Chelsea's title hopes take a huge dent

Reuters, BBC Sport - Tuesday 15th 2008f April 2008

Chelsea's hopes of winning the Premier League took a huge dent at Stamford Bridge on Monday when an injury time goal from Emile Heskey gave the relegation-threatened visitors a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

His strike cancelled out a 55th minute goal from Michael Essien that had given Chelsea the lead.

Although they were not playing, Manchester United were the big winners on the night as Heskey's goal left Chelsea five points behind Alex Ferguson's league leaders with only four matches to play.

Manchester United have 80 points, Chelsea have 75, with Arsenal, whose manager Arsene Wenger has conceded his side are out of contention, in third place on 71 points after losing at United on Sunday.

The result stunned the Chelsea fans but coach Avram Grant maintained they would keep battling.

"We'll keep on fighting, but the result didn't help us," he told reporters.

"The second half was one of our best performances of the season. We created a chance every three or four minutes, but that's football and you need to score the second. They scored from one of two chances so it's very disappointing."

After playing Everton and United, the Blues then travel to Newcastle before completing their season with a home match against Bolton.

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