Chelsea 1-1 West Ham United

Nicolas Anelka cancelled out Craig Bellamy's first half goal as Chelsea were held 1-1 by West Ham and missed the chance to go top.

Chelsea dominated possession but could not find a way past a resolute Hammers rearguard in the opening 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge and were hit on the break when Bellamy scored with the Hammers' first effort on target.

Didier Drogba came on in the second half and played a key role in Anelka's equaliser but Luiz Felipe Scolari's men could not find the elusive winner required to leapfrog Liverpool at the Premier League's summit. Indeed they could even have lost in injury time had former striker Carlton Cole not squandered a great opportunity to score.

In a frustrating first half for the hosts, Joe Cole's close-range shot, which was diverted wide of the goal by Scott Parker's lunging tackle, was their only real opportunity.

However, West Ham took the lead with their only real effort on goal in the opening period on 33 minutes. Mark Noble controlled the ball out on the left byline and cut it back to Bellamy who rifled a low shot inside Blues keeper Petr Cech's near post.

There were claims of handball against Noble in the build up from the Chelsea players but referee Mike Riley had no hesitation but to award the goal.

Drogba was thrown into the action at the break and he was an instrumental figure in the equaliser on 51 minutes. He knocked the ball to Frank Lampard who dinked a delightful chip into the area for Anelka to run on to and guide past keeper Robert Green.

Carlton Cole missed two chances to get West Ham back in front within a minute of the Blues' equaliser, while Lampard's 65th minute strike bounced up in front of Green, who needed two attempts to make the save.

A mistake from Green was almost very costly on 79 minutes as his attempted punch at a corner kick saw the ball head back towards his own goal, but Parker was on the goal line to clear via the crossbar. And when the ball was played back in Green then saved well from Alex at his near post.

Lampard was denied what looked a clear penalty on 88 minutes when Lucas Neill brought him down inside the area.

Carlton Cole then spurned a chance to win it for West Ham in stoppage time when Valon Behrami played him into the area but his low shot was parried away by Cech.

The point means Chelsea stay second in the table on 37 points, while the Hammers jump above Manchester City on to 19 points in 16th place.