23/10/2005  Everton 1 Chelsea 1
 
The champions met an Everton side who had spent part of the week trying their hand at white-water canoeing in a desperate attempt to turn the tide that had been flowing against them.

This raw day of emotion at Goodison Park was just as frightening for the Everton men at times, but it must have worked because they rediscovered the confidence and defiant streak that made last season such a success and also ended Chelsea's 100% Barclays Premiership record.

Everton fought for every inch, scored in the first half through a James Beattie penalty and when Frank Lampard blasted home a superb equaliser, the Toffees refused to capitulate and may just have got their desperate season back on track.

Everton, of course, make a habit of breaking runs. In 1969 they ended Leeds' 34- match record, in 1988 Liverpool's 29-game spell was ruined and in 2002 Arsenal's 30-match effort was ended. Now Chelsea's mere nine-match winning streak has gone the same way.

And had John Terry been penalised for handball late in the game when he charged down a Marcus Bent drive, Evertonians could have been celebrating a hugely unlikely victory.

Jose Mourinho came prepared for an Goodison Park aerial bombardment, with big defender Robert Huth in for his first start of the season alongside skipper Terry.

Everton had record signing Beattie in their side for the first time since the opening day of the season, the £6million man having shaken off toe and leg muscle injuries.

Everton also welcomed back Tony Hibbert to defence and Mikel Arteta in midfield after injuries, with Simon Davies, James McFadden, Bent and Matteo Ferrari all dropped to the bench.

Everton came close to a goal when Arteta's corner found David Weir unmarked 10 yards out and his header was palmed away by Petr Cech. This inspired Everton and Arteta and Hibbert both fired in dangerous crosses.

Shaun Wright-Phillips and Lampard both saw efforts flash wide, but Everton were still trying to go forward and when Tim Cahill's sheer desire forced him away from Wright-Phillips down the left, the tackle that followed from the little winger had the stadium in uproar.

Wright-Phillips did not need to lunge in, there was plenty of cover around him, but his tackle caught Cahill inches inside the box and referee Mark Clattenburg was up with play to point to the spot.

Beattie stepped up to rifle the spot kick home off the underside of the bar, only the fourth goal Chelsea have conceded in the league this season.

Everton lost Nuno Valente just before the break with an ankle injury and Ferrari replaced him, and with Cahill also off with an injury the home side survived a late barrage.

Everton fans' joy had been restrained at the break, more than aware of what Chelsea did to Bolton last week when behind at the break.

And they were right to be wary because five minutes into the second half, Lampard lashed in a 25-yard shot for the equaliser, the ball dipping past Martyn's left hand.

Everton had been momentarily confused when Claude Makelele had collided with referee Clattenburg as he went for an Asier Del Horno throw, and the ball bounced behind the pair for Lampard to pounce.

Drogba was booked after fouls in quick succession on Joseph Yobo and then Arteta. A minute later Wright-Phillips was withdrawn with Eidur Gudjohnsen taking over.

Chelsea are a relentless machine as opponents tire, and Drogba - in an onside position - crashed the ball home.

Gudjohnsen, just a few yards away and in an offside position, was judged to be too central to the action and interfering with play.

Next on for Chelsea was Arjen Robben for Joe Cole, and Everton were being forced further and further back but they responded by sending on Simon Davies for Cahill.

But such is Chelsea's strength in depth that Hernan Crespo was next into the fray to take over from Drogba.

Bent replaced Ferguson with 12 minutes to go, Everton managed a break-out  and Davies launched a 25-yard shot that Cech dropped, but there was unlikely to be a colleague that far advanced at this stage to take advantage.

Huth was booked for a foul on Kevin Kilbane, and by now all 11 Evertonians were behind the ball fighting for survival.

Bent was denied a penalty when Terry threw himself at a shot in the box and referee Clattenburg insisted the ball hit the England man's chest but TV replays showed it was the top of his arm.

Martyn saved from Lampard and Michael Essien but Everton started to come forward, a very risky decision at this stage.

Ferrari was booked for disrupting a free-kick in the dying minutes.