Everton turn up heat on beleaguered AVB

Everton 2 Chelsea 0

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas faces renewed pressure after his team produced a dismal display at Goodison Park.

Goals from Steven Pienaar and Denis Stracqualursi secured a deserved triumph for Everton, whose victory meant Villas-Boas’ side dropped out of the top four and have taken a mere 12 points from their last 10 league matches.

Barring a spell of second-half pressure, the Blues lacked ideas and Fernando Torres endured yet another fruitless afternoon in front of goal.

Pienaar, on loan from Totttenham, put Everton ahead after only five minutes.

Chelsea got themselves into trouble from Jose Bosingwa’s throw and following Frank Lampard’s challenge on Tim Cahill, Pienaar beat Branislav Ivanovic to the loose ball and fired into the roof of the net.

Ivanovic started at centre-back in place of recent signing Gary Cahill, who was on the bench.

Lampard, meanwhile, gave Chelsea a boost by returning after a calf injury, and Ashley Cole was back from suspension.

But an error by Cole as Chelsea attacked led to Everton’s second goal – Stracqualursi’s first in the Premier League.

Wide-man Landon Donovan capitalised to release the Argentine, who finished well.

Chelsea were well beaten but can look back on missed chances by Lampard and Daniel Sturridge prior to Stracqualursi’s clincher.

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