17/04/2006  Chelsea 3 Everton 0
 
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho's second title in as many years will surely be made all the more sweeter if they can secure it against the team that had, at one stage, threatened to spoil another memorable season in west London.

United's victory over Tottenham at White Hart Lane had briefly cut Chelsea's lead at the top to six points but Mourinho's men have the scent of glory in their nostrils and they set about deconstructing Everton with an efficiency worthy of their champion status.

Mourinho had always insisted United's results were of little concern as the season surged towards its conclusion but after United's success over Spurs, it was imperative that his side collected three points against the Merseysiders.

They did so with another faultless performance which was sparked into life by Frank Lampard's opening goal in the 28th minute - his 16th Premiership goal of the season.

Didier Drogba then sent the Chelsea faithful into party mood with an unstoppable header in the 62nd minute before Michael Essien wrapped up a comfortable afternoon for the home side with a third goal in the 74th minute.

Everton offered little attacking ambition and their cause was further hampered by the dismissal of Lee Carsley for a reckless lunge on Drogba early in the second half.

Everton had briefly threatened to add to Chelsea's party woes with a hard-working performance which, initially at least, prevented the home side from striking the early goal they wanted.

But in the 28th minute, Chelsea eased their worries when Frank Lampard put them in front with a trademark 20-yard drive which Everton keeper Richard Wright had no chance of stopping.

The goal was the result of some diligent hard work by the much maligned Drogba.

The Ivory Coast hitman labelled a 'diver' and a 'cheat' in recent weeks, demonstrated the spirit and desire within the Chelsea camp by tracking Tim Cahill and winning the ball with a tackle most defenders would have been proud of.

Not content with that, the Chelsea striker slipped a simple square pass to the unmarked Lampard who delivered his 16th Premiership goal of the season with a crisp drive into the bottom right-hand corner.

In the 31st minute, Chelsea were given a real scare when Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech went down injured after being caught just below the right knee by team-mate William Gallas in an accidental collision.

Cech required lengthy treatment before he was deemed fit enough to continue although Mourinho sent reserve 'keeper Carlo Cudicini to warm up along the touchline just in case Cech's recovery was short-lived.

The Chelsea keeper proved he had fully recovered moments later when he gathered a difficult cross from James Beattie from beneath his crossbar.

In the 43rd minute Everton almost equalised against the run of play when a Cahill shot from 20 yards was tipped around the right-hand post by Cech.

The Chelsea coach was forced to make a change during the interval with Cech replaced by Cudicini. The cut received by the Czech international in the first half was clearly serious enough for Mourinho to make the switch.

But the afternoon got worse for Everton in the 47th minute when Carsley was shown a straight red card by referee Rob Styles for a reckless lunge on Drogba.

Two minutes later captain John Terry should have increased Chelsea's lead but instead of burying Geremi's delightful right-wing cross, the inspirational centre-half volleyed his effort over the bar from six yards.

In the 55th minute, Hernan Crespo squandered another chance to increase the lead when put clear by Lampard.

The Argentinian striker opted to try to curl the ball around Wright but his application was so poor that he shot straight at the grateful Everton keeper instead.

Chelsea went two up in the 62nd minute when Drogba powered an unstoppable near-post header into the net from Lampard's corner to send the home fans into party mood.

Everton's 10 men were now charged with the task of keeping the scoreline down to respectable proportions as Chelsea surged forward at every opportunity.

But the home side completed the rout with a third goal in the 74th minute when Essien sent a rising drive into the roof of the net from 18 yards.