Chelsea - 2 Reading - 2:The rivalry with Manchester United may be no more than runner-up to the Premiership's most gripping struggle of all. Chelsea's battle with themselves could exercise a greater fascination still and yesterday they were unable to overcome the skittishness that has become so glaring.

This time there was no winner at the very end, as there had been against Everton and Wigan, and the club are now four points adrift of United.

In view of the respective values of the squads, the injury list that torments Jose Mourinho cannot excuse the draw. While Reading set about the reigning champions at every opportunity in the second half, the own goal that squared the game at 2-2 symbolised the self-destructiveness no one has ever anticipated from a Mourinho line-up.

After substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips lost the ball in the 85th minute Kevin Doyle beat Paulo Ferreira, and another substitute Ashley Cole then thumped a clearance off the hip of Michael Essien and into the net. The visitors had their second equaliser of the afternoon, and Chelsea, for once, were at a loss for a response.

Mourinho has been unfortunate that some of his best players are unavailable, but he also chose to have this comparatively tight squad in order that no one would languish after feeling themselves marginalised. In the weeks ahead we will learn whether the heightened motivation that he has sought can come to the fore.

The Chelsea philosophy can only function when the level of reliability never wavers, but now an opening goal for them is merely a tentative step in the right direction rather than a long stride towards the finishing line. The side has developed a dependence on Didier Drogba to turn the course of a fixture in their favour.

Andriy Shevchenko continues to struggle and his inability to escape a defence was again noticable. His withdrawal from a game is often an inevitability, as it was here yesterday.

With Salomon Kalou not quite prepared for a leading role, everything depends on Drogba in the middle of the attack. It was the Ivorian alone who gave Chelsea a cutting edge. From a corner that he himself had earned with a deflected effort, Drogba rose above goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and Ibrahim Sonko to meet Frank Lampard's delivery and head home after 38 minutes.

Chelsea's support foresaw more opportunities to boo Stephen Hunt, whenever the substitute popped out to jog along the track. Hunt's impact on Petr Cech had, of course, fractured the goalkeeper's skull in October.

The second half though made a hitherto complacent audience conscious of the danger. As energy drained out of Chelsea, Steve Coppell's players pushed forward. Doyle had defenders faltering, particularly when advancing on the wing. Mourinho's back four became exposed and the equaliser, in the 67th minute, was deserved. Glen Little crossed and Leroy Lita, found ample space behind makeshift centre-half Paulo Ferreira, to head home. Mourinho introduced Ashley Cole, switched to a back three and hurled men at Reading. Drogba again was the pivotal figure. Wright-Phillips also did well at Chelsea's second goal, cutting inside Nicky Shorey to direct the deep cross that Drogba headed in at the far post. But the visitors continued to show their resolve.

Their reaction bore out Coppell's later claim that there had been "a real determination in the dressingroom at half-time".

Just before the own-goal, Doyle had fired high after the ball broke to him off Michael Ballack, and Brynjar Gunnarsson headed wide from a Shorey free-kick. Reading had not been deterred by Chelsea's reputation. The result, which Mourinho thought fair, justified Coppell's judgment as well.

Reading's manager denied leaving Hunt on the bench because he feared the crowd's reaction. "This game has been hanging over him," Coppell said, "and I don't think he has been playing well." Reading have been wavering, but this result will steel them for their next game, a visit to Old Trafford.

For months Drogba has been bearing all the demands Chelsea placed upon him, but a loss in form or a muscle strain would be devastating.

Who could have supposed Mourinho's men would ever look so fragile?

Guardian Service