Everton hold Chelsea

Zola challenges Gemmill for possession at Goodison

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Everton 0-0 Chelsea

Chelsea squandered the chance to make a serious move up the Premiership when they were held to a draw by Everton at Goodison Park.

And Claudio Ranieri's side suffered added disappointment as goalkeeper Mark Bosnich sustained a thigh injury.

He was forced to limp off late on and now faces the possibility of a lengthy lay-off.

Everton boss Walter Smith was forced to field a makeshift strike force and will have been satisfied with a point - mainly thanks to goalkeeper Steve Simonsen's brilliant late save from Gianfranco Zola.

But Chelsea counterpart Claudio Ranieri will once again question his own tactics after keeping Boudewijn Zenden on the bench for the first 45 minutes.

Zenden emerged to put Everton under pressure - increasing the feeling that the Dutch winger should have played from the start.

Everton had to play Steve Watson as an emergency striker with captain Kevin Campbell ruled out, and Duncan Ferguson only fit for a place on the bench.

But Watson, in partnership with the lively Tomasz Radzinski, acquitted himself well in an unfamiliar role as Everton enjoyed the better of the opening 45 minutes.

Watson was on the end of Niclas Alexandersson's cross after eight minutes to head just wide.

Gallas beats Stubbs

Chelsea were making little use of the attacking threat of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - and they were grateful to goalkeeper Bosnich for staying on level terms after 31 minutes.

Scot Gemmill's goalbound shot took a deflection, and Bosnich was alert enough to divert the shot to safety.

Chelsea coach Ranieri was forced into one of his regular interval reshuffles to inject life into his side's display, replacing Slavisa Jokanovic and Sam Dalla Bonna with Boudewijn Zenden and Mario Stanic.

It had the desired effect, and Gianfranco Zola's powerful right-foot drive was narrowly off target.

Everton goalkeeper Simonsen, making only his secong league start in three years, survived an anxious moment after 55 minutes as Chelsea suddenly exerted total control.

The former England Under-21 star fumbled Zenden's tame drive, and was grateful to see Alan Stubbs scramble off the line from Zola's follow up effort.

Everton lifted the siege - and brought another fine save from Bosnich - when David Weir powered in a header from Gary Naysmith's corner.

And in an attempt to increase their firepower, Everton sent on the giant figure of Duncan Ferguson as a replacement for Alexandersson after 74 minutes.

And three minutes later Chelsea lost goalkeeper Bosnich in unfortunate circumstances when he appeared to pull a thigh muscle taking a goal-kick.

He was unable to resume after lengthy treatment and was replaced by Carlo Cudicini.

Chelsea shrugged off the blow and almost took a dramatic lead with four minutes left.

Zola had already turned away to celebrate as his 20-yard free-kick looked destined for the top corner, but Simonsen dived brilliantly to tip the ball on to the bar.

Deputy keeper Cudicini came to Chelsea's rescue in stoppage time as he plunged bravely at the feet of Ferguson and Watson to leave honours even.

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Everton: Simonsen, Pistone, Weir, Stubbs, Unsworth, Alexandersson, Gravesen, Gemmill, Naysmith, Radzinski, Watson. Subs: Gerrard, Ferguson, Pembridge, Gascoigne, Xavier.

Chelsea: Bosnich, Babayaro, Terry, Gallas, Melchiot, Jokanovic, Dalla Bona, Petit, Lampard, Hasselbaink, Zola. Subs: Zenden, Stanic, Le Saux, Gudjohnsen, Cudicini.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).