Both Carlo Ancelotti and Harry Redknapp have bemoaned their sides for slipping up after they threw away one-goal leads in their respective games, leaving Chelsea (7/4 Premier League outright) two points behind league-leaders Arsenal and Tottenham (40/1) three points off fourth.
Chelsea could have gone back to the top of the league on Saturday with a win, with Manchester United having seen their game with Blackpool called off due to a frozen pitch at Bloomfield Road.
However, it was another lacklustre display by the Blues and, despite taking the lead through Didier Drogba, they couldn’t maintain their slender advantage as Everton’s Jermaine Beckford rescued a point for the Toffees.
It was the least Everton deserved after a battling display but Chelsea will be left to rue yet another poor display which means they have won one of their last six league encounters.
Under-pressure Ancelotti has admitted Chelsea need to get things sorted quickly but with games against Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal to come Chelsea need to rediscover their form quickly.
“It’s difficult to understand. We have had a lot of injuries but now we have some of them recovering and they played today, like John Terry and Michael Essien,” said the Italian.
“I think they did well. Now we have to work on getting (Frank) Lampard back and work harder than we have done recently.”
As Chelsea struggle for a win, Tottenham’s recent run of good form hit something of a stumbling block as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Birmingham, despite having taken the lead.
St Andrew’s isn’t quite the fortress it was last season and Spurs could have put the game to bed had they taken their chances. With Manchester City (4/11 top four finish) having beaten Bolton (40/1) 1-0 at Eastlands, Spurs (15/8) find themselves with a three-point gap to make up if they want to return to the Champions League next season.
Redknapp says he wasn’t happy settling for a point as he believes Tottenham can beat anyone this season and claims three points was there for the taking against Birmingham.
“I fancy us to play anybody. I really thought we’d come here and win,” said Redknapp. “I was disappointed in the end because I thought there was three points here for us.
“While two of London’s premier clubs were struggling Arsenal enjoyed a great day at the Emirates Stadium for once as they climbed to the top of the league with victory over Fulham.
The Gunners are now top for the first time this season and are priced at 10/3 to win the league, thanks to Samir Nasri’s double against the Cottages.With Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie having struggled with injuries Nasri has stepped up and been Arsenal’s star man thus far, scoring 11 goals in all competitions.
Manager Arsene Wenger was quick to praise the French midfielder after he saved his side yet again.
“It’s always difficult to compare,” Wenger said when asked whether he thought Nasri had been one of the Premier League’s star players this season. “But what is important when you are a manager is you want to get the best out of a player and I always was a strong believer in him.
“Many people questioned me when I took him here but he is showing that he is an exceptional talent and I think there is more to come from him. While life is going swimmingly for Arsenal, things at the bottom for Wolves got a lot gloomier on Saturday as they were hammered 3-0 by Blackburn.
That result moved Wolves (4/7 to be relegated) to the foot of the table, courtesy of their goal difference, and manager Mick McCarthy was his usual black and white self as he took aim at his side’s poor defensive performance.
“We started the game really well as everyone knows who watched it and then defended badly,” said McCarthy. “We just had a bad day defensively that’s for sure because we had chances.
“But that doesn’t matter when you’re three goals down.”
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