Nicolas Jackson ended his long goal drought to fire Chelsea a step nearer to the Champions League with a 1-0 win against Everton at Stamford Bridge.
A dominant display was capped by the winning goal scored midway through the first half, the striker’s first since December 15 finished confidently from 20 yards past Jordan Pickford as though he had been scoring every week, as suspended head coach Enzo Maresca watched from the stands.
The Italian’s lively celebrations following Pedro Neto’s last-gasp winner at Fulham a week ago had earned him a third yellow card of the season, but his exuberance will feel justified if, as looks increasingly possible, Chelsea go the distance in the race for the top five.
What a strike that is 👏
Nicolas Jackson fires Chelsea ahead just before the half-hour mark!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/aEIdJwiM0m
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 26, 2025
This win, which would have been greater but for an inspired individual display by Pickford, was Chelsea’s third in five in the Premier League and ensured they will see out the weekend in the Champions League places.
They dominated virtually throughout. Early on, Marc Cucurella linked up on the left with Noni Madueke who dashed forward and drew the first in a showreel of saves from Pickford.
Romeo Lavia made his first start since mid-January and in the first half Chelsea enjoyed near-total control of midfield as a result, moving the ball with urgency in the Everton half and displaying an aggression off the ball that has been seen too infrequently in recent months.
It was through just such pestering that they went in front. Pickford’s clearance put Beto under pressure, and facing his own goal he was dispossessed by the probing boot of Trevoh Chalobah. Enzo Fernandez picked up the bits on 27 minutes, threading the ball up to Jackson who turned on the spot and took a confident stride forward before sending a delightful finish into the corner.
Everton had had virtually no attacking presence. Their only chance off the half came in the closing minutes when Abdoulaye Doucoure failed to make proper contact with Vitalii Mykolenko’s cross, skewing his header hopelessly wide.
Pickford foiled Madueke for a second time just after the restart, turning the winger’s close-range drive away with his boot at the near post.
A crucial victory! ✊#CFC | #CHEEVE pic.twitter.com/U4OpmPJ8m7
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 26, 2025
Chelsea’s own goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had been under fire, still deemed in some sections of the home support to be too erratic to command either the shirt or his penalty area. He repaid Maresca’s continued faith with an impressive save to keep out Beto midway through the second half, diving at full stretch to his right and throwing a firm hand behind the striker’s bullet effort.
Madueke vs Pickford resumed for a third bout, the Everton goalkeeper producing the save of the match to claw his England teammate’s low curler away from the corner.
Jackson put the ball in the net for a second time but was ruled offside after Pickford beat out Cucurella’s drive, then Sanchez made his own contribution to what had been an excellent exhibition of goalkeeping to deny Dwight McNeil.
David Martindale believes the pressure is off his Livingston side after they booked their place in the Premiership play-off final with a comfortable victory over Partick Thistle.The Lions progressed 4-0 on aggregate, securing a second 2-0 win with Jamie Brandon’s opener added to by Stevie May’s stunning half-volley.They will now face either Dundee or Ross County over two legs, with the...
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca pointed to Marc Cucurella’s Barcelona connections after the defender headed the only goal against Manchester United to keep his side’s Champions League hopes in their own hands.The 26-year-old got on the end of Reece James’ cross in the 71st minute to power home his seventh goal of the season and rescue the Blues just as two vital points looked to ...
Walsall boss Mat Sadler said guiding the Saddlers to a play-off final is the proudest moment of his footballing career after they completed a 4-1 aggregate win over Chesterfield.Late goals from Charlie Lakin and Levi Amantchi – with an Armando Dobra consolation for the Spireites in between – earned Walsall a 2-1 victory on the night.And it provided a measure of redemption for a side wh...
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery could not give any assurances over the future of Emiliano Martinez after the goalkeeper was in tears following his side’s 2-0 win over Europa League finalists Tottenham.The Argentina international has been linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer and he was emotional at full-time of Villa’s final home game of the season.Asked about the 32-year-old...
Marc Cucurella was once again Chelsea’s hero as his headed goal earned a potentially season-defining 1-0 win over Manchester United just as his side’s Champions League hopes looked to be slipping away.With 20 minutes remaining at Stamford Bridge the Blues were set to head into the final day of the Premier League season with their top-five fate out of their hands, with more poor finishi...
Walsall booked a place in the League Two play-off final by completing a 4-1 aggregate victory over Chesterfield with a 2-1 win at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.Holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg, the Saddlers defended resolutely and effectively sealed progress nine minutes from time through Charlie Lakin’s close-range finish.Armando Dobra netted a stoppage-time Chesterfield consolation but...
Livingston eased into the final of the William Hill Premiership play-offs with a comfortable 4-0 aggregate victory over Partick Thistle.Leading 2-0 from the first leg, progression for David Martindale’s side was rarely in doubt after Jamie Brandon powered them ahead five minutes before half-time.Stevie May’s sensational half-volley midway through the second half extinguished any hope o...
East Fife secured promotion to Scottish League One after a 1-1 draw at Annan clinched them a 4-3 aggregate win in their two-legged play-off final.Dick Campbell’s Fifers, who won the first leg 3-2 on Tuesday night at Bayview Stadium, fell behind on the night to an early opener from Tommy Goss, but Adam Laaref’s first-half equaliser proved decisive.Annan, without suspended pair Scott Hoo...
Aston Villa boosted their hopes of a Champions League return after a 2-0 victory over Tottenham, who had more than one eye on Wednesday’s Europa League final.Villa’s memorable run to the quarter-finals of this season’s competition gave them the taste for more and they boosted their hopes with an eighth win from their last nine Premier League games.This was probably the biggest ho...
MARC GUEHI is ready to run down his contract to land a dream move to Barcelona or Real Madrid.Crystal Palace’s captain, 24, has a year left on his deal — with Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham all chasing him.Marc Guehi has excelled for Crystal PalaceThe Toon are favourites to land the England defender this summer — but a free transfer to a Spanish giant in 2026 is on the cards....
- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 Man Utd are losing the feeling of being a massive club – Ruben Amorim
- 3 Eddie Howe tells Newcastle to ‘drive forward’ and seal Champions League spot
- 4 Rangers thump Aberdeen to end five-match winless streak at Ibrox
- 5 Newcastle beat 10-man Chelsea to take step towards Champions League spot
- 6 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 7 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 8 Albanian Laura Woods goes braless in pink top
- 9 AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson wary of Notts County fightback in second leg
- 10 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate