Conte bemoans 鈥榰nfair鈥� result as Chelsea stutter at Everton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton vs Chelsea - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - December 23, 2017 Everton manager Sam Allardyce, Everton assistant manager Sammy Lee and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

LONDON: Chelsea missed the chance to move level on points in the Premier League with second-placed Manchester United as Everton maintained their improvement under Sam Allardyce in a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.

It marked a sixth game unbeaten for Everton under the former England boss, but Chelsea鈥檚 failure to convert possession into goals will not have disappointed Blues manager Antonio Conte, who did not feel the result was a fair reflection of his side鈥檚 dominance.

Conte has already conceded his inconsistent team won鈥檛 be able to defend the Premier League title and this was another frustrating afternoon for the Italian as the Blues squandered their territorial superiority.鈥ㄢ€↖ think we dominated the game and had lots of chances to score,鈥� Conte told Sky Sports. 鈥淚 think this result is unfair. Everton deserve credit, but we deserved to win.

鈥淲e dominated the game and it is a pity to drop two points. It is normal to drop points with a poor performance, but not today.

Initially, it looked like being an encouraging day for Conte as Chelsea quickly established a pattern of complete dominance. It took an impressive double goal-line clearance by veteran defender Phil Jagielka to deny the visitors what would have been a deserved lead.
鈥═he Everton captain read the situation perfectly as Marcos Alonso鈥檚 cross flew through the home area after 10 minutes, reacting sharply to block Tiemoue Bakayoko鈥檚 effort. Jagielka then responded even more impressively as Willian looked certain to convert the rebound, the defender positioning himself to keep out the follow-up effort in similar fashion.
鈥╕et for all their superiority in those opening stages, Chelsea struggled to carve out many meaningful chances to trouble home keeper Jordan Pickford.

It was easy to see the impact Allardyce has made since his arrival at Goodison Park although Everton were not helped by the pre-match loss of in-form Wayne Rooney due to illness. In the absence of the 10-goal forward, Everton鈥檚 attacking play was likely to be hindered and so it proved, with Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois a virtual spectator.

Allardyce made a major reshuffle at the interval, bringing on Sandro and Ashley Williams as he switched to three central defenders, a move that proved something of a gamble when he lost Idrissa Gueye to injury within five minutes of the restart and was forced to use his final substitute.

By then, Chelsea had already threatened Pickford鈥檚 goal, with the keeper saving well from Pedro鈥檚 drive before Williams did well to block Alonso鈥檚 effort. There was some anxiety for the visitors when Hazard was hacked down and required lengthy treatment, with Michael Keane booked for the foul.

鈥˙ut the Belgian quickly shook off the effects of the injury and was soon forcing Pickford into another fine diving save after receiving a pass from Willian.
鈥╓illiams got his head to Victor Moses鈥� fierce 75th minute cross, deflecting it onto the Everton bar before it flew out of harm鈥檚 way. There was also a late chance for substitute Cesc Fabregas when Jagielka stuck out a foot and deflected his powerful, long-range shot just wide.

鈥淚n terms of effort, commitment, organization, we have played a hugely talented front five and have had a bit of luck, but rolled up our sleeves to get a result,鈥� Alladyce said of his side鈥檚 endeavor. 鈥淚t keeps the undefeated run going and you have to respect a point against the big boys.鈥�