Neto's double sets up a 2-0 win

Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on 17 October, with Pedro Neto scoring both goals. The first came early in the second half: the visitors took the kickoff, pushed straight down the left, and Jorrel Hato's cross was driven home by Neto. Morgan Rogers later latched onto a Neto cross and seemed set to double the lead, but Merlin Rohl made a timely block. Neto's second-half brace secured back-to-back league wins for Chelsea for the first time since the second week of the campaign. The clean sheet was their first since 17 January, ending a run of 23 matches without one, while the defeat was Everton's first of the season.

Martinez injured in a collision

The worst moment came around the hour mark, when Emi Martinez came off his line to claim a free-kick from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and collided at speed with Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite. Both players needed treatment. Martinez received oxygen and, after a stoppage of about ten minutes, was stretchered off wearing a neck brace before being taken to hospital. Branthwaite was back on his feet soon after. Mike Penders, described by 20minutes as a former Strasbourg goalkeeper, replaced him and made his Premier League debut, keeping a clean sheet. As he left the pitch, Martinez raised a hand and a thumb, a gesture 20minutes read as a sign that all was largely well.

A feisty first half

The first booking came 23 minutes in, when Harrison Armstrong was cautioned after a full-blooded tackle on Josh Acheampong, who was himself booked less than ten minutes later. Pedro Neto also had his name taken for dissent early on. Just after the half-hour mark, James Tarkowski shoved Moises Caicedo to the ground, and Rogers confronted the Everton veteran centre-back, with Jordan Henderson joining in. Referee Paul Tierney dispersed a brief melee. Tarkowski was booked for his part in it, and Rogers also had his name taken. Later, Rogers went into a fifty-fifty with James Garner that left both players needing treatment, but VAR cleared the incident.

Chances before the break

Thierno Barry headed an early chance straight into Martinez's arms, and the keeper also tipped over a bouncing effort from Jack Grealish. Moises Caicedo hit the woodwork with a clattering volley. Tyrique George came on just before the hour mark to face his former club, and Chelsea pushed on to suffocate their hosts, who were not much improved by his introduction. Chelsea's second goal came in the same phase of the match, so the sequence of chances and fouls shaped a game that was far more open after the break than before it.