That awkward date with the doghouse in Dubai suddenly seems as timely for Chelsea as for John Terry and his marriage. The defender had responded to the personal crisis that cost him the England captaincy as his club and the entire football world knew he would – with an impenetrable, defiant air. But the first cracks appeared at Goodison Park last night as two Terry mistakes hindered Chelsea's march at the Premier League summit. Typically, his nemesis proved to be French.
Louis Saha capitalised on both errors to give Everton their first victory over Chelsea in almost 10 years and do his old club, Manchester United, a huge favour in the title race. A fourth away defeat of the season for Carlo Ancelotti's team owed much to their inability to defend set pieces, Saha transforming the game when he escaped Terry at Landon Donovan's corner to equalise, but their captain's all-round display gave cause for concern. Only Terry will know whether weeks at the centre of scandal have taken a toll on his professional life, but it must disturb Ancelotti that the first questions can now be legitimately asked.
Ray Wilkins, the Chelsea assistant manager, was first to rebuke the suggestion that Terry's mind was elsewhere. "Not at all," insisted Wilkins. "You have to give Louis Saha credit, he is a tough opponent. John has been absolutely outstanding for us all season and if it was a mistake by John then I'm sure it is the slightest of blips." But he confirmed that Terry will be heading to Dubai today to visit his wife, Toni, adding: "John won't play this weekend [against Cardiff in the FA Cup]. Carlo has given him time off for a break and he'll be back for the Wolves game [a week on Saturday]. They had a little chat and decided that would be the best for all concerned."
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Having been culpable, in Wilkins's words, for the "slight lack of concentration" that enabled Saha to cancel out Florent Malouda's early goal for Chelsea, Terry made a graver error for the Everton winner 15 minutes from time. A long ball out of defence from Sylvain Distin should have been routine to a defender of Terry's standing but he misread the flight completely, the French striker controlled the ball beautifully, and suddenly Petr Cech was watching a fine left-footed shot sail past him. David Moyes, roundly criticised for Everton's defeat at Liverpool on Saturday and his argument that his team played well, had instant vindication. This was his first victory as Everton manager over Chelsea, the side who destroyed his dreams of lifting the FA Cup last season.
"I'd rather have won the FA Cup final if I had my pick," said Moyes, who before kick-off had challenged Saha to mark his new two-year contract at Everton by rediscovering his goalscoring form and making life difficult for Terry. The former United player's response was emphatic, although he should really have departed with the match ball having also missed a 44th-minute penalty to accompany his brace.
With the exception of a dominant opening, in which the hangover from the Merseyside derby defeat appeared to be resting heavily on Everton players and the Goodison crowd, Chelsea were far from the swaggering, superior side that many believe will break United's hold on the league title this season. Everton were missing key midfielders in Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini as a result of the bruising encounter at Anfield and, with Mikel Arteta making his first start for a year alongside Leon Osman, the visitors initially controlled the midfield with ease.
Malouda shot low under Tim Howard after only 17 minutes when Tim Cahill and Phil Neville were caught in two minds over how to deal with Didier Drogba in the air. In the event neither challenged the Chelsea centre-forward, and he flicked a header through a static Everton defence for the French midfielder to sprint clear and finish comfortably.
Everton's reaction changed the entire mood and flow of the contest. After Saha had glanced Donovan's corner beyond Cech the USA captain was tripped inside the area on the stroke of half-time, but the striker's spot-kick was at a comfortable height for the Chelsea goalkeeper who parried to his left.
Ancelotti made several tactical changes after the interval but could not stem a vibrant Everton display, in which Saha and Donovan remained to the fore. "That was Landon's best game for us," said Moyes. "But I don't think we'll be able to keep him when his three-month loan expires unfortunately." Saha's second gave Everton a deserved lead and ultimately, despite a late scare when Drogba headed against the crossbar, a merited and restorative victory. "I just thought we lacked a bit of intensity," said Wilkins, whose side also lost Ashley Cole to an ankle injury. "But full credit to Everton. They just about deserved to nick it."