The Hindu : Sport / Football : West Ham holds Chelsea

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Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008
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West Ham holds Chelsea

LONDON: Chelsea missed the chance to reclaim the top spot in the English Premier League football when it was held to a 1-1 home draw by West Ham United on Sunday, a day after Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal also drew.

Craig Bellamy put struggling West Ham ahead, but Nicolas Anelka equalised six minutes into the second-half.

Liverpool, which was held to a 2-2 home draw by Hull City at Anfield, leads the way on 38 points with Chelsea on 37.

Manchester United, goalless at Tottenham Hotspur, is third on 32 but with a game in hand. Arsenal slipped to fifth on 30 after drawing 1-1 at Middlesbrough, allowing Aston Villa to go fourth on 31 after it beat Bolton Wanderers 4-2.

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola, once voted Chelsea’s greatest-ever player by the club’s fans, was given a standing ovation before the game at Stamford Bridge but the home supporters were groaning after 33 minutes.

Wales striker Bellamy chested down an awkward ball from Mark Noble and sent a crashing shot emphatically past Petr Cech to give the visitor the lead.

Didier Drogba, who came off the bench to score the winner against CFR Cluj in the Champions League on Tuesday, was introduced for the second half in place of Michael Ballack.

Just as against the Romanians, he made an impact within six minutes, delivering a lovely flick to Frank Lampard, who chipped the ball neatly into the path of Anelka to finish well from close range for his 14th league goal of the season. West Ham should have won it when Carlton Cole was through in injury time but Cech was able to save his weak finish.

S unday’s results: Chelsea 1 (Anelka 51) drew with West Ham 1 (Bellamy 33). — Agencies

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