Guus Hiddink v David Moyes

TEAM

MOYES: THE choice was between Louis Saha and Jack Rodwell. Within 25 seconds, the Everton manager's choice was vindicated as Saha hit the opener.

HIDDINK: BOLD decision to drop Michael Ballack and prefer John Obi Mikel - but it backfired when the Nigerian failed to clear, letting Saha score.

Click here for all the FA Cup Final pictures from Chelsea v Everton

Click here for pictures of Guus Hiddink's and Roman Abramovich's amazing dressing room party

TACTICS

MOYES: OFTEN used a deep 4-5-1 this season but second striker Marouane Fellaini gave Louis Saha more support in the 4-4-1-1 system here.

HIDDINK: USUAL 4-3-3 game-plan but midfield lacked balance with Frank Lampard required to do all the creative work. But he had space when Michael Ballack came on.

LEADERSHIP

MOYES: EVERTON appeared better prepared both physically and mentally. Moyes did the best possible preparation.

HIDDINK: WAS off the bench and in the technical area very quickly to coax his players to respond to that early Everton goal. They got the message - and his calm influence eventually told.

SUBS

MOYES: WISELY replaced Tony Hibbert, who had been struggling at right-back against Florent Malouda, with Lars Jacobsen and used his other two subs to chase the game as best he could.

HIDDINK: CLEVERLY introduced Michael Ballack in place of ineffective Michael Essien and so improved Chelsea's shape.

VERDICT

MOYES: DID everything he could before the game and from the touchline - but he could not account for Frank Lampard's moment of brilliance.

HIDDINK: DESERVED his reward for turning Chelsea's season around - and he got it thanks to keeping calm as he made changes that turned the game his team's way.

Tim Cahill v Frank Lampard

CAHILL

PASSING: Cahill linked up well with Baines and Pienaar early on, but struggled to keep possession after Chelsea drew level. Saha was left to feed off scraps from aimless long balls.

TACKLING: Typical graft from the Australian. Got up close and personal with the Chelsea midfield and was lucky to escape a booking after a late lunge on Anelka.

ATTEMPTS ON GOAL: Failed to have an impact in attack until he was moved up front alongside Saha, who had been playing as a lone striker. His only shot on target left him hobbling, before shooting wide late on.

LAMPARD

PASSING: Lampard's superb passing allowed the Blues to settle into their rhythm. A threat throughout with his powerful runs forward. His perfectly-weighted pass to Malouda led to Drogba's equaliser.

TACKLING: Strong in the tackle from the start, the England star did not allow the Everton midfield any time to settle on the ball and broke up attacks with ease.

ATTEMPTS ON GOAL: Got his range with a 25-yard shot that flew over, before bursting the back of the net with a cracking left-foot strike - a wonderful gift for departing Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink.

VERDICT

LAMPARD produced a midfield masterclass in the Wembley sunshine. The England star's winning goal - and superb range of passing - confirmed that he is the man for the big occasion. A performance worthy of an FA Cup winner's medal.

Joleon Lescott v Didier Drogba

LESCOTT

TACKLING: Nothing memorable from Lescott - but solid and dependable for the most part. His big problem was you cannot tackle in the air and that is where Drogba won the duel.

HEADING: Won his fair share in the air but, when it mattered most, he was bullied out of it by Drogba as the Ivory Coast striker towered above him to thunder home Chelsea's first-half equaliser.

PASSING: Nothing special and caught out by Drogba a couple of times. Tried a few long punts forward trying to exploit the pace of Saha up front, and the runs from deep by Cahill, but without any success.

DROGBA

MOVEMENT: Drogba played through the middle but drifted wide and left to stretch the Everton defence. But, disappointingly, he also repeated his tendency to go down too easily, most memorably when he was well tackled by Everton skipper Phil Neville just before the break.

HEADING: Powered home Chelsea's first-half equaliser with a thumping header that left Lescott tumbling and gave Tim Howard no chance, a textbook finish and another big-time score for the Drog.

ATTEMPTS ON GOAL: Drogba is one of the most infuriating players in the game - so much talent, so much petulance - but he knows where the net is and he proved that yet again.

VERDICT

DROGBA won it at a canter. Lescott is a good defender for Everton - but Chelsea star Drogba is, among other things, a great striker. There is no doubting that he is one of the best in the world - and his class helped the Blues win the day.

Louis Saha v John Terry

SAHA

MOVEMENT: Saha looked sharp and lively after the boost of scoring so early. But he wilted in the heat as the match progressed and it was no surprise when he was subbed in the 76th minute after running out of steam.

HEADING: Had a great chance midway through the second half to convert a header from similar range to Drogba - but, although he produced plenty of power, he directed his effort over the top. A bad miss - it could have been the winner

ATTEMPTS ON GOAL: Scored with his first attempt at goal after only 25 seconds to give Everton an explosive early lead, but it was all downhill after that.

TERRY

TACKLING: Terry was OK against Everton's solitary striker Saha - but nervy around Cahill, not always sure what the dangerous attacking midfielder might do next.

HEADING: A couple of big headers forward - but he was not required to do anything out of the ordinary once Chelsea had come to terms with Everton's shock early goal.

PASSING: Tried to build things from the back by taking up the ball on the edge of his own area and trying to push the Blues forward with short, medium and long balls. But he was never afraid or ashamed to lump it long when danger threatened.

VERDICT

SAHA struck the surprise early blow to lift Everton's spirits - but Chelsea captain Terry won the contest to ensure he went up to lift another trophy for the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet. It was a good day at the office for the England defender.

This article has 0 comments