THE talk may have been to the contrary, but Everton wouldnt mind one bit if this proves an indicator for next months FA Cup final.

David Moyess side landed a psychological blow ahead of the Wembley showpiece by holding fellow finalists Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge last night.

Different competitions, maybe. But this Premier League result will have planted a significant seed of doubt in the minds of Guus Hiddinks side and act as great encouragement for Everton ahead of their May 30 rematch.

And with good reason. After all, while Chelsea fielded their strongest available side, the visitors were much-changed from the team that secured Sundays famous semi-final victory over Manchester United.

Moyes claimed there had been no major celebration in the aftermath of that win.

And there was little suggestion of any Cup hangover from Everton.

If anything, Chelsea seemed to suffer more from their weekend exertions in beating Arsenal in their Cup semi-final.

Of course, while Everton could play with relative freedom, the pressure was on Hiddinks side to keep alive their faint hopes of winning the championship.

But having scored 10 goals in their previous three games, Chelsea were blunted by a typically well organised and resolute visiting defence.

It could have been even better for Everton, who were intent from the first whistle to capitalise on the defensive uncertainty that has crept into the Londoners game in recent weeks.

They fashioned the more clear-cut openings and had a strong shout for a first-half penalty dismissed when Alex brought down Leighton Baines.

The draw edged Moyess men a point nearer to Aston Villa and another top-five finish and extended their record to just four defeats in 31 games.

An arduous 120 minutes and subsequent penalty shoot-out on a questionable Wembley surface had led Moyes to hint at wholesale changes to his team.

Marouane Fellainis knee injury meant there was one ensured absence with the Goodison manager eventually making four alterations to the starting line-up, Segundo Castillo, Joseph Yobo, Lars Jacobsen and Jo all returning as Phil Jagielka, Tony Hibbert and Louis Saha dropped to the bench.

Moyes had warned his players there could be no slacking during the final six games of the season, and any easing of intensity may cost a possible Cup final place.

But with Evertons players having stepped up to the plate time and again this campaign, such commitment has become almost a given.

And their success means the reality is the fringe players will be hard pressed to force their way into Moyess thinking for a start at Wembley, injury permitting.

That said, they did their chances no harm with a clutch of impressive displays.

Castillo, making his first start since January, was industrious against an imposing Chelsea midfield to such an extent that Michael Essien was hauled off on the hour.

Yobo grew in composure against Didier Drogba while Jacobsen again proved a steady option at right-back before a leg injury curtailed his evening late on.

A final appearance is off limits for cup-tied Jo, the striker instead seeking to impress sufficiently for Everton to pursue a permanent deal in the summer, even though Moyes insists the money is simply not there to facilitate such a transfer.

The manager has urged the Brazilian to start producing on the road his goalpoaching Goodison form that has earned him five goals in four home appearances.

Jo didnt help his cause early on when, having been sent clear by Tim Cahills clever throughball, the striker shot too close to Petr Cech, who saved with his left leg.

Even worse was to come shortly before the interval when, after a slack Ashley Cole pass, Everton broke upfield, Steven Pienaar fed Jo but the striker slipped embarrassingly as he went to pull the trigger, the ball floating harmlessly wide.

Such chances underlined the pattern of first-half play, with Everton creating more as Chelsea struggled to make any impact.

The visitors worked another opening in the 34th minute, Jo picking up Leon Osmans floated pass on the left wing and finding Cahill, who was allowed space to turn and fire a shot that drew a smart save from Cech.

Moments later Everton had a strong claim for a penalty when the lively Leighton Baines went over Alexs leg inside the area. Referee Mark Halsey waved play on, but television replays suggested the Chelsea centre-back had a fortunate escape.

Pienaar curled a shot from range narrowly over with Tim Howard only once called into action before the break to field a deflected Michael Ballack shot.

Everton began the second half in the same vein, a fine passing move in which Baines was prominent ending with Cahill forcing another decent save from the busy Cech when stooping to head Osmans clipped cross.

The natives were getting restless but the home crowd were buoyed by a 35-yard shot from John Terry that required a strong parry from Howard.

Jo slashed over from Pienaars pass as Everton continued to frustrate the Londoners and threaten on the break.

Chelsea, though, pressed hard during the final quarter. Substitute Salomon Kalou headed over and Frank Lampard shot tamely at Howard from an inviting position.

Joleon Lescott then blocked another goalbound effort from Kalou, but Everton remained dangerous from set-pieces, Cahill finding the side-netting with an angled drive from close range after Cechs unsafe hands caused panic among the home defence.

Pienaar should have at least found the target with a clear opening with five minutes remaining but shot wide from Cahills square pass.

Drogba rattled the crossbar during injury time as Chelsea threw everything forward in search of a winner, but Everton held on for a deserved point.

Moyes may still be waiting for his first win over Chelsea. But that can wait until May 30.