PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V EVERTON

WE HAVE HISTORY
Chelsea are looking to extend our unbeaten home Premier League record against Everton to 17 games in all competitions, although the Toffees have achieved draws on their last five visits to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

One of Chelsea's most emphatic wins over the Toffeemen at the Bridge came in late January 1972 under Dave Sexton. Notoriously superstitious as well as a great student of tactics, the manager was the odd man out on the day.

Everyone else was wrapped up against the Arctic weather while he wore just a King's Road-designed lounge suit, his hands deep in trouser pockets against the cold. 'We haven't lost since I dressed like this,' he complained, 'I can't put an overcoat on in case it breaks our run.' (Sexton had also sported a blazer, missing a button, throughout Chelsea's successful 1970 FA Cup campaign.)

The run he referred to had included a great 1-0 win over Man United at Old Trafford the week before. He had assembled a wonderful squad, of course, with its biggest stars, Peter Osgood, Charlie Cooke, John Hollins and Alan Hudson, in imperious form.

The first two combined to open the scoring, a classic Cooke cross headed home by Ossie. The second came from a penalty, converted by Hollins, and Cooke was again the provider when his corner was bundled in by centre-back John Dempsey (pictured below) - a rare goal for him.

The fourth was the sweetest. Osgood skilfully controlled Hollins' incisive pass, then steered deftly past Gordon West. Chelsea had turned on the heat in the chill, and the game ended 4-0.

The last occasion Everton came away from the Bridge with a league win was in November 1994 on the day the new North Stand was opened for the first time. Paul Rideout notched the only goal for the Toffees who were in the bottom three at the time.

Chelsea's last home league win was in April 2006 a week before being crowned back-to-back champions.

Our 10 previous meetings at Stamford Bridge
2001/02 - Chelsea won 3-0
2002/03 - Chelsea won 4-1
2003/04 -Drew 0-0
2004/05 - Chelsea won 1-0
2005/06 - Chelsea won 3-0
2006/07 - Drew 1-1
2007/08 - Drew 1-1
2008/09 - Drew 0-0
2009/10 - Drew 3-3
2010/11 - Drew 1-1

Other matches last season
22 May 2011 Barclays Premier League
Everton………..……1 Chelsea………..….…0
Beckford 74
                                Att: 38,712


29 January 2011, FA Cup 4th round
Everton..………..……1 Chelsea………..……1
Saha 62                         Kalou 75
                               Att: 28,376

19 February 2011 FA Cup 4th round replay
Chelsea…………..……1 Everton.………..……1
Lampard 104                    Baines 119
Everton won 4-3 on pens after extra time
                                Att: 41,113

Chelsea v Everton in all competitions
Games played 163
Chelsea wins 61
Everton wins 50
Draws 52

Head-to-head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 72
Chelsea wins 35
Everton wins 12
Draws 25

Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
11/09/1948 - Chelsea 6-0 Everton
15/03/1913 - Chelsea 1-3 Everton

DAYS SINCE
Chelsea lost in the league to Everton at Stamford Bridge: 6,167
Everton played a game outside the top flight: 20,988
Arsenal won a trophy: 2,338
Liverpool won a trophy: 1,981

Chelsea v Everton