21) Chelsea Fc 2 - 2 Fulham

Sat, 30th Dec 2006 Chelsea's unhappy Christmas at home continues as porous defensive play allows another two points to slip away. As against Reading on Boxing Day, Didier Drogba looked to have salvaged the win with a goal deep into the second-half, his 20th of the season on this occasion, but the resilience to hold out was not there as Fulham equalised with seven minutes remaining. After the recent goals conceded with a front three, Jose Mourinho reverted to the diamond midfield for his starting line-up with Makelele slipping back into the side. Ashley Cole in for Wayne Bridge was the one change to the defence. A straight choice was needed between Shevchenko and Kalou as Drogba's partner in attack with the nod going the young Ivorian's way. The game started in filthy conditions with heavy rain and a blustery wind but the freshly relayed pitch was a green carpet. Kalou nearly made a vital contribution on two minutes, his low ball from the left struck hard and first time by Essien but the shot swung wide. Essien, falling, forced a save from Niemi with a shot from the edge of the area just a minute later after strong work from Drogba had made the opening. It was Essien and Kalou in tandem again that almost brought joy to a sell-out crowd on 13 minutes. The midfielder burst clear on the right, his low driven cross deflecting off a defender by falling invitingly into Kalou's path but his lunge missed the ball. Three minutes later the Chelsea players found themselves a goal down. It was a poor one to concede. A simple throw on the right was allowed to bounce. Radzinski dummied, Volz took control and slammed a shot inside the near post via a deflection off Ferreira. How would the Blues respond? The answer was with immediate chaos at both ends. Kalou did well to cut through Fulham's right-side defence, his cross flicking up off Niemi with a only a determined challenge from Bocanegra preventing Ballack from capitalising at the far post. Then when McBride crossed behind Ferreira, Routledge spooned a great opportunity over. A furious Chris Coleman could not conceal his frustration over the spurned chance to take an unimagined 2-0 lead.

Chelsea kept their collective cool and kept probing. Lampard began to come into the game, provoking cries of derision from the away fans, especially when he released a tame shot. Frank had the next laugh. Makelele's cross was missed by Drogba but mis-headed by Rosenoir back into the danger zone. Lamps let fly, his aim off-target but the luckless Rosenior, chasing his initial slip, deflected the ball in for an own-goal. There were 34 minutes gone. Four minutes later Lampard, sensing the game was swinging his way, struck a 20 yarder that this time cleared the bar. Chelsea were asked to survive a free-kick on the edge of the area before they could face Mourinho at the break at least all-square. Conceded by Ferreira on Collins John with our stand-in centre-back booked, the kick was slammed into a defensive wall that held firm. There was another scare within two minutes of the restart when McBride leapt above Ballack and headed through Geremi's legs, Hilario's late save followed by a scramble. Then John was inches away from converting a low cross as Chelsea continued to look anything like watertight at the back on this soggy afternoon. Fifty-six minutes into the second-half and still not in front, it was time for the favoured Mourinho method for turning a home game in his favour. Geremi was sacrificed to bolster bodies further up the pitch. Shevchenko came on to a song of encouragement from the crowd. Four minutes passed between the substitution and Chelsea taking the lead. Drogba was involved twice in his goal. He was first with his head to Cole's cross and when Lampard picked up the loose ball and stood it up perfectly, the Premiership's leading scorer was left with a simple nod in. The goal appeared to upset someone. The skies opened for one of heaviest downpours seen at the Bridge in a long time. Fulham it was hoped would be tiring having played a day more recently with all but one player the same. But the visitors from down the road were not dead yet and when Hilario punched away Queudrue's cross in very unconvincing fashion, Routledge shot wide.

Hilario acquitted himself much better on 77 minutes, tipping a Boa Morte close range effort past the post. With 10 minutes remaining, Bridge came on for Kalou to play ahead of Cole. Three minutes later Fulham equalised as Chelsea made a complete dog's dinner of dealing with a free-kick. Played down the line by Routledge, Queudrue's cross was missed first by Essien's head, then by Drogba before Ballack mis-kicked his clearance. McBride's shot was saved by Hilario's foot but Bocanegra following up slammed home. Queudrue was booked in the minutes following for a foul on Drogba and Wright-Phillips was brought on as a late throw of the dice but if anything, it was visitors who may have grabbed a third goal at the death. Two goals had been conceded for the fourth Premiership game running and with Man United pulling six points clear, the price is being paid. Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2) Hilario; Geremi (Shevchenko 57), Ferreira, Carvalho, A Cole; Makelele (Wright-Phillips 85); Essien, Lampard (c); Ballack; Kalou (Bridge 80), Drogba. Scorers Rosenoir o.g. 34, Drogba 61. Booked Ferreira 44. Fulham (4-1-2-1-2): Niemi; Rosenior, Christanval, Bocanegra, Queudrue; Brown; Routledge, Volz; Radzinski; John (Boa Morte 68), McBride. Scorers Volz 16, Bocanegra 83. Booked Queudrue 84.