English FA Premiership / Everton 1-1 Chelsea: Those on the domestic scene are fast learning to shiver in Chelsea's shadow, though confirmation of a subtle shift in the champions' priorities will still have sent an anguished shudder through the ranks of also-rans.
"This is the one trophy we've not won under the manager in England and that makes a difference," said Frank Lampard. "Last year we had the League Cup which took up a lot of energy but that's not here this time. We're desperate to get to the final and we're going all out to win the FA Cup this year."
It is almost unbecoming to hear Chelsea's captain mention desperation, though his side's utter commitment to the competition will deflate other aspirants. It was Lampard who preserved the Londoners' interest here on Saturday, a typically slick goal plucked from a period of complete domination dragging the tie, kicking and screaming, back to Stamford Bridge. For a while, Jose Mourinho's side appeared about to emulate last year's sloppy surrender at Newcastle. Everton, wonderfully rugged and desperately unfortunate, may privately concede their chance has gone.
David Moyes and his team are conducting seminars to the watching world on how to dissect more fancied sides almost on a weekly basis these days. Having suffocated and dismissed Arsenal seven days previously, they tore into Chelsea here with the only 11 first-team players fit and available from their ranks. By the interval, James McFadden had ghosted between the hapless Asier del Horno and John Terry to head Nuno Valente's glorious cross beyond Carlo Cudicini.
The Scot retired at the break to have eight stitches weaved into a gash sliced by William Gallas's horrible challenge. He might have survived that wound had Cudicini not leapt into him to shatter his nose shortly after the restart, with McFadden's withdrawal, battered and bloody, forcing Moyes to reshape his entire formation.
Chelsea were eager to do that themselves, though their resources are more potent. A switch from 4-3-3 to 3-3-4 eroded the home team's defiance and, despite Nigel Martyn's heroics and Hernan Crespo's comic profligacy, Lampard emerged from the anonymity of his own display to convert classily.
"We showed how much we want to do well in this competition," said the England midfielder. "We didn't play well in the first half but after that we passed, moved and dominated. We didn't want to get knocked out and the performance showed it.
"Chances went begging, the goalkeeper made saves and balls went across the face. There was one occasion when it hit a hand and we didn't get a penalty, and you start to wonder. But the goal gave us security and, after that, we knew we had a potential replay to try and win it there."
Mourinho insisted that the job was "50 oer cent done", which could be construed as arrogance had Chelsea not won all but three of their 17 games at Stamford Bridge this season. In that context, such boldness is more sober than smug.
"I told the players at half-time it was a matter of mental attitude because we were losing 1-0 away against a fighting team, an incredible crowd and it was not easy," said Mourinho.
"At half-time we were out of the FA Cup but in the end we leave with a good taste because we are in the cup and will play at home. At the same time there is a bad taste because, in the second half, only one team played and we should have won."
That was perhaps less fair. Everton's resilience was outstanding, the makeshift centre-half pairing of Phil Neville alongside the steadying David Weir repelling everything flung at them until, pummelled on the ropes, Lampard wriggled through to level.
Chelsea then switched back to a more cautious formation and the hosts could have eked out victory, Duncan Ferguson dragging a shot wide in the dying seconds. Moyes will take heart from a seven-match unbeaten run that is reviving their campaign, and that Everton remain alongside Manchester United and Charlton as the only teams not to have succumbed to the champions yet this season.
The manager has 48 hours in which to conjure reinforcements for his depleted squad, his search for a striker increasingly frantic even if he will not be cornered into completing deals with mere short-term benefits.
"We're still looking, but I am not going to sign anyone who makes us feel good for three days and then, when we see him play, we are disappointed," he said, aware that such a mistake has already been made this campaign on the £5 million Per Kroldrup.
"We are in need of adding a couple of players if we can, but we've looked in every country, every continent. We have done the lot and will continue trying."
Similar persistence will be needed in the replay if Chelsea's new designs on this competition are to be deflected.- Guardian Service
