Chelsea draws with Wigan

An injury-time goal by Wigan striker Emile Heskey put a massive dent in Chelsea’s hopes of winning the Premier League title on Monday.Michael Essien had given the Blues the lead in the 55th minute but Heskey’s shock equalizer left their title hopes in tatters with a 1-1 draw.

Chelsea are now five points adrift of Manchester United at the top of the table and defeat at Everton at Goodison Park on Thursday night would effectively hand Sir Alex Ferguson’s men the title.

Wigan were unchanged with Marcus Bent and Heskey leading the attack while Chelsea coach Avram Grant made seven changes from the side which beat Fenerbahce in the Champions League - including a recall for goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The Czech Republic international played with a special chin guard to protect 50 stitches he required after a training-ground clash with defender Tal Ben-Haim two weeks ago.

But Grant was hampered by the sudden loss of midfielder Frank Lampard, who was pulled out of the side just before kick-off with another illness.

Yet despite the handicap, Chelsea should have been in front in the fifth minute but a cross from Salomon Kalou was headed wide from six yards by Nicolas Anelka.

Five minutes later Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was alert enough to deal with a through-ball from Essien that threatened to provide Anelka with a goal-scoring opportunity.

But Wigan withstood Chelsea’s early fire and created a real opportunity of their own in the 19th minute when Wilson Palacios back-heeled the ball and Antonio Valencia forced Cech into a fine save at his near post.

Moments later, a fine turn from Michael Ballack in the Wigan penalty area should have caused the visitors more problems but the German’s cross was easily dealt with by Kirkland.

Chelsea were largely disappointing going forward and Anelka was left to chase hopeful long balls that Paul Scharner and Emmerson Boyce dealt with comfortably.

Chelsea almost went in front in the 26th minute when a header from Anelka looked certain to loop over Kirkland and into the net until the Wigan goalkeeper somehow managed to get a hand to it.

But while Chelsea were far from impressive, they continued to pressure the Wigan defense.

In the 34th minute, a corner from Juliano Belletti was headed goalwards by Mikel John Obi only for Josip Skoko to clear off his goalline.

But Steve Bruce’s Wigan side were in no mood to capitulate and it needed a last ditch tackle from Scharner to prevent Anelka from getting on the end of a pass from Essien.

Chelsea were running out of ideas as fast as the home crowd were running out of patience.

There was little to enthuse about Chelsea’s performance during 45 minutes when they failed to impose themselves on the game.

Grant, was regularly out of his seat on the bench, but despite his calm cajoling, Chelsea could not raise its game and not surprisingly was booed off at halftime.

Grant’s displeasure with the tepid opening half from his Chelsea side produced a half-time change with Joe Cole replacing the ineffective Florent Malouda.

The move almost brought an instant reward for the home side when a shot from Cole was charged down by the Wigan defense.

Another effort from Cole in the 49th minute failed to trouble Kirkland but the England international’s introduction had clearly had a galvanizing effect on the home side.

Belletti failed to pick out a Chelsea player when he burst into the penalty area and pulled the ball back from the touchline but Grant’s side were slowly turning the screw on Wigan.