Drogba seals Chelsea fightback
Drogba scored a spectacular goal to earn Chelsea three points
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Wednesday, 15, Aug 2007 11:01
Didier Drogba scored the wining goal as Chelsea fought back from a goal down to beat Reading 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium.
Reading took the lead after Petr Cech made a rare mistake in the Chelsea goal, handing Andre Bikey the chance to put the home side in front.
Returning to the ground where he fractured his scull last season the Blues goalkeeper failed to punch a cross to safety which allowed Bikey to tap home.
In the second half Chelsea scored twice in three minutes to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.
Frank Lampard made a run from midway inside the Reading half and was allowed to ghost into the box before applying a neat finish to beat Marcus Hahnemann.
The American was beaten again moments later when Drogba smashed home a long-range shot that left the goalkeeper floundering.
Manchester City join Chelsea at the top of the table after their second successive win came against Derby at Eastlands.
Academy product Michael Johnson, 19, scored City's first home goal since New Year's Day and his strike from 20 yards out was enough to beat the Midlands side.
Elsewhere, Birmingham City and Sunderland shared an entertaining 2-2 draw at St Andrew's after Stern John grabbed a late equaliser to deny the home side.
Stephen Kelly's header deflected off Paul McShane past Craig Gordon for an own goal 25 minutes into the encounter.
Late on the game sprang into life - Michael Chopra equalised for the Black Cats after 75 minutes but Garry O'Connor soon restored the Blues' advantage.
John made it 2-2 when Colin Doyle saved Nyron Nosworthy's free-kick and the ball fell to him unmarked. Although Birmingham felt Doyle had been impeded on the line, the goal stood.
In the night's other games, Fulham came back from a goal down to beat Bolton 2-1 at Craven Cottage, while Antoine Sibierski scored on his home debut as Wigan beat Middlesbrough 1-0.