A Nicolas Jackson early goal ensured Chelsea returned to the Champions League spots with a narrow victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge.
The win takes the Blues up to fourth place in the Premier League, putting them level on points with Nottingham Forest and one point ahead of Newcastle, who are set to play Ipswich later on Saturday.
With Forest and Aston Villa competing in FA Cup semi-finals this weekend, Chelsea will maintain a top-five position at least until Thursday, when Forest will host Brentford.
The crucial three points were secured by striker Nicolas Jackson, who broke a 13-match goalless streak dating back to December. He struck a picturesque 20-yard shot beyond Jordan Pickford and into the bottom corner in the 27th minute.
Despite dominating the match, Chelsea struggled to secure the win and faced some nervy moments as Everton improved in the final quarter. Chelsea’s keeper, Robert Sanchez, made important saves from both Beto and Dwight McNeil, diving low to his right when necessary.
Under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s next match is against league leaders Liverpool at Stamford Bridge next Sunday. This will be followed by a visit to fellow Champions League contenders Newcastle, then a home game against Manchester United, and finally a trip to Nottingham Forest on the last day of the season.
Everton, on the other hand, have managed to win only one of their past nine matches and currently sit in 13th place.
