LONDON: John Terry grabbed a stoppage-time winner to snatch Chelsea a 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday which maintained the London club’s Premier League title challenge.

After drawing their last league game against West Bromwich Albion and suffering a chastening FA Cup defeat to rivals Manchester City, Jose Mourinho’s side were looking for a morale-boosting return to form.

Yet they looked sluggish for most of the match and when they finally sparked into life they came up against a stubborn Everton rearguard.

Despite losing January signing Lacina Traore to injury in the warm-up, Everton made a confident start in the sunshine at Stamford Bridge and kept the ball from Chelsea for long periods of the first half.

Leon Osman saw a rising half-volley tipped over the bar by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, while Phil Jagielka glanced a header wide from a Kevin Mirallas cross.

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard saw some action either side of half-time, saving from Samuel Eto’o and then Lampard, before a shot from Osman flicked off Mirallas and forced Cech into a smart low stop at the other end.

Howard produced an even better save moments later, parrying a low drive from Eden Hazard and then brilliantly springing to his feet to block a ferocious Branislav Ivanovic attempt with his chest.

Mourinho introduced Fernando Torres and Andre Schuerrle as the hosts pushed for a late breakthrough and saw Ramires lash a 25-yard shot narrowly wide in the 90th minute.

Time looked up for Chelsea, but in the third minute of injury time, Branislav Ivanovic appeared to slightly flick down Lampard’s cross to Terry and Howard succeeded only in flicking the ball into the net with his left hand.

Leaders Chelsea moved to 60 points from 27 games, four clear of second-placed Arsenal. Everton stayed sixth with 45 points from 26, eight adrift of Liverpool who currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualifying place.—Agencies