Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti was left to rue a late penalty miss from Didier Drogba as Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes went from villain to hero in a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane yesterday.
Ancelotti’s spluttering side were heading for a fifth defeat in nine games after Roman Pavlyuchenko’s first-half strike put Spurs in front. But Gomes gifted Chelsea an equaliser with 20 minutes left when he allowed Drogba’s shot to escape his grasp and loop into the net.
Drogba had a golden opportunity to steal the points for Chelsea when Gomes conceded a stoppage-time penalty, but the striker saw his spot-kick saved by the Brazilian.
The draw leaves the Blues one point behind Arsenal ahead of their trip to Manchester United today.
Ancelotti said: “Drogba was unlucky. He had a good performance and scored a goal. The performance of the team was good.
“We tried to do everything to win, we didn’t do it, but I think we are on the right way. We were very close to winning.”
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp added: “It was exciting, which is what people pay to watch. It was end-to-end stuff and wide open, both teams did a lot of attacking but the end product wasn’t there.”
Several previous Chelsea managers were sacked for less than the team’s miserable run of just two wins in their last eight games, so it was a brave move by Ancelotti to leave Drogba on the bench.
If Drogba’s absence played a part in Chelsea’s slow start, they were hindered even more by a continued lack of security at the back.
Pavlyuchenko took full advantage to open the scoring in the 15th minute. John Terry should have closed down the Russian striker. Instead he and John Obi Mikel sat back and allowed Pavlyuchenko to drill a low shot past Peter Cech.
Only Florent Malouda was providing a sustained threat for Chelsea and he set up two chances for Salomon Kalou, who glanced his first header wide and then skied the next headed effort well over.
Chelsea had plenty of possession as the half wore on but there was no cutting edge and it was no surprise when Ancelotti sent on Drogba for Mikel at the interval.
Drogba’s arrival almost paid immediate dividends as his shot was pushed away for a corner by Gomes, who had to make another acrobatic stop moments later to prevent Wilson Palacios heading a Drogba cross into his own net.
Gomes gifted Chelsea their equaliser in the 70th minute. Drogba controlled a hopeful punt and flicked it past Michael Dawson. His shot was straight at Gomes but the Brazilian failed to hold the ball which bounced into the net.
Ancelotti sent on Frank Lampard for his first appearance in over three months with 12 minutes remaining and Chelsea pressed forward for a winner. It should have arrived in stoppage time when Gomes conceded a penalty by barging into Ramires, but the goalkeeper redeemed himself as he dived to keep out Drogba’s spot-kick.