Chelsea assistant boss Ray Wilkins backed John Terry to bounce back after a disappointing evening at Everton.

Terry was caught out as Louis Saha fired a superb goal - his second goal of the game - to sink the Barclays Premier League leaders 2-1 at Goodison Park.

Terry, sacked as England captain last week, remains at the centre of a media storm over his private life and has been given permission to miss this weekend's FA Cup clash against Cardiff.

Wilkins said: "I think you have got to give Louis Saha a bit of credit because he is a tough opponent to play against.

"John got caught under the ball for the second one but that was probably thinking Saha might have been going over the top to win it.

"But John has been absolutely outstanding for us all season, so if it was a mistake from John I am sure it was just the slightest of blips."

Of further concern to Chelsea was the manner in which they conceded the equaliser from a corner.

Saha headed powerfully home from a Landon Donovan delivery to cancel out an early strike from Florent Malouda.

Chelsea have now conceded 22 goals in the Premier League this season with 16 of them coming from set-pieces.

Wilkins said: "When we concede goals we analyse it and we would be disappointed, but these things happen unfortunately.

"We work hard at them but just get a slight lack of concentration.

"It was a good delivery and a good header and we found ourselves losing another goal. From that aspect we are disappointed."

Wilkins conceded that Everton - who might have won by more had Saha not missed a penalty and spurned another good chance - deserved their victory.

He added: "Normally when we go in front we are quite good at keeping hold of it but when you come to a place like Everton, their workrate is such that they make it extremely difficult for you.

"They never lay down and they came back at us in a strong fashion.

"Looking back over the whole piece, they just about deserved to nick it.

"But full credit to our lads as well, towards the end we came back and had a really good go at them."