Graeme Murty(L) and Andriy Shevchenko
© AFP Adrian Dennis

LONDON (AFP) - Didier Drogba appeared to set the reigning champions on course for three priceless points with two typically clinical headers but they were thwarted by a bizarre own goal from Michael Essien with just five minutes remaining.

This result combined with Manchester United's 3-1 win at home to Wigan left Chelsea four points behind Sir Alex Ferguson's leaders.

The draw was made worse for Chelsea by manager Jose Mourinho's announcement that influential skipper John Terry, also the England captain, may need surgery for his back problem.

The centre-half, who missed this match, has now been absent from Chelsea's last four games and Mourinho said: "I've no idea when John will be back. The medical department have said surgery might be a possibility. I want them to make a quick decision."

Mourinho is also waiting for an update on Joe Cole's fractured foot with the England midfielder possibly also facing an operation.

Didier Drogba
© AFP Adrian Dennis

"It's the same with Joe Cole. I don't know if he will need surgery or not."

And the Portuguese said the absence of Terry and goalkeeper Petr Cech had added to Chelsea's worries.

"To lose Petr and John at the same time is a very difficult problem to solve, especially in a squad without more central defenders."

But he had no qualms about the scoreline. "When the opponents do well and create problems, you can't complain, only praise the opposition."

Reading manager Steve Coppell praised his side's tenacity. "We had a defined gameplan and the players stuck resolutely to that. There was a real determination in the dressing room."

This was the first meeting between these clubs since Cech and Carlo Cudicini, Mourinho's first choice goalkeepers, were hospitalised following clashes with Reading's Stephen Hunt and Ibrahima Sonko in October.

Barely a minute had passed when Chelsea's Frank Lampard sent a shot zipping across the far post and the champions began to exercise their trademark blend of speed, stamina and strength.

The man who embodies all three of these qualities is Drogba.

(L-R)Ibrahima Sonko, Salomon Kalou and James Harper
© AFP Adrian Dennis

Only the brilliance of Reading's Marcus Hahnemann denied him a first-half hat-trick. The American goalkeeper made two superb stops, palming away a fierce near-post drive and then plunging to his left to turn aside a header from Lampard's free-kick.

But, seven minutes before half-time, Reading's resistance cracked. Lampard's inswinging corner simply invited a thumping finish and Drogba duly headed in.

Falling behind merely inspired Reading. In the 53rd minute, Brynjar Gunnarsson's wicked low cross struck Ricardo Carvalho and ricocheted agonisingly across the face of goal; then, 120 seconds later, Steve Sidwell's 18-yard shot careered against the goal stanchion.

The visitors sensed an unexpected opportunity and, in the 67th minute, they grasped it. Glen Little drifted in from the right touchline and delivered a tantalising cross which Leroy Lita headed into the bottom corner.

But Chelsea are nothing if not spirited and within five minutes they were ahead again, Drogba nodding in Shaun Wright-Phillips's picture-perfect cross.

But with five minutes remaining, Kevin Doyle - anonymous virtually all afternoon - charged down the left and fired in a bouncing cross. Ashley Cole's attempted clearance bounced off Essien and span past the helpless Hilario.

©AFP