EVERTON might have had one cup scare this week – but being frightened of Chelsea is not the way to go about their Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge tonight.
I think the worst thing Everton could do tonight is sit back and play it cautious, hoping to keep it tight ahead of the home leg in two weeks’ time.
They need to forget about the Oldham result and see tonight’s game for what it is – simply the best time they could have hoped for to play Chelsea.
This is a Chelsea almost unrecognisable from the seemingly invincible cup side that won both domestic cup competitions last season.
They’re missing Cech, Terry and Lampard, while Drogba is away with the Ivory Coast squad in the African Nations Cup.
They are a completely different team and there’s never been a better chance to beat them over two legs.
And there’s certainly never been a better time to go on the attack and get a goal at Stamford Bridge.
Despite their awesome home record, over Christmas they conceded four against Aston Villa and were being held 1-1 by Newcastle before being bailed out by a very fortunate offside decision.
And the reason they were so shaky on their own ground was because the opposition weren’t afraid to go on the offensive and have a go at them.
So there’s no reason why Everton should be. After all, their last two visits have seen them come away with 1-1 draws and actually look the more threatening of the two sides on both occasions.
As long as they don’t do anything stupid and concede a soft goal to leave them chasing, they can be quietly confident of gaining at least another draw down there, which would set them up perfectly for the Goodison return.
And I don’t think Everton should allow the FA Cup exit to knock their confidence and make them retreat into their shell.
Although David Moyes didn’t play what anyone could class as a weak team, it certainly wasn’t full strength and I think that sometimes sub-consciously affects the team.
They don’t get the impression that the game has as much intensity and that’s understandable given the high-profile fixtures that Everton have in the diary during this campaign.
So Saturday has gone and is done with and needs to be forgotten. I honestly believe that if Everton were still playing now they still wouldn’t have scored – you just have those days when it’s destined not to go in.
I’d rather have one in a game like that than in a game against one of the top sides, when you might not get as many opportunities but you make sure you take the ones you do manage to create.
And the more Everton create tonight the more chance they will have of gaining a first leg advantage over a Chelsea side that might find it difficult to respond given the players they are currently missing.
That’s why the best form of defence at Stamford Bridge could be to attack.
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