Its probably safe to assume most Chelsea supporters are just pretending that last seasons uncharacteristic 10th-place finish never happened.From the outset last season, the players looked disinterested and sluggish on the pitch, while then manager Jose Mourinho continued to fight off the questions before finally being unceremoniously sacked following a loss to eventual champions Leicester City in December.Antonio Conte, however, has come in and seemingly lit a fire under many of the Chelsea players, including Eden Hazard, Pedro, Willian and Gary Cahill, who seemed so willing to fold and under-perform in the final days of Mourinho-at-Chelsea, part two.Under the enigmatic Italian manager, the Blues (7-1-2) began the season with three consecutive wins before hitting a bit of a rut in form with two defeats and a draw from their next three. But since a 3-0 loss to Arsenal on Sept. 24, Contes boys have looked like the old Chelsea and head into Saturdays clash with Everton at Stamford Bridge with five consecutive wins -- all clean sheets.Previous title winners in west London have been built on defence, and Conte was pleased with his clubs defensive display after a comfortable 2-0 win over Southampton on Sunday which saw Hazard and Diego Costa hit the net.I saw great commitment, work rate -- with the ball and without it, Conte said. For the fourth game we keep a clean sheet. Its fantastic. It means the confidence is increasing and the players, I think the players, deserved this because I see them every day, the way they are working. It is important to arrive with this kind of result and performance because in this way they can trust more in the work.Much of this current run of form can be attributed to the likes of Costa and Hazard finding their scoring form while hitting on a lethal counter-attack, but also a deft switch to a 3-4-3 defensive system which allows wing backs Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso to become key pieces of the starting XI.It is important to pass the first part of the season. If you ask me if I have confidence, then yeah. Were working a lot. I am seeing lot of positive things, Conte continued. I think this is the right way to reach a great satisfaction in this championship.We know the road is long but it is important to continue to work very hard and to improve… To stay this close in the title and first place I think it is good and gives us great confidence.Ronald Koeman got off to a flying start in his Everton tenure, going unbeaten in his opening five matches, but they then hit a dip in form which saw the Toffees go winless in their next four matches.But Koemans boys found a way to get back on track with last weeks comfortable 2-0 victory over West Ham United at Goodison Park. Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley netted to lead the Blues.Lukaku has racked up seven goals thus far, behind only Costa for the scoring lead. The Belgian international will have to find a way to get in behind the stout Chelsea defense if they are to get a result away from home.Everton (5-3-2) again are going into the clash shorthanded as defender Leighton Baines and midfielder James McCarthy remain sidelined, while Idrissa Gueye will miss out due to a yellow card suspension. On the positive side, goalkeeper Maarten Steckelenburg is available for selection after missing last weeks match with a foot injury.Maarten is back and did the normal weeks sessions, Koeman said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon. Hes ready and fit to play, but Baines is not. Hes close to being back but we wont take any risk because after the weekend we have the international break so, if everything goes well, we will have him back after then.Everton are unbeaten in their last three meetings with Chelsea across all competitions. The Toffees claimed a 2-0 win over Chelsea back on March 12 in the FA Cup. Lukaku netted a second-half brace to secure the win. Kentavius Street Super Bowl Jersey . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. KWaun Williams Super Bowl Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. http://www.49ersofficialfanshop.com/colin-kaepernick-jersey-sales.html . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Dee Ford Super Bowl Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Roger Craig Super Bowl Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. CLEVELAND -- Browns safety Jordan Poyer has been discharged from the hospital after one of his kidneys was lacerated by a vicious hit.Poyer was taken to Nashvilles Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital by ambulance during Sundays 28-26 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The Browns said the 25-year-old Poyer, in his fourth season with the team, will return to Cleveland.Poyer was injured on a nasty blindside hit by Titans running back Antonio Andrews while covering a punt in the second quarter. Andrews had an unobstructed run at Poyer before delivering his violent blow, which was penalized.Browns coach Hue Jackson does not think Andrews hit was malicious.I think he was trying to do his job, which was block him, and he did, Jackson said. He blocked him. He might have led with his head a little bit, but that is what he got flagged for. That is part of this game.Andrews received a personal foul and will be fined by the NFL.Poyers serious injury is the latest for the Browns, who have placed 12 players -- including quarterback Robert Griffin III -- on IR this season. The team can bring one player off IR after eight games.The team said starting left guard Joel Bitonio underwwent foot surgery on Monday.dddddddddddd The Browns expect Bitonio, who got hurt on the final play of the first half against New England on Oct. 9, to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2017 season. Bitonio is one of Clevelands best players and his loss has forced Jackson to again re-shuffle his offensive line.Also, Browns center Austin Reiter underwent reconstructive left knee surgery Tuesday in Cleveland. Reiter tore his anterior cruciate ligament on Oct. 2 against the Washington Redskins, his former team.Because of the rash of injuries, the Browns have started three quarterbacks and played five this season. Theyve also had three centers, lost their starting kicker and before the season started, they lost defensive end Desmond Bryant, their sacks leader in 2015, with a chest injury. In addition, wide receiver Josh Gordon entered rehab just days before he was to return from a four-game league drug suspension.---Online: AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '
