Chelsea’s poor run continued as Didier Drogba missed a stoppage-time penalty in an exciting but error-strewn 1-1 Premier League draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Roman Pavlyuchenko shot Spurs ahead after 15 minutes but Drogba, dropped to the bench after a series of flat displays, levelled after 70 minutes.
He had the chance to win the match at the death after Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, at fault for the equaliser, flattened Ramires only to make amends by saving the penalty.
The ailing champions have now taken only six points from the last 21 available.
Chelsea, on 31 points, are still only one behind leaders Arsenal and Manchester City and level with Manchester United, who host Arsenal on Monday night in one of two games in hand they have on the champions.
“We deserved to win the game, especially in the second half, we dominated them in the second half and that’s more like the Chelsea we all know,” Chelsea captain John Terry told Sky Sports.
“Didier was brave enough to stand up and take it. You miss some you score some it was just one of those things. Playing like we did in the second half everything looked back to normal.
“The hunger and spirit and determination was much better today and that’s what we want from a Chelsea side.”
Spurs are fifth on 27 with Bolton Wanderers up to sixth on 26 after they beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 earlier on Sunday.
Spurs went ahead after 15 minutes when Jermain Defoe picked out Pavlyuchenko on the edge of the box with little obvious danger in the air.
However, the Russian’s first touch took him clear of two defenders and he planted a low shot beyond Petr Cech.
Chelsea had more of the ball but their build-up was ponderous. Nicolas Anelka looked isolated up front and Gomes was never seriously tested in the opening half.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was reported to have been given the personal backing of club owner Roman Abramovich in midweek, cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, shaking his head and half-heartedly waving his players forward.
At one point he was involved in a 40-metre argument with Terry as he urged his captain to hold a higher line.
Gomes was on his mettle early in the second, though, turning away a shot by halftime substitute Drogba and acrobatically tipping over after the ball skidded off the head of Wilson Palacios.
Spurs were being pinned back and, other than a Defoe shot inches wide, they struggled to create much.
Centre back Michael Dawson had looked solid on his first appearance in three months but he was at fault for the equaliser.
Drogba beat him to a long Cech clearance and was quicker to turn on to the loose ball but Gomes should still have saved the Ivorian’s shot that went straight at him.
Chelsea pressed hard for the winner, even bringing on England midfielder Frank Lampard for his first appearance since August, and were presented with the perfect opportunity to find it when Gomes felled the otherwise anonymous Ramires in stoppage time.
Lampard, Chelsea’s usual penalty-taker, picked up the ball first but handed it to Drogba, only for the striker to hit his effort at the ideal height for Gomes to save diving to his left.
Having gone 16 years without a win against Chelsea at White Hart Lane, Spurs have now won three and drawn two of their last five meetings there.
They have also reached the last 16 of the Champions League in impressive style and things are going very nicely for Harry Redknapp’s team.
The same cannot be said for Chelsea, who desperately need Lampard to get back to form to inject urgency and accuracy into their attack for their next two games, against Manchester United and Arsenal.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said Lampard was not in a position to take the penalty.
“Frank Lampard was not able to shoot because he was not able to train,” the Italian said.
“Didier missed a penalty but he had a good performance and scored a good goal. We deserved to win, but we didn’t. This game shows we are on our way back.”
Terry added: “We’ve got two huge games now. We’ve got Man United at the Bridge and then we go to the Emirates (to play Arsenal).
“At the minute, nobody’s playing particularly well. Arsenal are looking good, Man United also, but no-one’s hit their top form.”
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said a draw was a “fair result”, adding: “This says we’re as good a side as almost anybody. We can give anybody a game.”
As for Chelsea, he said: “The problem Chelsea have had is simple. They’ve had Lampard missing, Drogba struggling, they’ve had (Michael) Essien out and John Terry out.
“When Chelsea have got their best players back, they are a different team.
“And when we get everybody back, we’ll be stronger. I think it’s got the makings of a fantastic championship.”
Ten-man Bolton saw Stuart Holden snatch a dramatic late winner in a victory over Lancashire rivals Blackburn.
American import Holden struck in the 88th minute just seconds after Mame Biram Diouf seemed to have earned Blackburn a point.
Diouf cancelled out a 63rd-minute opener from Fabrice Muamba for Bolton who had Mark Davies sent off after 54 minutes for a second bookable offence.
“I know I’ve got spirit in that dressing room and it was so evident again there, to take the blow of the equaliser and then come back and score such a wonderful goal,” said Bolton boss Owen Coyle.
In Sunday’s other match Wolves clinched a crucial 1-0 win over Birmingham with their first clean sheet since April.
Stephen Hunt’s near-post finish on the stroke of half-time was the only effort to beat England international goalkeeper Ben Foster who put in another sublime performance to keep the hosts at bay at Molineux.
Despite the win, Wolves stayed second from bottom.
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