-kick himself but his curling effort just flashed wide of Martyn's right-hand upright. Robben, now operating on the right flank, was beginning to undo the Everton defence with more success.

In the 69th minute Steve Watson got himself in the way of a Lampard effort as the England midfielder burst into the penalty with a characteristic run. Seconds later the ball broke to Gudjohnsen in an unmarked position some eight yards out but he sent his volley over the bar.

Chelsea finally broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute and it was that man Robben who was the hero for the second time this week.

The Dutchman was sent clear of the Everton defence thanks to a delightful lofted ball from Gudjohnsen.

Robben's pace took him away from the Everton defenders and although David Weir attempted to put him off at the last minute, his nerve held as he flicked the ball over Martyn for the matchwinner.