Essien Strike Keeps Chelsea in Title Chase

The fixture that prompted such protest from Chelsea yielded victory with a minimum of fuss last night. Having complained long and loud over Sky's request to bring the trip to Everton forward by 48 hours Avram Grant was, for once, given precious respite here as Chelsea ensured the championship would remain a contest for at least another week.

Michael Essien's first-half goal brought Chelsea a merited win to move them to within two points of Manchester United, albeit having played a game more, and the resilience that thwarted a late revival from David Moyes' side gave their manager another statistic to throw at his legion of detractors at Stamford Bridge.

His first 29 league games at the helm have now produced an identical record to Jose Mourinho's start to last season. Like then, however, the title will again be destined for Old Trafford barring a dramatic collapse from the reigning champions.

Grant, with justification, has claimed the title was always a forlorn hope for Chelsea given their position when he replaced the Portuguese last September.

He has spoken of having a long-term future at the club, contrary to the demand to deliver from Roman Abramovich, and it will be a measure of comfort to the Israeli that, this morning, his future does not yet rest on two Champions League ties with Liverpool.

This was far from the performance of prospective champions but, shorn of key players, inspiration and penetration, a valuable result at the start of a defining period in their season and possibly their immediate future.

Though Chelsea were evidently superior to an Everton side that is desperately hanging on to fifth place and the final Uefa Cup qualifying spot - not pressing Liverpool all the way for fourth as some would suggest - this was not a performance to strike fear into Sir Alex Ferguson or Rafael Benítez, the men who stand in their way of silverware this season and possibly Grant's prospects of keeping his job. Given this was a night to keep alive fragile hopes of the championship, this was a pale imitation of the Carling Cup semi-final victory here in January.

Grant made five changes to the side held at home by Wigan Athletic on Monday with Michael Ballack, injured in training on the eve of the game, joining the list of enforced absentees that included Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

Their invention, composure and threat were again sorely missed and, irrespective of Essien's fortunate breakthrough four minutes before the interval, the quality of all three will be invaluable if Chelsea are to overcome Liverpool at the third time of asking in the Champions League semi-finals.

Essien produced a nerveless finish just as the visitors' anxiety in struggling to unsettle an Everton defence held impressively by Joseph Yobo and particularly Phil Jagielka was beginning to show. The former Sheffield United captain had twice denied Shaun Wright-Phillips with perfectly-timed challenges inside his penalty area, the second an outstanding interception with his trailing leg as the England international looked to cut inside to score, but misfortune befell Jagielka at an ideal moment for Chelsea.

Essien collected a pass from Salomon Kalou and instantly brought more urgency into the Chelsea attack. An attempted one-two with Wright-Phillips, however, returned off Jagielka's heel, releasing the midfielder inside the Everton area and resulting in a measured chip over the advancing Tim Howard.

The breakthrough removed the tension from Chelsea's luminous yellow shoulders and Mikel John Obi almost doubled their advantage moments later with a rising drive from 25 yards that Howard tipped over his bar. A second at that point may well have killed the contest as Everton's movement and threat was minimal throughout the first half, their hopes of claiming a first victory over a "big four" member this season appearing to rest entirely on their success from a set-piece.

In fairness Manuel Fernandes almost justified that policy with an early free-kick that took a dangerous bounce in front of Petr Cech but peering through what space remains in his protective head wear the Chelsea keeper produced a confident save.

A rare moment of invention from the home side at the start of the second half, courtesy of a piercing pass through the Chelsea defence from Steven Pienaar, almost put through Andrew Johnson only for a fine challenge by Ricardo Carvalho to quell the danger.

Fernandes almost found the top corner with one of a series of free-kicks outside the Chelsea area but, injury scares to John Terry and Essien aside, this was not the torture on tired limbs and beleaguered reputations that the visitors had initially envisaged when the game was rescheduled. Far more daunting nights on Merseyside await, however.