Chelsea’s players formed a guard of honour for Manchester United on their most recent visit to Stamford Bridge last May, but the champions can expect a far more hostile reception when they return a week tomorrow after a hard-earned victory at Goodison Park last night carried the London club to within two points of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Being a hospitable sort, Avram Grant will offer Ferguson, his opposite number, a glass of wine in his office afterwards whatever the result, but he will hope that United’s champagne is kept on ice for another week at least. If not quite High Noon, then next Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off has the potential to provide a final twist to what has been a compelling championship race, ensuring that Ferguson will not send out his reserves as he did 12 months ago.

United will retain their title if they follow victory at Blackburn Rovers tomorrow by beating their closest challengers, although Chelsea could cut the gap or even move to the top for the first time if Ferguson’s team falter at Ewood Park. Unlike before this half-hearted contest, no one will complain that Chelsea’s next match has been selected by Sky Television.

Most neutrals would not take long to decide whom they consider to be worthy champions, but Chelsea deserve great credit for pushing United farther than anyone else, particularly given the injuries and internal problems they have encountered this season. Very little of it will find its way to Grant, the first-team coach, but he must be doing something right, if only by making sure that his players maintain their focus.

This was another Chelsea performance based on character rather than class, although at this stage of the season gritty wins will do, particularly in the light of Monday’s draw with Wigan Athletic. The unexplained presence of the Harlem Globetrotters parading on the pitch beforehand last night served as a reminder of the gap that exists between Chelsea and Roman Abramovich’s vision of a team of entertainers, a gulf that all the money in the world may not be able to bridge. Chelsea made hard work of beating a lacklustre home team booed off by their own fans, taking a deserved lead through Michael Essien just before half-time but failing to kill off the game in the second half.

The visiting team were mostly comfortable with Petr Cech making only one save, from a free kick by Manuel Fernandes, in the sixteenth minute, although the Portugal winger shot narrowly across goal with another set-piece in the second half. Without last-ditch tackles from Ricardo Carvalho and John Terry on Andrew Johnson and Yakubu Ayegbeni respectively, the Czech Republic goalkeeper would have been far busier.

Ferguson would not have been unduly concerned at his unusual Thursday-evening viewing and nor would Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, for that matter, with Chelsea lacking fluency, penetration and killer instinct. Given the injuries they continue to collect, the absence of any real rhythm is understandable.

Michael Ballack was the latest to withdraw, after suffering a hamstring injury in training on Wednesday. The Germany midfield player should return to face Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday, although the participation of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba cannot be guaranteed.

Lampard’s position is uncertain as a result of his mother’s illness but after the performance of Nicolas Anelka last night, Drogba should be pressed into service if he is anywhere near fit. Anelka struggled to adapt to his role as a lone striker, barely getting a sight of goal. Shaun Wright-Phillips fared better as a replacement for Ballack in central midfield and he established an early dominance alongside Essien and John Obi Mikel.

Steven Pienaar gave Paulo Ferreira early problems down Everton’s left flank but the visiting team were dangerous going forward, with Salomon Kalou justifying his selection ahead of the more experienced Florent Malouda. Kalou’s through-ball to Wright-Phillips in the 35th minute deserved to set up a goal, Phil Jagielka preventing the England winger from shooting with a brilliantly timed tackle, and the Ivory Coast forward began the move from which Chelsea scored six minutes later.

Kalou found Essien, who received the ball back from Wright-Phillips as he ran into the penalty area with the aid of a deflection from Jagielka. Essien needed no help with the finish, however, shooting calmly past Tim Howard for his sixth goal of the season.

Chelsea should have gone on to win comfortably against a team that will be lucky to qualify for the Uefa Cup if a haul of five points from their past six matches does not improve, but they no longer appear capable of brushing weaker opponents aside. Grant’s fate, though, will be decided on what he achieves in the Champions League against the other club from this city.

Everton (4-4-2): T Howard – T Hibbert, J Yobo, P Jagielka, J Yobo – M Fernandes, P Neville, L Carsley, S Pienaar (sub: V Anichebe, 62min) – A Johnson (sub: T Gravesen, 62), Yakubu Ayegbeni. Substitutes not used: S Wessels, L Baines, J Rodwell.

Chelsea (4-3-3): P Cech – P Ferreira, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Cole – S Wright-Phillips (sub: C Makelele, 81), J O Mikel, M Essien – J Cole (sub: F Malouda, 76), N Anelka, S Kalou. Substitutes not used: Hilário, A Shevchenko, Alex. Booked: Carvalho, Ferreira.

Referee: M Atkinson.

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