Result of Chelsea and Everton Match

Chelsea 0-0 Everton

Battling Everton ended Chelsea's lingering Barclays Premier League title ambitions with a hard-fought goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.

The result leaves Guus Hiddink's side three points behind second-placed Liverpool and six adrift of leaders Manchester United, who beat Portsmouth at Old Trafford and also have a game in hand.

The match, a dress rehearsal for May's FA Cup final, was dominated by both goalkeepers.

First half

Chelsea's Petr Cech and Everton's Tim Howard took the plaudits on a night when both sides failed to make the most of their chances.Cech was the first goalkeeper forced into action when a left-wing cross from Joleon Lescott was glanced into the arms of the Czech Republic international by Jo in the second minute.Cech came to Chelsea's rescue in the sixth minute when Tim Cahill put Jo through with a neat pass but the Everton striker was unable to beat the home goalkeeper who kept out his shot at point-blank range.

Moments later Chelsea responded with a long-range effort from Michael Ballack smothered by Howard who dived low to his left to ensure the ball did not creep inside the post.Minutes later Lampard, playing his 50th game of the season, sent a 25-yard shot just over Howard's crossbar.Michael Essien tried to go one better than Lampard in the 19th minute but his effort was well off target.Chelsea were now dominating the match but Everton still had their moments. A lightning counter-attack from Chelsea in the 42nd minute almost brought reward for the home side.

Second half

Jo wasted a chance to pinch the points for Everton when he fired high and wide from 18-yards in the 73rd minute.Chelsea's Kalou did likewise at the opposite end when he headed a cross from Malouda over the bar from six yards.Everton goalkeeper Howard then saved superbly to deny Kalou in the 79th minute after Lampard's corner found him unmarked. In Drogba had good chance in the last minutes of the match but he did not convert that into the winning goal for the Chelsea.