Neto at the double for Chelsea to sink Toffees

PEDRO Neto grabbed a second half brace to seal a 2-0 victory for Chelsea over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Neto put his side in front only 44 seconds after the break and wrapped up the three points on 90 minutes to seal back-to-back wins for Xabi Alonso’s side.

A pre-match injury to Pep Chavarria ensured there was one change to the starting XI from last weekend’s 5-1hammering of Bournemouth with Jorrel Hato stepping up as replacement.

Teenage midfielder Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli was named among the substitutes.

The early exchanges produced very little from either side and it took until the 13th minute for the hosts to gain the first potential opening when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was hauled down by Moises Caicedo.

However, the subsequent free-kick was wasted by James Garner whose delivery went harmlessly over despite Everton players packing the Chelsea box.

Cole Palmer tried his luck from 25 yards with a low drive that was comfortably gathered by Jordan Pickford.

Jordan Henderson saw a similar effort from outside the box blocked before tempers threatened to boil over as Harrison Armstrong picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Josh Acheampong.

That at least sparked the crowd into life and they were on there feet again after Emi Martinez was judged to have held the ball for too long when saving Merlin Rohl’s shot prompting referee Paul Tierney to award a corner.

Neto had a bit too much to say in the ensuing protests and was duly cautioned.

Martinez was then called into action twice in the space of three minutes to save Thierno Barry’s header and tip over Jack Grealish’s downward volley.

Acheampong went in the book for a clumsy foul on Grealish and then Morgan Rogers and James Tarkowski collected yellows after the Everton captain reacted when being pushed over by the Chelsea attacker.

Barry took a couple of touches with his back to goal before firing straight at Martinez having being cleverly picked out by Vitalii Mykolenko.

Chelsea almost broke the deadlock five minutes before the break when Jordan Henderson’s corner found an unmarked Caicedo at the back post and his stunning shot hit the woodwork.

The Pensioners were lucky not to go down to 10 men when Rogers, already on a yellow, clattered with Garner and escaped what looked a pretty clear second caution.

Pickford had to tip over Neto’s attempt in first half stoppage time as the visitors again went close but there was nothing to separate the two sides at the break.

But it took Chelsea 44 seconds to go ahead after the interval as Rogers cleverly released Hato down the left and his pull back to Neto was struck past Pickford.

David Moyes introduced former Chelsea player Tyrique George from the bench 10 minutes later in place of Ainsley Maitland-Niles as the Toffees looked to respond.

Rohl had to make a vital block from Palmer and the Chelsea attacker then tried a cheeky chip of Pickford from outside of the area which flew just over.

Joao Pedro wasn’t far away with a curling 20 yard effort on 64 minutes and there was a significant break in play to allow treatment for Martinez and Jarrad Branthwaite after a coming together of heads between the pair as Dewsbury-Hall’s free-kick was whipped in.

Martinez was eventually stretchered off and replaced by Mike Penders, his first Premier League appearance since the Belgian’s arrival from Genk last summer.

Palmer ambitiously attempted a curler from 35 yards that flew wide and a quick counter attack saw Palmer rob possession from Christian Norgaand seconds after he had came on and find Pedro, whose shot was kept out by Pickford’s knee.

Chelsea doubled their advantage just before 11 minutes of additional time were signalled for the earlier injury to their goalkeeper.

Henderson’s free-kick into the box came off George with Mykolenko unable to clear, allowing Neto to slot home his and the Pensioners’ second of the afternoon.

Toffees substitute Brennan Johnson was unlucky not to apply a touch to Dewsbury-Hall’s inviting looking low cross, which would have set up a nervy finale with seven minutes still to play.

But the visitors comfortably ran down the clock to deservedly claim the three points from what was an impressive second half display.

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Maitland-Niles (George 55), Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Armstrong (Norgaard 85), Garner; Grealish (Johnson 85), Dewsbury-Hall, Rohl; Barry. Subs not used: Travers, O’Brien, Dibling, Alcaraz, Hackney, Graham.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Martinez (Penders 75); Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto (Quenda 90+11), Henderson, Caicedo, Hato (Palestra 90+2); Palmer, Rodgers; Pedro (Welbeck 90+2). Subs not used: Fofana, Barco, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Lavia.