Well, in the end it was a 0-0 draw for Chelsea at Goodison Park – a pretty predictable result given our record there, and given the wet and windy conditions.
It could have been a lot better – some first half chances went begging – but it also could have been a lot worse. Chelsea had Tosin Adarabioyo to thank for a late block which stopped Everton’s best chance of the game.
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Tosin Adarabioyo playing in the Conference League. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Tosin Adarabioyo claps the fans after a win. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Tosin Adarabioyo claps the fans after a win. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
With Robert Sanchez sprawling at the other end of the goal having made a save, the goal opened up for Iliman Ndiaye. But Tosin timed a lunging block perfectly to stop the attacker getting a shot away.
You can see the block in the clips embedded here:
Tosin. huge. pic.twitter.com/8oHSRnSBWs
— amadí (@amadoit__) December 22, 2024
[Footage from NBC Sport]
Chelsea rue missed chances as huge opportunity slips away
Cole Palmer looks frustrated as Chelsea fail to beat Everton away. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Cole Palmer looks frustrated as Chelsea fail to beat Everton away. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
It’s not a terrible result, all told, but it is without doubt a wasted opportunity. In the first game we’ve failed to score in in the Premier League since the opening day, 2 points – and the chance to go top of the league – have slipped away.
Enzo Maresca will rightly say that this team are still miles ahead of expectations, and our record at Goodison shows that this result was always on the cards, but a little more spark in wet conditions could have changed the game.
Defensively, picking a strong defensive unit – led brilliantly by Tosin – paid off. The former Fulham man, along with Levi Colwill and Axel Disasi – put in a solid showing to keep an incredibly physical Toffees team at bay.
Robert Sanchez was also immense in goal – and not just in the save which led to this block. So there are positives to take, and we’re sure Enzo Maresca will point to all of them post game.