EVERTON 0-2 CHELSEA: Pedro Neto bagged a brace as the Blues secured a rare win on Merseyside but the afternoon was overshadowed by a serious injury to Emi Martinez

Chelsea ended Everton's unbeaten start to the season as they won for the first time on the road since the opening weekend in a game that was overshadowed by a serious injury to Emi Martinez.

The Blues, since seeing off Fulham, had been beaten at Arsenal and Brentford but produced a perfect away day performance to secure three points at Everton.

David Moyes' side had won two and drawn four of their six games heading into the lunchtime kick-off, but Pedro Neto's brace saw the Blues secure a victory that sees them jump into the top four, at least temporarily.

Martinez and Jarrad Branthwaite clashed as they both went for an Everton set piece, with the concern immediately evident on the faces of those nearby. The Everton defender was able to stand up and continue after some prolonger treatment.

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The Argentine goalkeeper though remained laying on the ground with several medical staff tending to him. He was eventually taken off on a stretcher with Mike Prenders coming on for the first 15 minutes. Martinez was carried off to a round of applause.

In a first-half that lacked in quality it was Moises Caicedo who was centimetres away producing a Goal of the Season contender. The midfielder was the target of a corner, floated to the back post, before he volleyed it first time, only to see his effort hammer the bar. Up the other end Emi Martinez needed to be alert to tip over a Jack Grealish effort.

But Chelsea needed only 44 seconds on the second-half to take the lead, Jorrel Hato driving into the Everton box before his cross found Petro Neto. The Portuguese's effort into the bottom corner beat Jordan Pickford, who could only get a hand to it.

Joao Pedro missed a major chance to double the Chelsea lead in the latter stages as the Blues broke on the Everton goal, but Pickford was on hand to deny the Brazilian.

However Neto was on hand to score his second of the afternoon as the clock hit 90 minutes. The wing-back coming up with an opportunistic strike having reacted quickest to a blocked free-kick.

Fast starts continue

We've been accustomed to seeing Chelsea take the lead in the early stages. In their first four games they were ahead inside ten minutes. Against Arsenal and Fulham they needed only two minutes to get themselves in front.

At Everton the game was slow to get going, but the Blues showcased their ability to get going fast once the whistle for the second-half blew. They were able to catch their opponents napping and a combination of a smart Morgan Rogers back heel, Hato's driving run and pass and Neto's finish handed Chelsea the game's opening goal.

From then on they didn't need to press the agenda. In more recent games they've seemingly operated on a 'we'll outscore you' plan. Seeing off Fulham 3-2 and Brighton 4-3. But this time they showed a more measured approach.

It also ended Chelsea's horror recent record on the blue half of Merseyside. Coming into Saturday's contest they'd won just one of their last nine visits to Everton, the majority of those coming at Goodison Park.

They were beaten 3-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium only seven months ago during Liam Rosenior's short-lived reign, but made efforts to atone for that loss as Xabi Alonso's side got back on track with his side registering a first clean sheet in nine months.