LONDON: Chelsea missed the chance to go top in the English Premier League after Didier Drogba saw a late penalty saved in a 1-1 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who'd let substitute Drogba's shot go through his hands for Chelsea's 70th minute equaliser, brought down Ramires in stoppage time.
But the Brazilian then produced a fine save to deny Drogba, who took the spot-kick even though fellow substitute and regular penalty-taker Frank Lampard was on the field.
Had the penalty gone in and Chelsea won, the Blues would have gone top.
Instead they stayed fourth, level on points with Manchester United who clash with leaders Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday.
Tottenham opened the scoring in the 15th minute when the unchallenged Roman Pavlyuchenko struck from inside the box after a pass from Jermain Defoe.
Drogba, on at the start of the second half, equalised 20 minutes from time when his shot found a way through Gomes's hands to set-up the game's dramatic finale as Spurs regained fifth spot from Bolton, who beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 earlier on Sunday.
"I thought we deserved to win the game, especially in the second half, we dominated," Chelsea captain John Terry told Sky Sports after the Blues avoided a fifth defeat in nine games.
"That's more like the Chelsea we know."
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said Lampard was not in a position to take the penalty.
"Frank Lampard was not able to shoot because he was not able to train," the Italian said.
"Didier missed a penalty but he had a good performance and scored a good goal. We deserved to win, but we didn't. This game shows we are on our way back."
Terry added: "We've got two huge games now. We've got Man United at the Bridge and then we go to the Emirates (to play Arsenal).
"At the minute, nobody's playing particularly well. Arsenal are looking good, Man United also, but no-one's hit their top form."
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said a draw was a "fair result", adding: "This says we're as good a side as almost anybody. We can give anybody a game."
As for Chelsea, he said: "The problem Chelsea have had is simple. They've had Lampard missing, Drogba struggling, they've had (Michael) Essien out and John Terry out.
"When Chelsea have got their best players back, they are a different team.
"And when we get everybody back, we'll be stronger. I think it's got the makings of a fantastic championship."
Ten-man Bolton saw Stuart Holden snatch a dramatic late winner in a victory over Lancashire rivals Blackburn.
American import Holden struck in the 88th minute just seconds after Mame Biram Diouf seemed to have earned Blackburn a point.
Diouf cancelled out a 63rd-minute opener from Fabrice Muamba for Bolton who had Mark Davies sent off after 54 minutes for a second bookable offence.
"I know I've got spirit in that dressing room and it was so evident again there, to take the blow of the equaliser and then come back and score such a wonderful goal," said Bolton boss Owen Coyle.
In Sunday's other match Wolves clinched a crucial 1-0 win over Birmingham with their first clean sheet since April.
Stephen Hunt's near-post finish on the stroke of half-time was the only effort to beat England international goalkeeper Ben Foster who put in another sublime performance to keep the hosts at bay at Molineux.
Despite the win, Wolves stayed second from bottom. -AFP
Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who'd let substitute Drogba's shot go through his hands for Chelsea's 70th minute equaliser, brought down Ramires in stoppage time.
But the Brazilian then produced a fine save to deny Drogba, who took the spot-kick even though fellow substitute and regular penalty-taker Frank Lampard was on the field.
Had the penalty gone in and Chelsea won, the Blues would have gone top.
Instead they stayed fourth, level on points with Manchester United who clash with leaders Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday.
Tottenham opened the scoring in the 15th minute when the unchallenged Roman Pavlyuchenko struck from inside the box after a pass from Jermain Defoe.
Drogba, on at the start of the second half, equalised 20 minutes from time when his shot found a way through Gomes's hands to set-up the game's dramatic finale as Spurs regained fifth spot from Bolton, who beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 earlier on Sunday.
"I thought we deserved to win the game, especially in the second half, we dominated," Chelsea captain John Terry told Sky Sports after the Blues avoided a fifth defeat in nine games.
"That's more like the Chelsea we know."
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said Lampard was not in a position to take the penalty.
"Frank Lampard was not able to shoot because he was not able to train," the Italian said.
"Didier missed a penalty but he had a good performance and scored a good goal. We deserved to win, but we didn't. This game shows we are on our way back."
Terry added: "We've got two huge games now. We've got Man United at the Bridge and then we go to the Emirates (to play Arsenal).
"At the minute, nobody's playing particularly well. Arsenal are looking good, Man United also, but no-one's hit their top form."
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said a draw was a "fair result", adding: "This says we're as good a side as almost anybody. We can give anybody a game."
As for Chelsea, he said: "The problem Chelsea have had is simple. They've had Lampard missing, Drogba struggling, they've had (Michael) Essien out and John Terry out.
"When Chelsea have got their best players back, they are a different team.
"And when we get everybody back, we'll be stronger. I think it's got the makings of a fantastic championship."
Ten-man Bolton saw Stuart Holden snatch a dramatic late winner in a victory over Lancashire rivals Blackburn.
American import Holden struck in the 88th minute just seconds after Mame Biram Diouf seemed to have earned Blackburn a point.
Diouf cancelled out a 63rd-minute opener from Fabrice Muamba for Bolton who had Mark Davies sent off after 54 minutes for a second bookable offence.
"I know I've got spirit in that dressing room and it was so evident again there, to take the blow of the equaliser and then come back and score such a wonderful goal," said Bolton boss Owen Coyle.
In Sunday's other match Wolves clinched a crucial 1-0 win over Birmingham with their first clean sheet since April.
Stephen Hunt's near-post finish on the stroke of half-time was the only effort to beat England international goalkeeper Ben Foster who put in another sublime performance to keep the hosts at bay at Molineux.
Despite the win, Wolves stayed second from bottom. -AFP
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