Chelsea 1 - 1 West Ham

Gianfranco Zola stopped his old club Chelsea from returning to the top of the English Premier League as his West Ham side claimed a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

On his return to Chelsea, where the former Italy striker holds legendary status, the fledgling manager's Hammers team gained a well-earned point in a fiercely contested London derby. The result meant Chelsea remain second in the Premier League table, one point behind Liverpool, while West Ham's struggle to pull away from the relegation zone was helped by a useful point gained away from home. Wales striker Craig Bellamy gave the visitors a 33rd-minute lead with a well-taken strike but France forward Nicolas Anelka rescued a point for Chelsea in the 51st minute with his 100th Premier League goal.

Despite substitute Didier Drogba scoring the winner in Chelsea's 2-1 victory over Romania's CFR Cluj that put them into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, Scolari kept the Côte d'Ivoire forward on the bench with Anelka remaining as the sole striker. Frank Lampard came in for Salomon Kalou in the only change to the Blues line-up. Zola was given a warm welcome back to Stamford Bridge by the home fans, and the Sardinian's exit from the tunnel was delayed by several warm exchanges with Blues backroom staff.

Both sides struggled to create goalscoring opportunities and convert corners into dangerous chances. But fired-up forward Bellamy broke the deadlock with a well-taken strike in the 33rd minute. Parker took Herita Ilunga's throw-in, rounded right-back Jose Boswinga as he charged into the penalty box. He cut the ball back for Bellamy, who chested it down and blasted a shot low inside goalkeeper Petr Cech's near post.

Anelka missed a good chance just before the interval, blasting a bobbling ball wide when presented with a good chance to hit the target. Scolari had seen enough and replaced the booked Ballack with Drogba at half-time to sharpen up Chelsea's attack. But within six minutes Anelka reminded Scolari of his shooting skills with a well-taken goal. After smart passing among the Chelsea ranks, Drogba laid the ball off to Lampard outside the penalty box and the former Hammer clipped it over the visitors' back line for Anelka. The France striker took a half-volley in his stride, hitting it down into the turf and beyond goalkeeper Robert Green's dive for the equaliser.

MEANWHILE, Michael Owen celebrated his 29th birthday by putting Newcastle United on their way to a vital victory at Portsmouth that lifted the Magpies out of the relegation zone.

The striker executed a fine chip in the 52nd minute of an entertaining match at Fratton Park, before Obafemi Martins and Danny Guthrie sealed Newcastle's first league win in five attempts and their first away triumph this season. fifa

Full results;

Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Arsenal
Aston Villa 4 - 2 Bolton W.
Liverpool 2 - 2 Hull City
Manchester City 0 - 1 Everton
Stoke City 0 - 0 Fulham
Sunderland 4 - 0 West Bromwich
Wigan Athletic 3 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 0 Manchester United
.......
Portsmouth 0 - 3 Newcastle United
Chelsea 1 - 1 West Ham United

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