Everton 0
Chelsea 1

Imagine Avram Grant's reaction if Chelsea had lost. What makes his post-match sulk so extraordinary is that his side had showed such grit in overcoming this week's punishing schedule to pull off a crucial victory.

This was surely a triumphant moment, an opportunity to praise his team and put pressure on title rivals Manchester United.

The only explanation can be that the Israeli was trying to be clever, indulging in a bizarre mind game with his critics.

Read the full transcript of Avram Grant's bizarre press conference here

The success of this tactic can only be judged at the end of the season but it is unlikely that Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson or Rafael Benitez would have left themselves open to such ridicule.

It is not as if Grant had anything to be ashamed about. The 1-0 victory over Everton not only put Chelsea to within two points of United but also extended his managerial record in the Premier League to an impressive 20 wins from 29 matches, with only two defeats.

Grant may have promised a more entertaining style on succeeding Jose Mourinho, but what the club's fans, directors and owner want more than anything else is winning football.

And that's exactly what Chelsea produced at Goodison Park, as Everton manager David Moyes conceded in his more expansive post-match interview.

"Chelsea have been difficult for us again, no arguments," said the Scot. "They had a lot of the ball and although we tried with two up front, we couldn't achieve much. Chelsea made sure they did their job properly."

Michael Essien's 41st-minute strike was enough to smother Everton's slim hope of catching Liverpool in the race for the fourth Champions League spot.

Grant made five changes from the side held at home by Wigan on Monday, recalling Joe Cole, Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The club felt hugely aggrieved at being forced by the Premier League and Sky to play another crucial match so close to the Wigan came but did not let a sense of injustice colour their play.

The players also felt the benefit of a noisy away support, whose travel had been paid for by the club as a goodwill gesture following the late switch.

Grant's side showed an impressive level of movement and passing that Everton found hard to cope with. Most of their early chances fell to Wright-Phillips but his finishing let him down and the winger could not find a way past Tim Howard with the best opportunity.

Five minutes from half time, however, Chelsea made the decisive breakthrough. Neat passing involving Kalou, Essien and Wright-Phillips ended with the ball deflecting off Phil Jagielka straight into the path of the Ghanaian - who lifted the ball into the top corner with clinical ease.

The pattern changed little after the break, with Everton unable to breach a determined Chelsea back line led by John Terry and Carvalho.

Manuel Fernandes went close in the second half with a dipping free-kick but for the most part the visitors looked comfortable and in control. Which is more than can be said of their manager.