Once again, Andriy Shevchenko was left to warm the bench for the first 73 minutes as Chelsea performed a ‘get out of that’ trick to deny unlucky Everton.

It was Didier Drogba’s brilliant long-range volley - from a headed assist by Sheva - that clinched the points for Chelsea after a thriller at Goodison Park.

Mikel Arteta’s first-half penalty put Everton ahead after John Terry’s stand-in Khalid Boulahrouz hauled down the ever-threatening Victor Anichebe.

Chelsea levelled when Michael Ballack’s free-kick hit the post and deflected in off the back of the diving Tim Howard.

Joseph Yobo headed Everton in front before Frank Lampard’s looping equaliser made him Chelsea’s top scoring midfielder and then and Drogba’s late winner.

Chelsea are now only 2 points behind the previously high flying man Utd who lst at Upton Park in Alan Curbishley’s first game in charge of the Hammers.

From BBC Sport