Edgy Chelsea beat Everton

Hasselbaink was Chelsea's hero with two goals

Chelsea 2-1 Everton

Chelsea remained on course for a Uefa Cup place - but it was an unimpressive performance with which they saw off struggling Everton at Stamford Bridge.

Everton took a first-minute lead through Kevin Campbell, but fell behind before half-time to two strikes from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Claudio Ranieri's side then looked to be on their way to a comfortable win - but Everton boss Walter Smith saw his side almost snatch a point with a spirited second half showing.

We started well and had a good second half, but it was the last half hour of the first half that cost us the game

  Everton manager Walter Smith

Chelsea now have real hopes of ending a turbulent season with the consolation prize of a place in Europe.

Everton will take some heart from their performance, but the future looks bleak for the Merseysiders next season unless they can solve their serious cash flow problems.

Everton shocked Chelsea after just 72 seconds when they took the lead through Campbell.

Chelsea failed to clear a corner, and when Steve Watson crossed from the right Campbell was unmarked to head comfortably past Carlo Cudicini.

Everton, looking almost surprised at being in front, then fell back on defence and invited Chelsea to play themselves back into the game.

Ranieri has Euro hopes

It was an ill-advised ploy as Chelsea overcame early uncertainty to exert domination for the rest of the first half.

Gustavo Poyet and Gianfranco Zola pulled the strings for Chelsea, with the Uruguayan having a spectacular overhead kick well stopped by Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard.

It seemed inevitable Chelsea would equalise, and the only surprise was that it took 31 minutes to arrive.

It's not been a good season for us - the Uefa Cup may be consolation but we should challenge for the Champions League at least

  Chelsea's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Poyet was the creator, playing in Hasselbaink, who turned sweetly before sending a right-footed shot past Gerrard.

And Chelsea hammered home their supremacy to go ahead three minutes later - with Hasselbaink again the marksman.

The Dutch striker played a neat one-two with strike partner Eidur Gudjohnsen and lifted a lob over the on-rushing Gerrard.

Frustrated Walter Smith

Zola should have increased Chelsea's lead after 41 minutes, but he shot over the bar when well placed.

Chelsea remained in control in the early stages of second half, but coach Ranieri made a change after 59 minutes, sending on Jesper Gronkjaer for Gudjohnsen.

Everton, who replaced Niclas Alexandersson with Gary Naysmith at half-time, finally put Chelsea under pressure midway through the second half.

Israeli winger Idan Tal forced a good save out of the diving Cudicini as Chelsea suddenly looked to have gone off the boil.

Everton had appeals for a penalty waved away with 14 minutes left after captain David Weir tumbled under a challenge from Hasselbaink.

Boss Smith sent on youngster Phil Jevons for the ineffective Joe-Max Moore, and he almost brought Everton level, only to be denied by the excellent Cudicini.

Tal came close for Everton with nine minutes left, but his overhead kick was inches off target.

Everton had mounted a spirited second half fightback and were unfortunate not to be on level terms.

Chelsea fans were unhappy when Ranieri replaced terrace idol Zola with Slavisa Jokanovic late on - sparking loud chants for his successor Gianluca Vialli.

But they hung on for the three points, and their season still has meaning as they enter the last week of a troubled campaign.

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Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Le Saux, Desailly, Terry, Wise, Poyet, Morris, Hasselbaink, Zola, Gudjohnsen. Subs: de Goey, Leboeuf, Jokanovic, Dalla Bona, Gronkjaer.

Everton: Gerrard, Steve Watson, Weir, Unsworth, Ball, Pembridge, Campbell, Alexandersson, Gemmill, Moore, Tal. Subs: Simonsen, Naysmith, Jevons, McLeod, Hibbert.

Referee: R Styles.