Tottenham Hotspur 1 Chelsea 1

Last updated : 12 December 2010 By Paul Lagan

Didier Drogba came off the bench at half-time, scored a vital equaliser but missed a spot kick on 90 minutes that would have put the Blues back to the top of the Premier League.

It’s now only one win in seven for the west Londoners who left White Hart Lane with a point after Roman Pavlyuchenko 15th minute opener.

Nicolas Anelka had the first chance of the game, in a minute but he screwed his long-range right-footer wide of Gomes’s right post.

A Michael Essien strike on goal on eight minutes, confirmed the Blues early domination of possession.  Goms again equal to the strike.

A minutes later and again Essien let fly from 20 yards which Gomes collected easily.

In the absence of Alex, Branislav Ivanovic took a 30 yard free-kick, but it was hopelessly wide.

Spurs’ first effort on goal came from Gareth Bale but he screwed well wide a right footer from just inside the Chelsea penalty area.

But on 15 minutes the home side took the lead through Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Jermain Defoe cut inside from the left, he passed to Pavlyuchenko who took two defenders out of the games and rifled home a powerful left-footer from 10 yards out leaving Petr Cech floundering at his right post.

Chelsea almost equalised on 22 minutes when Ramires sent in a fine right-wing cross but Salomon Kalou took too heavy a touch from five yards out and the ball continued across the goal area to safety.

Kalou again had a fine header on target after Anelka put in a deft cross but there was no enough power on the Ivory Coast striker’s header to trouble Gomes.

Kalou had another chance on 35 minutes, this time his glancing header from a Malouda right-wing free kick was inches wide of Gomes’s right upright.

Chelsea had the ball in the back of the net three minutes from half-time, but Anelka who tucked home sweetly from six yards was clearly offside.

Chelsea replaced Mikel with Didier Drogba at half-time matching Spurs’ 4-4-2 formation.

Not much changed in the early stages of the second half other than Gomes forced into a smart save from a deflected Drogba header.

Under-fire Carlo Ancelotti brought on Daniel Sturridge for Kalou on 67 minutes.

Within seconds a left-footed blaster, out of the blue by Drogba from just inside the Spurs area was spilled by Gomes and the ball squirmed over his body and in to the net for the visitors to equalise.

Frank Lampard finally returned to the fold following a two and a half month absence with 14 minutes remaining but not before Assou-Ekotto cleared over the bar a Malouda corner.

Lampard replaced Malouda.

On 90 minutes Gomes upended Ramires in the penalty area and Mike Dean pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Drogba but Drogba redeemed himself by throwing himself to his left, he anticipated Drogba doing the same and saved the kick.

In truth it was a poor penalty by Drogba and quite why regular penalty taker Lampard did not take it will be discussed in the changing room afterwards.

Chelsea face Manchester United and Arsenal in their next two league games.

 

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, JT (c) Cole; Essien, Mikel, (Drogba h-t), Ramires, Kalou (Sturridge 67), Anelka, Malouda (Lampard 76).
Unused subs
Turnbull, Bruma, Van Aanholt, McEachran.
Scorer Drogba 69.
Booked Essien 72, Drogba 90+3.

Tottenham (4-4-2):Gomes; Hutton, Dawson (c), Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Palacios (Sandro 88), Modric, Bale; Defoe (Crouch 59), Pavlyuchenko (Keane 77).
Unused subs: Cudicini, Corluka, Dos Santos, Bentley.
Scorer Pavlyuchenko 15.
Booked Assou-Ekotto 33, Gomes 90+1.

Referee Mike Dean.
Crowd 35,787.

Shots on Chelsea 8 Tottenham 1
Corners Chelsea 7 Tottenham 1
Fouls Chelsea 13 Tottenham 9
Offsides Chelsea 5 Tottenham 1