Chelsea boss Avram loses the plot in post-match meltdown after Essien keeps Blues in title race

• Read the whole transcript of the Avram's post-match meltdown here

A first-half goal from midfielder Michael Essien earned the victory at Goodison Park that leaves Chelsea two points behind leaders Manchester United, who play their game in hand at Blackburn Rovers tomorrow evening.

Defiant skipper John Terry stripped off his shirt and led his players off with a shout of: "We're still in it."

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But a dreary game was soon overshadowed by one of the most astonishing press conferences in football history as Grant sat hunched in the stadium press room looking confused and bewildered in the face of straightforward questions.

It was not clear last night whether there was something wrong with the Israeli coach or whether his behaviour was merely an attempt to play games with members of the written press, who he feels have given him an unduly hard time since taking over from Jose Mourinho earlier in the season.

He later gave perfectly normal interviews to radio reporters, suggesting the latter might be the case.

Nevertheless, Grant's parody of his usual subdued self has done nothing for the image of his club and it remains to be seen how owner Roman Abramovich views his coach's antics once Chelsea inevitably become a laughing stock over the next few days.

"Was this a deserved win, Avram?" Grant was asked at the start of a press conference that lasted a little over five minutes.

"Yes," he replied.

That turned out to be one his more sensible answers as Grant's behaviour soon reduced a straightforward process to a complete shambles.

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With a clearly embarrassed Chelsea press officer sitting by his side, Grant would not even concede that the victory had put his team back in the title race after the disappointment of Monday's home draw with Wigan.

"Does this result mean you are back in it now?" he was asked.

"I don't know."

"You are saying that you don't know if you are still in the title race?" he was asked again.

"No."

"You are two points behind Manchester United and you don't know if you are still in the title race?"

"No."

One theory last night was that Grant was still sulking at Sky TV's decision to shift last night's game from the weekend to a Thursday.

But Sky were not present at last night's press conference and Grant denied that he had a problem with the station.

Later Grant told radio interviewers: "I am still alive. You cannot kill me."