Blues defensive woes continue

A late goal from Carlos Bocanegra gave Fulham a 2-2 draw at Chelsea to leave the champions six points adrift of Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

Didier Drogba looked to have won it for Chelsea when he put Jose Mourinho's side ahead in the 61st minute, but Bocanegra's 84th-minute equaliser cost the Blues another two home points.

Drogba's strike, his sixth in as many games, made him the first Chelsea player in a decade to score 20 goals in one season but for Mourinho they worry is when John Terry will return from a back operation and stiffen up his defence.

Chelsea's defensive frailties were exposed in the 17th minute by Fulham's Moritz Volz as he scored the 15,000th Premiership goal.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien twice went close in the opening three minutes - sending one shot just wide of the target and forcing Antti Niemi into a fine save with his second effort.

Volz put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute. Franck Queudrue's throw into the penalty area was dummied superbly by Tomasz Radzinski to leave Volz clear to unleash a right-foot volley into the net.

Fulham should have increased their lead in the 26th minute but Wayne Routledge fired over the crossbar.

Chelsea equalised in the 35th minute when Liam Rosenior failed to clear a long cross from Makelele and Frank Lampard despatched the ball into the net via the legs of the Fulham defender for an own goal.

Mourinho sent on Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko in place of full-back Geremi in the 57th minute. The change worked wonders as Drogba put the home side in front in the 61st minute.

But Fulham rocked Chelsea six minutes from time when Essien failed to clear a cross and after Brian McBride's shot was superbly saved by Hilario, Bocanegra equalised.