Chelsea 1 Everton 1: Blues’ hold out for a very unexpected point

That wasn’t what I thought would happen, but as the saying goes football is a strange game as against huge odds Everton claimed a point with a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge tonight.

Going into this game Everton fans had very little hope of getting anything from a match that has been a problem fixture for a long time now and on the back of a dreadful run of defeats.

And, on top of all the issues over form and performances came yet more injury problems with Richarlison, Allan, Andros Townsend, Lucas Digne and Seamus Coleman all out on top of the longer-term casualties such as Yerry Mina and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Then, just before the game it was revealed that Demarai Gray wouldn’t play either and would be joined by Salomon Rondon and Fabian Delph also unavailable for various reasons.

As a result of that awful list of absentees, Rafa Benitez was then forced to pick a team full of youngsters, not something I think he would have done in any other circumstances and several of them did their cause plenty of good with some solid and energetic performances.

In particular, Anthony Gordon had arguably his best match in an Everton first-team shirt. He worked very hard (as he always does) while he added some real creativity as well.

And, of course he delivered that peach of a ball for Jarrad Branthwaite to force home the equaliser which got Everton a point in the end.

However, that equaliser wouldn’t have been possible had Jordan Pickford not produced a superb performance between the sticks pulling off save after save, and keeping his team in it when they were very much under the cosh.

That was particularly true of the first half when the Toffees’ were under constant pressure as Chelsea dominated the ball and peppered the away team’s goal with shot after shot.

The Blues’ also certainly rode their luck and but for Pickford’s brilliance and the home team’s wayward finishing, it might have been a four of five goal defeat on another night.

Benitez went with a back-three which worked quite well particularly because Branthwaite can play in a three as he’s naturally left-footed.

The young defender had a fine match and looks like he can cut it in the Premier League. I would be tempted not to send him on loan in January especially as the Toffees’ have such a horrendous injury crisis.

In the second half the pattern of the game continued early on with Chelsea still battering at the door while Everton managed to keep it shut, just about.

Finally though, the home team got a goal and after a mistake, Mason Mount was able to go through and beat Pickford at last.

But almost straight away the visitors were level. Gordon the brightest attacking player for the Toffees’ got a free-kick and then delivered a great cross which the young former Carlise defender stretched to put over the goal-line.

As the second half wore on the Blues’ grew in confidence and another yougster Lewis Dobbin was introduced for Ellis Simms who struggled to make much impact. Not suprisingly really as he was working isolated on his own for most of the game.

There were no more goals and after another agonizingly long period of added time, Everton had got a draw and perhaps it will be their most unlikely point of the season.

So, a valuable and very unexpected point and the promise exhibited by some of the young players tonight, gives us a little ray of hope for the future. Now, will Benitez be prepared to give these youngsters more opportunities even if senior players return?