No trouble despite a Drougba double

The striker’s goal to no avail as Chelsea stutter at home to Reading

Chelsea’s hopes of a third straight Premier League title took a dent on Tuesday when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Reading. 

Two goals from top scorer Didier Drogba looked like hoisting Chelsea ahead of Manchester United at the top, but an own goal from Michael Essien five minutes from time proved costly. Chelsea have 46 points from 20 games and United can stretch their lead to four points if they beat Wigan Athletic later on a busy day of holiday fixtures. Drogba muscled through a crowd to head in Frank Lampard’s corner after 38 minutes but Chelsea looked shaky without injured captain John Terry and Reading equalised after 67 minutes when Leroy Lita stooped to connect with Glen Little’s cross. 

Chelsea went back in front when Drogba headed his 12th league goal of the season from a pinpoint Shaun Wright-Phillips cross five minutes later but Reading rescued a point when Ashley Cole slashed a clearance straight at Essien and the ball flew past Hilario. Elsewhere, Portsmouth moved up to third with a 2-1 victory at West Ham United while Tottenham Hotspur racked up a 12th consecutive home victory with a 2-1 defeat of Aston Villa.

Portsmouth win

A first ever double from Linvoy Primus saw Portsmouth extend their unbeaten run to six Premiership matches and consign West Ham manager Alan Curbishley to his first defeat since he took over with a 2-1 victory here on Tuesday. 

Primus’ double in the first-half was enough to give them their first double in the top flight over the Hammmers since the 1929/30 season, though they had to sweat a little after the hosts came back with a late effort from former Pompey striker Teddy Sheringham.