Enzo Maresca believes his Chelsea team must improve their clinical edge in front of goal despite earning a key 1-0 home victory over Everton on Saturday. 

Maresca, serving a touchline ban for accumulating three yellow cards, watched on from the stands as Nicolas Jackson's first-half strike ensured the Blues would end the day in the Premier League's top five.

Chelsea dominated the first half, entering the break with an expected goals (xG) total of 0.49 from their five shots, while also restricting Everton to just one effort at Robert Sanchez's goal.

A second-half triple change from David Moyes improved the Toffees, but they were met with an inspired display by Sanchez, who produced some brilliant saves late on. 

Maresca's team had the same number of shots (five) as Everton after the interval, and the Italian felt his players took their foot off the gas in the second half. 

"It has happened a lot this season. We have not scored more goals to kill the game. Second half we dropped a little bit but overall we deserved to win," Maresca told BBC Sport. 

The defining moment came from Jackson, though, with the Chelsea striker picking out the bottom corner in the 27th minute with a fine effort from the edge of the box. 

Indeed, it was Jackson's first goal in 13 Premier League appearances since netting against Brentford in December, ending his longest drought in the competition.

It was also Chelsea's first goal in the first 45 minutes of a Premier League match in seven outings, ending their longest such streak since 2012.  

Though Jackson did find the back of the net, it was another frustrating encounter for Cole Palmer, who is now without a league goal since January. 

"He needs that," Maresca said on Jackson ending his goal drought. "Cole needs that too, and I have no doubt Cole will do the same soon."

For Everton, meanwhile, they are now without a victory at Stamford Bridge in their last 30 visits (D13 L17), with Moyes' poor run in matches away to the Blues continuing. 

The Scot has won none of his 20 Premier League games away to Chelsea, equalling his longest winless run on the road against a single side in the competition (also 20 against Liverpool). 

Everton boss Moyes expressed his disappointment at the ease with which Jackson notched in the match-winning moment. 

Jordan Pickford's pass to Beto was easily pinched by Trevoh Chalobah, with the ball in the back of the net merely seconds later after some quick thinking from Enzo Fernandez.

Moyes said: "You see it in football all the time. We played the ball into the centre-forward's feet, he does not retain possession and the opposition go on and score.

"We don't accept it, but the modern game sees lots of players do it. We are trying to play better and these are the things we need to be better at."