Everton snatch a 1-1 draw from Chelsea in EPL

London: Chelsea dropped more points in the Premier League title race on Saturday as Jermaine Beckford scored a late equaliser to give Everton a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Didier Drogba had given Chelsea the lead with a penalty in the 42nd minute but Beckford secured a point with his 86th-minute header.

Chelsea has just one win in the last six league games and walked off the pitch to boos from the home crowd. The Blues held a commanding lead just last month but are now in third place, two points behind Arsenal, which went top with a 2-1 win over Fulham.

Manchester United is one point back in second place but with a game in hand.

Everton almost took the lead in the opening few seconds when Louis Saha's shot from 20 yards forced Petr Cech into a fine save at his near post.

Moments later Leighton Baines fired high over the bar with Chelsea still struggling to get to grips with the high-octane opening from the visitors.

Chelsea's first real attack arrived in the 12th minute when Drogba put Nicolas Anelka ahead of the visiting defence but the former France international's shot was blocked by Phil Jagielka.

The woodwork prevented Chelsea from taking the lead in the 27th minute when captain John Terry, back after a sciatic nerve injury, sent a shot against the bar.

Chelsea wasted another chance in the 37th minute when Salomon Kalou headed wide from a corner by Malouda.

Chelsea eventually broke the deadlock from the penalty spot when Anelka pounced on a poor back pass from Neville and was brought down by goalkeeper Tim Howard. The Everton keeper was spared a red card by Probert, who opted for a yellow instead but Howard could do nothing to stop Drogba's fierce penalty from giving the Blues the lead.

Beckford came on for Saha in the 57th minute and Everton gradually took over control of the game. The visitors came close to equalising in the 61st minute when a cross from Leighton Baines was headed against the inside of the post by Jack Rodwell.

Two minutes later a corner from Baines was headed on by Jagielka but the ball dropped just wide of the far post.

But Everton finally drew level when a cross from Baines was headed back across the six-yard box for Beckford to head home.