BLUE DAY

THIS time Chelsea copped the punishment they deserved.

Days after escaping with a paltry £10million fine for dodgy payments during the Roman Abramovich regime, the Blues paid the penalty for another dismal display.

The current Stamford Bridge regime reported the crimes under the previous owner to the football authorities.

And Liam Rosenior’s team were the architects of their own downfall on the pitch.

Hapless goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was arguably at fault for Beto’s first-half goal.

The Chelsea keeper was definitely to blame for the Guinea-Bissau striker’s second, just after the hour.

And when Beto headed the ball on for Iliman Ndiaye to score a brilliant third, it was no more than a vibrant Everton deserved.

David Moyes’ side had won only five out of the 15 previous games at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium home.

On this evidence it is more likely to be hosting Champions League football next season than Stamford Bridge.

The naming rights belong to a firm of solicitors but even they would struggle to defend Chelsea right now.

This was the Blues’ fourth defeat in a row and, in its own way, the worst.

Losing to European champions Paris Saint-Germain twice is one thing. Or two.

A flat performance between the two Champions League legs was understandable.

But Rosenior always talks about wanting his team to show they can respond to setbacks.

And they simply could not.

The home fans treated the teatime TV audience to an early chorus of the “Premier League, corrupt as f***” chant. Everton were docked six and two points for twice breaking financial rules.

“And their fans are not the only ones to think the Blues got off lightly for £47m of under-the-table payments that helped them buy players who won them major trophies.

Rosenior’s team also got away with murder in the opening 15 minutes of the game.

Wes Fofana’s attempt to play out to Romeo Lavia was underhit and former Blues midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall nicked the ball. But he was unable to shoot before being closed down.

Soon afterwards goalkeeper Sanchez once more showed why he cannot be trusted with the style of play Rosenior wants.

Beto caught Sanchez dallying on the ball and only a desperate left leg lunge by the Spaniard saved him from conceding a soft goal, with Moises Caicedo tidying up the mess.

Then Jorrel Hato gave the ball away and Malo Gusto had to block the James Garner shot which followed.

Gradually, though, Chelsea played their way into the game.

Lavia, after that tough early moment, was showing in only his second PL start of the season what his team had been missing during his long spells out with injury.

The visitors were popping the ball around neatly. Everton captain James Tarkowski, back after missing the defeat at Arsenal, made two good blocks from shots by Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto.

So it was a bit against the run of play that Everton took the lead.

Garner, fresh from his first senior England call-up, was given time to pick a pass and sent the ball perfectly into Beto’s path.

Fofana, caught on the wrong side, could not recover and expected Sanchez to bail him out.

But the Chelsea goalkeeper was slow off his line and Beto produced a superb dinked finish.

The visitors responded. When Everton ‘keeper Jordan Pickford flapped at a corner, the ball fell to Enzo Fernandez.

The Blues midfielder athletically fired towards goal but Pickford somehow recovered in time to make a reflex save.

It felt fair, on the balance of the first half.Rosenior acted at the break, replacing full back Gusto with winger Alejandro Garnacho.

Not a lot happened for a while, apart from Sanchez colliding with his left-hand post while gathering a deep cross.

Lavia lasted less than an hour before being replaced by Andrey Santos.

The game was opening up, but without many clear-cut chances until Fernandez found space and curled one towards goal.

Again, Pickford threw himself into making the save.

And moments later Beto landed the killer blow. —The Sun.