Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo believes the race for fourth spot in the Premier League will go to the final game of the season after their 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage late Monday.

Di Matteo’s men could have gone above fourth-placed Tottenham, who lost to Norwich earlier on Monday, had they beaten their west London rivals.

But Frank Lampard’s penalty – his 150th Premier League goal – on the stroke of half-time was cancelled out by Clint Dempsey’s late header for Fulham.

The top three teams in the Premier League at the end of the season gain direct entry into the Champions League group stages, with the fourth-placed side set for the qualifying round.

This draw left Chelsea two points behind Tottenham, their opponents in an all-London FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.

Di Matteo, interim manager following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas, said Chelsea’s habit of conceding late goals – they’ve let in 20 in the final 10 minutes of games this season – was frustrating.

“You look at it and we’re closer to that fourth spot than we were,” Di Matteo said as he tried to put Monday’s result in the best possible light.

“We have to look at it positively. We are closer now than we were a month ago. The biggest disappointment is that we conceded an equaliser late on. It’s been a pattern this season, conceding late goals.”

After the FA Cup semi-final, Chelsea face holders Barcelona in a Champions League semi-final first leg tie at Stamford Bridge on April 18.

Full-back Ashley Cole could miss both matches with an ankle injury while fellow England defender John Terry is not at full fitness after suffering cracked ribs in Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final win over Benfica.

But Di Matteo added his side could cope with the strain, saying: “We’ve got a good squad, a squad full of good players. We will utilise them.”