It was a game of few opportunities at either end of the pitch, but it was Chelsea who dominated possession and produced the crucial moment of quality which decided the match and earned a crucial three points in the tight race for UEFA Champions League qualification.

The only goal arrived just over midway through the first half, as we capitalised on a quick transition. One moment the Toffees were trying to launch an attack, the next they were exposed at the back after Trevoh Chalobah stepped in to win possession in the centre circle.

Enzo Fernandez quickly fed the ball forward to Jackson and before Everton could readjust, our striker had swivelled and smashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of Jordan Pickford's goal.

Jackson did have the ball in the net again, but it was ruled out for offside, while the impressive Noni Madueke tested Pickford on a couple of occasions. In truth it was a game of few clear chances, but there were even fewer doubts that Chelsea were good value for our victory.

The selection

Romeo Lavia came in for Reece James as the only change and lined up in midfield alongside Enzo Fernandez, who captained the side in James’ absence, the Belgian international making his first appearance since the trip to Arsenal, and first start since January.

That means Moises Caicedo took up position on the right of our defence, with Marc Cucurella continuing on the left, as did centre-backs Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill ahead of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. The rest of the side was unchanged from last week’s dramatic win at Fulham, with the trio of Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer supporting striker Nicolas Jackson.

Patient start

It was a fairly low-key opening to the game, with little in the way of action in either penalty box, despite Madueke looking lively and Palmer threatening to get in behind the Everton defence from a ball over the top from deep.

A brilliant pass by Cucurella briefly opened things by finding Neto in space on the right, but Madueke couldn’t quite get his head on the curling cross. It was that man Noni again who tested Jordan Pickford for the first time, playing a clever one-two with Cucurella before driving infield and sending a low effort towards goal, but the Toffees keeper was able to turn it around the post at full stretch.

Brilliant opener

Chances were few and far between at either end, though, despite our dominance. That was until Jackson produced a brilliant opening goal out of nothing. There didn’t seem much on for the striker when he received the ball to feet all on his own on the edge of the Everton box, after Chalobah had won possession high up.

However, he didn’t need the help, as the Senegalese international promptly spun and smashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom-left corner. Two touches by Jackson and a matter of seconds after Everton had looked to start a rare attack, and Pickford was picking the ball out of his net.

The game soon resumed its previous pattern, although the combination of Cucurella and Madueke down our left flank continued to look like our most promising avenue to pursue a second goal.

Other than one low long-range drive by Fernandez, which Pickford was able to gather without too much difficulty, neither team managed to threaten much as we approached half-time, and some of the pace as taken off the game after a lengthy pause when a collision between Sanchez and Vitalii Mykolenko left both players needing treatment.

That meant we went in for the break with the lead, but it was a narrow one after a 45 minutes of very few chances. We looked to extend that advantage when we came back out for the second half, though, starting on the front foot again, before Madueke forced Pickford to react quickly to save with his feet at the near post following a Neto corner.

Still on top

Jackson was nearly gifted an opportunity for his and Chelsea's second goal when Nathan Patterson under-hit a back-pass for Pickford, but the keeper just managed to rush out and get to the ball before our striker. We were increasing the pressure though, with one Madueke cross skimming across goal somehow without getting a touch, then Mykolenko was just able to take another off Chalobah's head a few yards from goal.

We weren't quite having things all our own way, as shown when Sanchez needed a strong hand and quick reactions to keep out a powerful Abdoulaye Doucoure snap-shot from the edge of the box. Despite that effort Chelsea remained on top, and Everton boss David Moyes responded with a triple substitution, to follow the one already made at half-time.

Fresh legs were introduced by Enzo Maresca to help us maintain our push for a second goal, Reece James coming on to replace Lavia, the latter putting in a solid hour's work on his first start for more than three months. That change saw James slot in at right-back, allowing Caicedo to switch to his more familiar midfield role.

Looking for a second

The pattern of the game remained the same as we entered the last 20 minutes of the game, despite the changes. Chelsea were exerting a stranglehold on possession while Everton looked for opportunities for quick, direct breaks on the counter, but neither were able to carve out much in the way of clear openings.

We didn't stop trying, though, and were increasingly having our moments. We weren't far away from a brilliant goal, starting with a nonchalant piece of skill by Palmer - which left Doucoure walking away shaking his head in disbelief - and ending with Madueke driving into the box and forcing a low save from the keeper. Pickford had to save again moments later, this time keeping out Cucurella's header from the resulting corner.

Sanchez made another important save to deny Youssef Chermiti late on, while Jackson did have the ball in the net again after turning in the rebound from a saved Cucurella drive, but the offside flag was raised and it didn't count.

At the end we had to settle for just the 1-0 win, but it was an important three points secured for the Blues nonetheless.

What it means

This win takes Chelsea up one place to fourth in the Premier League table, at least temporarily until Newcastle United's game later in the day, with the Magpies one point behind us going into their 3pm kick-off against Ipswich Town.

What is next

There is a big week ahead for the Blues with two matches to look forward to. We are in Sweden for the first leg of our UEFA Conference League semi-final against Djurgarden on Thursday evening, kick-off at 8pm UK time, before hosting Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League at 4.30pm on Sunday.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Caicedo, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez (c), Lavia (James 67); Madueke (Sancho 78), Palmer (Dewsbury-Hall 90+1), Neto; Jackson (George 90+1)
Unused subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, Nkunku
Scorer: Jackson 27

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Patterson (Young 64), O'Brien, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Harrison (McNeil 64), Doucoure, Ndiaye (Alcaraz h-t); Beto (Chermiti 64)
Unused subs: Begovic, Virginia, Keane, Coleman, Iroegbanum

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