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Football

Chelsea owe it to Drogba equalizer


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Drogba preserved Chelsea's unbeaten home run with his equalizer

LONDON, England -- Substitute striker Didier Drogba equalized eight minutes from time to extend Chelsea' s unbeaten run in the Premier League to 23 games with a 1-1 home draw against Birmingham on Saturday.

The result leaves Chelsea 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal, 1-0 winners at Middlesbrough, with six matches to go as they chase their first league title for 50 years.

Manchester United were left 14 points adrift in third spot after a shock 2-0 defeat at bottom side Norwich City.

Walter Pandiani's 65th-minute strike for Birmingham had also threatened to end Chelsea's unbeaten home run of 33 matches in all competitions going back to last season.

Chelsea have 81 points from 32 games to Arsenal's 70. United remain on 67.

Chelsea were understandably lackluster after their midweek heroics against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and ahead of the return in Munich next week.

Manager Jose Mourinho has to sit out both legs due to a touchline ban and in a post match interview with BBC Sport again showed his irritation at the punishment meted out by European governing body UEFA.

"I was forbidden to do my job," said the Portuguese, referring to the first leg on Wednesday, won 4-2 by Chelsea. "Of course I am upset. I have to be upset. The truth is like the hole in the water. It always comes to the surface, " he added.

Norwich scored two goals in 11 minutes through Dean Ashton and Leon McKenzie, who struck with a left-footed volley in the 66th, to end United's 20-match unbeaten league run and virtually put paid to any lingering title hopes.

"I think we won convincingly and with a bit of style," Norwich manager Nigel Worthington said.

"We had that little bit too much respect for Arsenal (in a 4-1 away defeat) last week and we have to learn from that," he told Sky Sports.

It was only Norwich's fourth league win, all at home, and ended a run of five defeats. They remain three points adrift at the bottom.

United have not scored in their last two games, which is a concern as they prepare for their FA Cup semifinal against Newcastle United at the Millennium Stadium next Sunday.

Arsenal took advantage of the slip in the battle for the second and automatic Champions League qualification spot with an earlier 1-0 win at Middlesbrough, courtesy of a 73rd minute winner from Robert Pires.

Bolton Wanderers kept up their challenge for England's fourth Champions League berth next season with a 3-1 home win over 10-man Fulham, whose Claus Jensen was sent off for a deliberate handball.

Fifth-placed Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at Manchester City allowed Bolton to move within one point of them and just two points behind fourth-placed Everton who are at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Frenchman Alain Perrin celebrated his debut as Portsmouth manager with a 4-2 home win over Charlton Athletic that eased their relegation worries with only their second victory in 13 league games.

Southampton's relegation worries deepened, however, with a 3-0 defeat away against Blackburn Rovers. Saints remain outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.



Reuters contributed to this report.

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