Chelsea's home blues continue after draw with Hammers
Chelsea have won just three league matches at home this season
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Sunday, 14, Dec 2008 08:37
Chelsea blew the chance to go top of the Premier League after a 1-1 draw with West Ham United at Stamford Bridge.
Nicolas Anelka grabbed his 14th goal of the season with a second-half strike after Craig Bellamy had given the Hammers a shock lead.
The draw means Luiz Felipe Scolari's men stay a point behind Liverpool in a weekend when none of the 'big four' managed to win.
Scolari's side made a lively start in the London derby with Michael Ballack rifling a shot over from 25 yards while Alex headed Deco's free-kick inches wide.
But against the run of play the home side snatched the lead on the half-hour mark when Mark Noble's cross was slotted in by Bellamy from eight yards.
Anelka came close to scoring an equaliser on the stroke of half-time but his shot, which struck Calum Davenport, was smothered by Robert Green.
The second-half was a pulsating affair after the introduction of Didier Drogba. The striker was involved in the Blues' leveller on 50 minutes when his pass fell to Lampard, who lifted the ball for Anelka to slot the ball past Green.
That sparked a frenetic period of play with ex-Chelsea striker Carlton Cole lashing a shot wide from the edge of the box while Green beat away a volley from Lampard.
Drogba continued to be a threat and was denied by Green with a volley following a corner, while substitute Salomon Kalou's shot from the left was saved by the England goalkeeper.
Green again denied Drogba with a header late on as the Hammers held on to keep themselves out of the drop zone.