As it was with Man Utd winning as well, Chelsea will have to wait until 29th April at the earliest to get the point they need to lift the title again - Man Utd are the visitors to Stamford Bridge.

Jose only made one change from the victory against Bolton 48 hours earlier with Arjen Robben coming in for Joe Cole and it was a stroll once Frank Lampard open the scoring on 28 minutes with a right foot shot down to Wright's right hand side. The goal was set up by 'The Drog' after detemined defensive work and a well timed tackle on Cahill, taking the ball away and in gangling style running towards the Everton area before side-footing a pass into the forward advanced Frank Lampard.

On one of Everton's rare attacking opportunities, Chelsea 'keeper Cech came off his line to thwart Beattie who lofted the ball up and over the bar, but a back chasing Gallas collided with Cech and trod on his own 'keepers knee. For the remaining minutes of the half Cech was left to hobble on one leg. Despite his discomfort he produced a stunning finger-tip save from a Cahill shot that deflected off the head of Captain Marvel - John Terry.

At the start of the second half, Cudicini replaced Cech and Arjen Robben came running on from his half-time break, after referee Rob Styles has resumed play. Minutes later, play stopped and Everton's Lee Carsley was sent off for a crunching, crude tackle from behind on the hard working Drogba. Straight red. Off you go son.

Drogba scored Chelsea's second with a powerful header from Lampard's corner and Essien joined in the fun with a blockbuster of a drive high into the net, after a Lampard indirect free-kick in Everton's penalty area was blocked and only partially cleared.

So. Now the wait begins - eleven days and counting - but with the FA Cup semi-final looming against Liverpool this coming Saturday, all thoughts of the Premiership title can be forgotten for a while, whilst the club focuses on the next obstacle in what would be a remarkable League and Cup double.

COME ON CHELSEA!

40 YEARS A BLUE!