Chelsea 2-2 Everton: Ellis Simms secures last-minute draw at Stamford Bridge
Ellis Simms scored his first goal for Everton and secured a valuable point for Sean Dyche’s side as they twice came from behind to draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Everton’s improved resilience under Dyche showed itself again and local hero Simms, 22, was the hero with a superb late equalizer that dashed Chelsea’s hopes of a fourth straight win.
Chelsea broke Everton’s resistance seven minutes after the break when the superb Joao Felix drilled a low drive home, but they were held back when Abdoulaye Doucoure leveled from a corner after 69 minutes.
Everton were even for just seven minutes until Kai Havertz struck from the spot after Reece James was fouled by James Tarkowski – but there was to be a late twist in the story.
Dyche had used Simms to salvage a point and he delivered in style with a powerful run, finishing with a minute remaining.
“A young player who comes and earns his spurs. We know he has power and pace, then a good finish under the keeper,” Dyche told BBC Sport of Simms.
“I’m really happy for him. He spoke to me last week, I told him to tell me where he needs to improve. He told me four things and I said, ‘You’re right’ – one was to play harder and he did that today.”
Simms, on loan at Blackpool, Hearts and most recently Sunderland, was called back to Goodison Park in January as then-manager Frank Lampard sought to bolster his attacking options.
He made just one appearance at Everton prior to this season but has made six appearances since returning to his boyhood club – including four under Dyche.
Simms told Sky Sports: “It’s all about patience – I just had to wait for my chance. We have top players, so I won’t go straight into the team. I have to work hard and take my chance when I get it.”
Everton’s feat
Everton fans celebrated the point like a win and their joy was justified as they witnessed the character and fighting spirit Dyche has infused into his side.
They kept Chelsea at bay until the second half and then reacted superbly to the double deficit, especially when they recovered when everything looked lost after Havertz’s penalty.
Everton were consistently strong in defence, ready to throw bodies on the line and again showed their threat from set pieces when Doucoure headed in from a corner at the far post.
The highlight, however, was the way youngster Simms – back at Everton after a loan spell at Sunderland – muscled over Kalidou Koulibaly and ran into Chelsea keeper Kepa with a cool finish.
Everton survived a couple of late scares but deserved it after a performance that gives them real hope of winning their battle to avoid Premier League elimination.
Careless Chelsea gambled away a chance to win
Chelsea will be very frustrated with how they allowed Everton to come back twice and take a point away from Stamford Bridge.
Graham Potter’s side controlled the game by leading twice but Everton fought back into the fray each time.
Felix brought class to the game and fully deserved his goal, but he was substituted late on as Potter adopted a more conservative approach that ultimately didn’t get the desired result.
Chelsea have improved in recent weeks but this was a missed opportunity and halted their revival.
Potter is still adjusting to the huge influx of players following Chelsea’s transfer frenzy, but this has been a bitter disappointment after that recent rebound.
player of the game
simmsEllis Simms
Chelsea
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squad number11player nameJoao Felix
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squad number21player namechilwell
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squad number33player namefofana
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squad number24player nameJames
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squad number8thplayer nameKovacic
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squad number5player nameFernandez
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squad number29player nameHavertz
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squad number4player nameBadiashile
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squad number10player namePulisian
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squad number1player nameArrizabalaga
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squad number26player nameKoulibaly
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squad number23player nameGallagher
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squad number12player nameLoftus Cheek
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squad number30player nameChukwuemeka
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squad number14player nameChalobah
everton
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squad number50player namesimms
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squad number11player nameGray
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squad number16player nameDoucoure
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squad number7player nameMcNeil
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squad number19player nameMykolenko
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squad number8thplayer nameOnana
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squad number2player nameTarkovsky
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squad number23player nameColeman
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squad number17player nameiwobi
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squad number22player nameGottfried
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squad number5player namekeane
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squad number1player namePickford
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squad number27player nameGuyee
lineups
Chelsea
formation 3-4-3
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 33fofanaReplaced byChalobahat 87′protocol
- 26KoulibalyBooked at 57 minutes
- 4Badiashile
- 24JamesBooked at 74 minutes
- 5Fernandez
- 8thKovacicReplaced byLoftus Cheekat 81′protocol
- 21chilwell
- 10PulisianReplaced byGallagherat 62′protocol
- 29Havertz
- 11Joao FelixReplaced byChukwuemekaat 86′protocol
Substitute
- 7edge
- 12Loftus Cheek
- 13Bettinelli
- 14Chalobah
- 15Mudryk
- 23Gallagher
- 30Chukwuemeka
- 31Madueke
- 32Cucurella
everton
formation 4-5-1
- 1Pickford
- 23ColemanReplaced byMykolenkoat 84′protocol
- 5keane
- 2Tarkovsky
- 22Gottfried
- 17iwobi
- 16Doucoure
- 27GuyeeBooked at 29 minutesReplaced bysimmsat 79′protocol
- 8thOnana
- 7McNeil45 minutes booked
- 11Gray
Substitute
- 4Holgate
- 13mine
- 15Begovic
- 19Mykolenko
- 20Maupay
- 26davies
- 30coady
- 37Garner
- 50simms
- Referee:
- Darren England
- Participation:
- 40,025
live text
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Game ends, Chelsea 2, Everton 2.
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Second half ends, Chelsea 2, Everton 2.
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Corner of Chelsea. Goal conceded by James Tarkowski.
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attempt blocked. Benoît Badiashile (Chelsea) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Ben Chilwell with a cross.
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Corner of Chelsea. Cashed in by Ben Godfrey.
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attempt blocked. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) with a very close shot is blocked. Assisted by Reece James with a cross.
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Reece James (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Dwight McNeil (Everton).
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Corner of Chelsea. Cashed in by Dwight McNeil.
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Goal! 2 Chelsea, 2 Everton. Ellis Simms (Everton) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Abdoulaye Doucoure.
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Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Demarai Gray (Everton).
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Substitution Chelsea. Trevoh Chalobah replaces Wesley Fofana.
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Substitution Chelsea. Carney Chukwuemeka replaces Joao Felix.
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attempt blocked. Ellis Simms (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Substitution from Everton. Vitalii Mykolenko replaces Seamus Coleman.
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attempt failed. Dwight McNeil (Everton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Abdoulaye Doucoure.
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Substitution Chelsea. Ruben Loftus Cheek replaces Mateo Kovacic.
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Reece James (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Amadou Onana (Everton).
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