Chelsea struggle to third consecutive draw

Chelsea 1 Fulham 1

Chelsea’s Barclays Premier League title hopes suffered another heavy blow as Fulham came from behind to consign them to a third successive 1-1 draw.

Fernando Torres flopped on his first league start for almost two months, although he did inadvertently lay on Juan Mata’s 47th-minute opener, the winger’s fifth goal of the season.

Fulham belied their miserable away record to equalise nine minutes later through Clint Dempsey’s ninth of the campaign, ensuring the spoils were shared in the west London derby.

Torres, whose current goal drought stretched back nine matches, was hoping for a St Stephen's Day gift from a defence that shipped five against Manchester United on Wednesday.

There was plenty of goodwill for Chelsea captain Terry within the sanctuary of Stamford Bridge following the barracking he received at Tottenham on Thursday over his charge for alleged racist abuse.

Terry played like a man on a mission at White Hart Lane and he and his team-mates needed another good performance today to maintain their dwindling title hopes.

Fulham looked determined to spoil all that, Clint Dempsey going a little far with a cynical tug on Raul Meireles that saw the American booked.

Otherwise, they were the better side for 15 minutes, with Dempsey’s bouncing 25-yarder forcing an uncomfortable save from Petr Cech and Sa seeing an effort blocked by Luiz before wasting a great chance when he headed Kelly’s cross over the bar.

Torres, who had already had half a sniff, was unlucky not to give Chelsea the lead when he expertly controlled Juan Mata’s cross on his chest but smashed his volley straight at David Stockdale.

Torres then robbed Brede Hangeland on the edge of the box and laid off to Daniel Sturridge to slice off target but Fulham settled down again and Mousa Dembele dragged wide after bypassing Romeu.

Although Jose Bosingwa sent in some dangerous crosses, Chelsea were struggling to produce a telling ball against what was at times a nine-man defence, with Meireles and Romeu resorting to wayward pot-shots.

The stalemate continued until two minutes before the break when Dembele sent a tame header too close to Cech.

Chelsea paraded Jimmy Greaves at half-time and their fans could have been forgiven for wishing he was playing up front for them today.

Torres’ travails looked to have continued after the restart but the striker inadvertently helped the Blues break the deadlock inside two minutes.

The £50m man failed to control Ashley Cole’s cross but the ball fell perfectly for Juan Mata to sweep home left footed from the edge of the box.

Fulham had only scored four league goals away from home all season, the worst record in the top flight but they were level inside nine minutes with a superbly-worked goal.

The ball eventually found its way to Bryan Ruiz on the right, who tricked his way past Cole and crossed for Dempsey to stab past Cech.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas took action just past the hour mark, hauling off Lampard for Florent Malouda.

The change almost paid off when the Frenchman’s backheel from Terry’s header hit the feet of Stockdale and bounced back off Malouda for a goal-kick.

That came after the goalkeeper tipped over Sturridge’s curler and before Bosingwa was cautioned for felling Frei before Villas-Boas threw on Drogba for Sturridge.

Drogba failed to beat Stockdale from a tight angle after gathering a terrific long ball from Luiz and Meireles curled a superb shot on the turn just past the post.

A masked Paulo Ferreira replaced Bosingwa in Chelsea’s final change, Fulham responding by sending on Pajtim Kasami for Sa.

Stockdale twice denied Chelsea a late winner, tipping Meireles’ header from Malouda’s cross over the ball, before palming away Drogba’s glance from a corner.

The keeper nearly spilt Malouda’s long-range drive and Chelsea almost paid the ultimate price when Kasami shot tamely at Cech before Stockdale’s fingertips again denied them from Drogba’s stoppage-toime free-kick.