EVERTON substitute Lewis Dobbin sent Goodison Park into raptures with an added time goal that sealed a win against Chelsea yesterday afternoon.

Abdoulaye Doucoure had given the home side the lead earlier in the second half, before some dogged defensive work kept Everton with a third clean sheet in a row.

Were it not for their 10-point deduction, Everton would have gone into this game above Chelsea in the table.

By the end of it, they were only six points behind them even with the 10-point handicap.

The opening goal included a lot of what has been good about Everton in recent weeks. A Jarrad Branthwaite tackle. The best English centre-back in the league at the moment.

A contribution from the outstanding Vitaliy Mykolenko, who fed Dwight McNeil and has been consistently good this season at left-back.

Conor Gallagher was trying to foul McNeil as he drove forward, and a good advantage played by referee Michael Oliver allowed him to keep going.

His pass found Dominic Calvert-Lewin just in front of Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez.

Though the striker’s shot was saved at close range, the ball deflected out to Doucoure who kept his composure to slot home.

Doucoure has emerged as one of Everton’s most effective attacking weapons, playing just off Calvert-Lewin in a 4-4-2.

He was back in this role having played deeper in midfield during the midweek win against Newcastle, and on the scoresheet once again.

Now on six goals, the Frenchman is Everton’s top scorer this season.

On adding his team’s second, 20-year-old Dobbin became Everton’s 13th different goalscorer in all competitions this season, as players, staff, and fans continue to drive this team’s defiant progress.