A total of 180 league minutes between these two teams failed to produce a goal this season.

The chances were there on a warm spring Stamford Bridge night, increasingly so for both teams as the game drew to a close. It culminated in Didier Drogba hitting the bar in the closing moments but on the whole both sides looked a little drained of ideas and inspiration after recent events - and the stalemate was not, on this showing, a surprise.

Chelsea started unchanged from Wembley although on the bench for the first time was 18-year-old central midfielder Jacob Mellis, a member of last season's FA Youth Cup Final team.

The first on-target attempt in this 8pm kick-off was Everton's - from Jo, the striker who had been cup-tied for their semi-final. A downward header from a Pienaar cross was safely stopped by Cech.

Chelsea after that wake-up call started to advance. The slippery Malouda found a small gap between full-back Jacobsen and covering midfielder Osman but lost his footing before shooting.

Then Everton escaped again and Jo could have done better than drill a shot straight at Cech when one-on-one with our keeper.

Thirteen minutes in the visitors' captain Neville was booked for a lunge in on back-to-goal Drogba midway inside their half. From the free-kick, Ballack rose well to meet Lampard's ball but his radar was off and the header dropped well wide.

From the next attack three minute later Lampard had a go, his 30-yard-plus drive dipping not too far away.

Ballack had his turn with a free-kick, Drogba having already failed with his first set-piece dig, but shot over on 27 minutes. Chelsea were on-top, but the pressure was spasmodic.

In fact we could have gone behind on 33 minutes, Jo escaping free on the left and Cahill taking it well on the turn with a drag-back and shot. Cech saved at full-stretch.

Four minutes from the half-time interval Chelsea were presented with the near freedom of the Everton half as we broke with pace following an Everton corner. Anelka out wide had Malouda unmarked to find in the middle but sadly only picked out the keeper.

Suddenly the defences had gone missing, Chelsea equally absent in leaving Jo unmarked in the Chelsea area but with plenty to aim at, the Brazilian slipped over at the vital moment.

It would have been unfair describe the first-half action as dull, but accurate to say the football lacked the intensity and concentration seen in the momentous matches that had preceded this.

There was more concern when Cahill slipped a pass through two minutes after the restart but although Osman was challenged, the ball was returned for Cahill to connect weakly with a header when well-placed.

Chelsea began to up the tempo of our passing a little and started to find blue shirts in the box.

Anelka screwed a shot badly across the box when played away on the right. That was to be the Frenchman's last contribution in attack, he was replaced by Kalou in the same 60^th minute as Mikel came on for Essien.

Before any of the subs could make an impact, Terry, who had been enjoying an imperious game in defence and possession strode into a gap in the middle and let fly with his left foot from 35 yards out. It took a diving save from Howard to prevent one of the goals of the season from the skipper.

On 63 minutes came a talking point of a different kind, Malouda challenging Yobo for a high bouncing ball and being caught in the face when looking set to break on goal. The officials, to huge crowd complaints, waved play on.

Jo blasted over with 17 minutes left on the clock after a good Everton move across the ground. Lescott then blocked as the ball looked to be in Lampard range. Kalou headed powerfully over after Malouda chipped a ball in as two tiring sides began to allow more chances.

Di Santo was a 75^th minute swap for Malouda and went to play wide right. On 78 minutes Lescott, again, blocked a goalbound Kalou shot after a corner.

A corner of Everton's four minutes later led to confusion in the box, a Ballack cross and then ultimately a Cahill shot into the sidenetting., and then on 84 minutes Pienaar blasted a great chance wide, set up by Cahill. The goalless scoreline was now not reflecting the play at all.

In stoppage time came a moment of deep concern around the Bridge when Cech bravely won a race with Jo to head clear outside his area and take a big blow.

He staggered on to his knees and needed treatment but the impact had been face more than head and he could continue what personally had been a good game.

With four minutes of stoppage time being played came Drogba's woodwork strike in a trademark move, chest controlling and turning to smash a volley onto the crossbar from an angle.

If this was a Cup Final rehearsal then prepare for extra-time next month.

Man United's home win over Portsmouth leaves Chelsea six point behind with a game more played. Knockout competitions look the path to silverware this season.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Essien (Mikel 60); Anelka (Kalou 60), Lampard, Malouda (Di Santo 75); Drogba.
Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Jacobsen (Jagielka 86), Yobo, Lescott, Baines; Osman (Rodwell 88), Neville (c), Castillo, Pienaar; Cahill; Jo (Saha 90+2).

Watch the full 90 minutes on Chelsea TV from midnight tonight.