The champagne may have been put on ice for another fortnight after Man United beat Tottenham but Stamford Bridge still enjoyed itself with a comfortable 3-0 win and some great goals.

 

The boots of Frank Lampard and Michael Essien and the head of Didier Drogba pierced the Everton defence in powerful fashion, the visitors forced to play most of the second-half with ten men. The only bad moment of the afternoon for Chelsea was an injury to Petr Cech that saw him withdrawn at the break.

 

Despite the leg-sapping two games in three days, Mourinho made just one change from the side that started at Bolton, Arjen Robben a replacement for Joe Cole.

 

Everton chose to match Chelsea’s midfield diamond, Leon Osman, like Robben, playing behind two strikers.

 

The first shot was Essien’s, blasting off target after picking up a poor headed clearance from Weir but the opening to the game was low-key, as if reflecting the slight feeling of anticlimax that followed Man United’s lunchtime win.

 

Approaching the 20 minute mark, Chelsea improved. After a Drogba break down the left, Essien almost found Crespo with a short ball inside and then a Del Horno cross was only just out the reach of Crespo. Essien tried once more from distance but again fired over.

 

But then the pressure on Everton eased once more. That was until Chelsea somewhat out of the blue found a way through. The goal owed much to some never-say-die battling from Drogba even if it was his slack touch that had given away possession.

 

The Chelsea striker pursued the advancing Cahill to just in front of the dug-outs, slid in and won the ball back. Defence had turned into attack.

 

He played the ball onto Lampard who from 25 yards out aimed low and true for the bottom left-hand corner. Easter had seen Frank rediscover his shooting boots. That was his 20^th of the season setting a new career best.

 

Just past the half-hour, Everton attacked down the left. Cech hesitated and then hared out to meet the race between Beattie and Gallas. He got there but in doing so, took the full weight of Gallas’ stride on his calf.

 

Lengthy treatment followed. Cudicini warmed-up to a crowd ovation but the Czech decided he could continue although he would limp on to the break.

 

By now Chelsea had begun to play. Essien, Lampard and Robben had shots blocked — one by the referee!

 

Three minutes before the break, Robben exchanged passes with Crespo and was in on goal. McFadden had to tackle there and then, sliding in a taking the ball before tripping Robben. Chelsea appealed for a penalty but it was a good tackle.

 

Approaching half-time, Cahill shot for Everton and shot well, the ball taking a deflection before Cech tipped it past the post. Not bad for an incapacitated ‘keeper!

 

It was no surprise however when he did not appear for the second-half. Cudicini had been handed an early chance to warm-up for the FA Cup semi-final.

 

Three minutes after the restart, the visitors’ tough task in getting back in the game was made all the harder when they went down to ten men.

 

Nothing attracts red cards like a meeting between these two teams, both having contributed heavily to the hall of shame down the years.

 

In 2006 it was Lee Carsley’s turn. Flying into a challenge on Drogba, he was late and clattered into the Ivorian’s weight-bearing leg. He had to go.

 

Within a minute Gérémi curled a cross in from deep, above the Everton rearguard. Terry got there but sidefooted it over the bar. Chelsea would only have to wait to the hour point to gain a two-goal cushion.

 

It was the Blues’ set-piece prowess that broke Everton resistance this time. Lampard took a corner on the right and Drogba finished with as good a leap and header as you could ever wish to see. No defence in the world could have stopped his 15^th goal of the season. After his tribulations a few weeks back, the big man is truly back to his battering-ram best.

 

Stamford Bridge was now in full song, much of it aimed at Manchester.

 

Joe Cole came on for Robben immediately after the goal and had the ball in the net almost immediately but the move was flagged offside. Drogba then fly-hacked Del Horno’s cross wide as the game became relentless Chelsea attack.

 

Richard Wright in the Everton goal explicably handled a back pass with just under 20 minutes remaining. An indirect free-kick was awarded that Chelsea placed down ten yards out.

 

‘One Makelele’ demanded the Bridge crowd and although last season’s penalty expert did advance forward, Lampard predictably was the one to blast at the ten men on the line.

 

Barely had Everton had chance to take stock after repelling that particular danger than Essien was charging into the area, smacking a shot into the top corner. After endangering anywhere but the target all afternoon, he had finally scored the goal his power had always threatened.   

 

Cole began to enjoy himself in the closing minutes, nearly setting up substitute Wright-Phillips and then Drogba at the far-post with some great skill.

 

The final whistle was greeted with a huge cheer. The championship is now surely a matter of when rather than if and with two clean sheets and five goals over Easter, Chelsea are finding form again nicely, just in time for the big Cup semi.

 

Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2) Cech (Cudicini h-t); Gérémi, Gallas, Terry (c), Del Horno; Makelele; Essien, Lampard; Robben (J Cole 61); Crespo (Wright-Phillips 75), Drogba.

 

Everton: (4-1-2-1-2) Wright; Neville, Weir (c), Yobo, Naysmith; Carsley; Cahill, Kilbane (Davies 69); Osman; Beattie (Ferguson 69), McFadden.