Petr Cech saved a last-minute penalty to earn his side a point after a tense 0-0 draw against local rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage tonight.
Chelsea were dominating in possession but found Fulham’s rearguard impossible to break down.
Then with two of the three injury time minutes remaining, centre-back David Luiz inexplicably tripped American Clint Dempsey in the box.
He got up to take the spot kick but Cech guessed which direction to go and produced a fine diving save to his right.
Chelsea deserved to win but now languish in fifth place in the league two points behind Spurs in the coveted Champions League slot.
Chelsea took firm control from the off but it was Fulham who had the first effort when Andy Johnson blasted over on 6 minutes after good set-up play be Damian Duff.
Frank Lampard and Ramires had shots on 16 minutes, but both were blocked by stout Fulham defending.
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti reneged on his promise to try and work Torres into the three striker formation and Didier Drogba looked a sorry sight on the substitute’s bench.
Brazilian Luiz took his slot in the centre-back position ousting Branislav Ivanovic to right-back at the expense of Jose Bosingwa.
Lampard had the next effort on goal on 28 minutes but somehow managed to screw his shot from just inside the Fulham penalty area over the bar after excellent build-up play.
Chelsea’s £50m man Fernando Torres failed to have a worthwhile touch in the first 30 minutes.
A minute later Luiz made a schoolboy error when he was disposed bringing the ball out but Clint Dempsey shot wide of Petr Cech’s goal, letting the visitor’s escape serious punishment.
On 32 minutes Florent Malouda found himself in space on the edge of the home side’s area but blasted over the Fulham bar.
Seconds later, Ivanovic crossed deep on the right, and the resultant ball, instead of being a cross turned into a shot and arrowed towards goal. But Mark Schwarzer managed to tip the ball over the bar.
A snap shot from Anelka two minutes from half-time that went wide just about summed up Chelsea’s game.
Torres had a wonderful chance to get off the mark with the last kick of the half – latching onto a long Luiz ball, the Spanish striker over hit it and Schwarzer smothered it to safety.
The second half started as the first ended, this time with Torres heading the ball over the bar.
The striker had another effort four minutes later but hopelessly screwed a right-footer high and wide of the goal.
Frustrated by Fulham’s excellent defending, Malouda was reduced into shooting from range on 52 minutes – but the ball did not trouble the home side.
A minute later Ramires repeated the offence.
Fulham finally had a shot on target on 63 minutes but Salcido's right-footer from 25 yards was well held by Cech.
Rather than bring on Drogba, Ancelotti replaced ineffectual Anelka with Salomon Kalou on 65 minutes.
Malouda got a little closer to Fulham’s goal on 67 minutes when he let fly with a right-footer, cutting in from the left, but the shot was still wide of Schwarzer‘s left upright.
A minute later and a penalty for the Blues was denied when Hangeland bowled over Malouda.
Luiz headed over a Malouda corner on 72 minutes and then Torres was replaced by Drogba.
It was Michael Essen’s turn to shoot from distance. But his 77 minute effort met with the same result – an easy pick up for Schwarzer.
Clint Dempsey almost put Fulham ahead with eight minutes remaining but his angled right-footed shot from 12 yards was expertly saved by Cech.
On 84 minutes a spectacular byline overhead kick by Luiz found Kalou’s head but again the ball went over the bar.
A quick breakaway with a minute remaining almost saw Fulham snatch the winner but Simon Davies glancing header went over Cech’s crossbar.
Deep into injury time and Luiz up ended Dempsey in the penalty area and he got up to take the spot kick.
But he only managed to smash the ball into Cech who made a brilliant diving save.
Honours even but Fulham were brilliant in defence and should have snatched an undeserved winner.
1 Petr Cech
2 Branislav Ivanovic
4 David Luiz
26 John Terry (c)
3 Ashley Cole
7 Ramires
5 Michael Essien
8 Frank Lampard
39 Nicolas Anelka
15 Florent Malouda
9 Fernando Torres
Subs: 22 Ross Turnbull, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 12 John Mikel Obi, 46 Josh McEachran, 55 Jacopo Sala, 21 Salomon Kalou, 11 Didier Drogba.
Fulham: 4-4-2 formation:
Schwarzer; Salcido, Hughes, Hangeland, Baird; Duff, Murphy (c), Sidwell, Dempsey; A Johnson, Dembélé.
Subs: Stockdale, Kelly, Pantsil, Davies, Greening, Gudjohnsen, Gera.
The referee is Mike Dean