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Battling Everton puncture Chelsea's home record

Other News Materials 12 December 2009 22:55 (UTC +04:00)
Chelsea's 100 per cent home Premier League record came to an end on Saturday as they were held to a 3-3 by Everton, dpa reported.
Battling Everton puncture Chelsea's home record

Chelsea's 100 per cent home Premier League record came to an end on Saturday as they were held to a 3-3 by Everton, dpa reported.

The draw lifts them three points clear of second-placed Manchester United, who could pull level on points with a win at home to Aston Villa in the day's evening game.

After losing at Manchester City last week, Chelsea again looked uncertain under aerial balls, and fell behind after 11 minutes, John Terry deflecting Louis Saha's free-kick against the post from where it cannoned onto Petr Cech and in.

Didier Drogba
levelled six minutes later from Frank Lampard's through-pass, and Nicolas Anelka added a second at the mid-point of the half after a penalty-box scramble.

Chelsea, though, succumbed again just before half-time, as substitute Yakubu - on for Jo, who suffered an ankle injury - scored just before half-time following a long throw.

Drogba converted Branislav Ivanovic's cross to make it 3-2 on 59 minutes, but more indecisiveness from Cech at a set-piece gifted Saha another equaliser four minutes later.

Two of the sides in the battle for Champions League places suffered unexpected set-backs, Tottenham Hotspur losing 1-0 at home to Wolves and Manchester City drawing 3-3 at Bolton Wanderers.

At White Hart Lane, Kevin Doyle glanced in Nenad Milijas's free-kick to take a third-minute lead, which they held to move out of the relegation zone.

At the Reebok Stadium, meanwhile, Ivan Klasnic and Carlos Tevez both scored twice in a topsy-turvy game.

Klasnic bundled in to give Bolton the lead after 11 minutes against Manchester City, but Tevez levelled with a strike that deflected off Tamir Cohen.

A Gary Cahill curler restored Bolton's lead after 43 minutes, but Micah Richards completed a fine move to level before half-time.

Bolton were ahead again eight minutes into the second half as Klasnic volleyed his second of the game.

Craig Bellamy was sent off after collecting a second yellow card for what referee Mark Clattenburg saw as a dive, but Tevez levelled with a screamer.

West Ham, who had midfielder Mark Noble sent off, slipped to third-bottom as Lee Bowyer's goal just after half-time saw them go down 1-0 at Birmingham City.

Darren Bent scored his tenth of the season, but Sunderland could only draw 1-1 at home to Portsmouth.

Younes Kaboul forced in the equaliser in injury-time, and was then sent off, collecting a second yellow card for his celebrations.

Wade Elliott cancelled out Bobby Zamora's strike with a neat side-foot finish as Burnley drew 1-1 at home to Fulham.

Hull City were grateful to goalkeeper Boaz Myhill for a series of fine saves as they drew 0-0 at home to Blackburn Rovers to remain two points above the relegation zone.

Earlier in the day, Thomas Sorensen saved his third penalty in four games, denying Hugo Rodallega in the final minute to rescue a point for Stoke City at home to Wigan Athletic.

Emerson Boyce had headed Wigan ahead, before Tuncay Sanli levelled with his first goal for Stoke.

Maynor Figueroa restored Wigan's lead, catching Sorensen off his line with a free-kick from inside his own half, but Ryan Shawcross equalised within two minutes.

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