Steven Naismith was in his fourth year with the Toffees when he produced perhaps the best performance of his career.
Everton had started the 2015/2016 season on average, with two wins, two draws and one defeat from their first five games in all competitions.
Next up was Everton’s third home game of the season against champions Chelsea, with the Toffees still looking for their first win at Goodison Park.
Chelsea had started their title defense poorly so there was a sense of optimism among the Evertonians as they entered the stadium.
Naismith was not in the starting line-up, but an injury to Mo Besic after just nine minutes gave the Scotland international the chance to make his mark on the match, which he certainly did.
Thanks to good work from Phil Jagielka, who won the ball back from Diego Costa in his own penalty area, the Blues built one of their typical Roberto Martinez pass-heavy attacks.
Naismith received the ball in a central position outside Chelsea’s penalty area and played the ball out to the left for Brendon Gallaway. The left back scored a beautiful cross, which Naismith put his head to and scored from close range.
Naismith had scored the winner against Chelsea two years earlier and was once again on the scoresheet against a side that was quickly becoming a favored opponent.
The former Rangers striker quickly put the Toffees 2-0 up. Five minutes after his headed opener, a beautiful left foot evaded Asmir Begovic’s dive and found the far corner. After good work from Romelu Lukaku and Aruna Kone on the right, the ball made its way to Ross Barkley, who laid it to Naismith. He took one touch to steady himself before firing his shot into the bottom right corner.
Chelsea pulled a goal back before half-time, which unsettled the crowd, but they needn’t have worried. More good work on Chelsea’s left in the second half from Aaron Lennon and Barkley allowed the England midfielder to play a through ball to Naismith.
The Scot ended up in a tight corner after scoring a hat-trick as he drove towards Chelsea’s goal. That didn’t stop him from firing with his right foot this time, completing a perfect hat-trick and securing all three points for Everton.
What a performance from Naismith, especially after coming on as an early substitute. The Scottish forward became only the sixth player to score a hat-trick after coming on as a substitute in the Premier League, and only the fifth player to score a hat-trick against Chelsea.
This would prove to be Naismith’s last season with the Toffees before joining Norwich City in January. The Scot played just ten league games that season and all three of his goals came on that famous day against Chelsea.
Although never a prolific goalscorer during his time at Everton (18 league goals in 103 games), Naismith is fondly remembered by Evertonians. No one will ever forget that performance against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2015.
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