20) Chelsea Fc 2 - 2 Reading

Tue, 26th Dec 2006 This time there was no late winner as Chelsea drop our first Christmas period points of the Jose Mourinho era. Twice Didier Drogba's aerial prowess gave his side the lead but with a second-half of belief that belied their recent form, Reading found the fight each time to peg the Blues back - the second an own-goal to herald the start of the pantomime season. All the headlines after the game will be about the impact on the pursuit of Man United but the big news pre kick-off concerned the Reading rather than the Chelsea team sheet. Steve Coppell decided to spare Stephen Hunt an ear-bashing for his part in the fracturing of Petr Cech's skull. That was at least until the winger, who was named on the bench, warmed-up with a jog towards the Matthew Harding Stand. The most notable selection by Jose Mourinho was Paulo Ferreira asked to play centreback, a repeat of a decision that had proved successful at Craven Cottage earlier in the season. With Boulahrouz dropped, Terry still unavailable and Essien required to step-in for the rested Makelele, Ferreira was next in line as Carvalho's partner in defence. The hero of three days earlier for his late winner, Arjen Robben, was absent injured so Andriy Shevchenko returned with the 4-3-3 formation retained. Salomon Kalou, impressive in the past two games, had done enough to keep his place. Chelsea could have been in front inside the first 90 seconds after Lampard narrowly failed to apply the finishing touch to a lovely move involving Geremi, Kalou and Drogba and started by a crossfield pass by Carvalho. The early stages saw plenty of Chelsea attempts to hit Drogba early with aerial passes but when Shevchenko carried the ball and slipped a good pass down the inside right channel, the country's top scorer had his first shooting chance. Keeper Hahnemann made a good one handed save. That was on 12 minutes and a minute later Kalou shimmied his way into the area but blazed high and wide. Chelsea were keeping Reading pinned back and the movement was looking well-oiled, but it took 28 minutes before Hahnemann was asked to save again, pushing away Drogba's downward header from a free-kick.

Essien attempted to find the target with a thunderous low effort a minute later but it curved wide. This was a busy period for the Reading keeper, and for Drogba who was thwarted when his opponent was quickly out to smother after the Chelsea striker had taken a long ball on his chest and turned towards the target. Then Lampard drilled a pass forward which the Ivorian striker took two touches to control before, without warning, firing towards the near post. The ball was deflected slightly by a defender and hit the side netting at the base of the post. Drogba appealed for the corner. Referee Wiley agreed. Lampard's ball over tempted Hahnemann to come and punch but shoulder to shoulder with Drogba six yards out, the keeper lost the contest emphatically and Reading lost a goal. Drogba headed in for his 18th of the season, a lead that was taken into the break. The traditional Didier celebration was followed by a neat line in hands flapping like donkey ears - a timely retort to donkey noises that had emanated from the Reading section when an earlier goal attempt had not gone to plan. On cue, the Chelsea support reminded their counterparts of their earlier taunt. The Reading players had mustered neither a single shot nor a single corner in the opening 45 minutes which made it all the harder to fathom how they gained the upperhand in the first 10 minutes of the second-half. On several occasions the visitors caused concern as they worked their way behind the Chelsea defence, not least on 54 minutes when Carvalho deflected Gunnarsson's low cross a yard in front of his own net. Sidwell then struck a shot a yard or two wide and Mourinho decided to make a change. Wright-Phillips was introduced in place of Shevchenko with Kalou now asked to operate down the left. Just as the home side looked to have seen off the Royals' resistance and were pushing for a second, Leroy Lita brought his side level. Found by Little's cross, after Lampard had initially conceded possession when he failed to out-power Harper, former Chelsea schoolboy Lita scored his dream goal with a tumbling header at the far post.

The inevitable Mourinho changes followed - both full-backs were withdrawn with Ashley Cole and Mikel brought on and more bodies committed forward. Not for the first time, the medicine had a rapid effect. Wright-Phillips broke free down the right and not afraid to attempt an early cross despite fluffing one just minutes earlier, he picked out Drogba perfectly who thumped his farpost header into the Matthew Harding End net for goal number 19. With 11 minutes remaining, Gunnarsson wasted a golden chance to shock the champions for a second time when he glanced a free header from a free-kick wide. John Terry must have been heading away imaginary crosses from his seat in the stand. Five minutes later there was no such escape for Chelsea as Ashley Cole applied his boot to a Doyle cross but instead of his volley flying clear, the ball banged into the retreating Essien and then dropped agonisingly into the net. It had all come from a promising Chelsea attack too, until Wright-Phillips had been dispossessed as he attempted to dribble towards the area. With time running out, Essien narrowly beat Drogba to a cross but headed straight at the keeper and Cole also battled his way through but was tackled before shooting. With that, the last chance to return to the top ahead of Man United's game versus Wigan had gone. Ballack was booked for a late challenge on Sidwell in the closing minutes and will now miss the match against Aston Villa away. Before that, Chelsea face a home local derby against Fulham knowing a return to winning ways is an absolute must. Chelsea (4-3-3) Hilario; Geremi (Mikel 69). Ferreira, Carvalho, Bridge (A Cole 69); Ballack, Essien, Lampard (c); Kalou, Drogba, Shevchenko (Wright-Phillips 57). Scorer Drogba 37, 71. Booked Ballack 87. Reading (4-5-1): Hahnemann; Murty (c), Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey; Little, Sidwell, Gunnarsson, Harper, Doyle; Lita. Scorers Lita 64, Essien o.g. 84.