Chelsea twice came from behind to force a 2-2 draw with London rivals West Ham United on Saturday.
The Hammers took the lead in the 17th minute when Manuel Lanzini fired home a lovely effort from outside the area before the Blues levelled on the stroke of half-time.
Cesc Fabregas took free-kick duties and produced a stunning finish in stoppage time of the first half to tie it up at Stamford Bridge.
Andy Carroll came off the bench to have an immediate impact when racing into Dimitri Payet's ball to fire beyond Thibaut Courtois to restore West Ham's lead.
However, a contentious penalty awarded to Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the 89th minute, which was calmly dispatched by Fabregas, denied the visitors a first win at Chelsea in 14 years.
The result saw Guus Hiddink's Chelsea remain 10th on the table as Slaven Bilic's Hammers stayed fifth and are now just a point in arrears of fourth-placed Man City.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Chelsea: 2 (Cesc Fabregas 45+3'/(PEN) 89')
West Ham United: 2 (Manuel Lanzini 17', Andy Carroll 61')
Stamford Bridge, London - 41,623
TALKING POINTS
- Chelsea unbeaten since Hiddink replaced Mourinho. Is there still time to mount a Euro challenge?
- West Ham still in with a genuine chance of clinching a Champions League spot. Ae they in good enough form to edge ahead of City and hold pff sixth-placed Man Utd?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Chelsea head to bottom-placed Aston Villa on April 2 when West Ham host Crystal Palace.
TWITTER INSIGHT
FAMILY pic.twitter.com/bP8Wd6jDhW
— MARK NOBLE (@Noble16Mark) March 20, 2016
Great game lads! 1 point against Chelsea no bad! Well done my bro @maanuulanzini10 what a goal… https://t.co/RkyEdocNs8
— cheikhou kouyate 8 (@PapiCheikhou) March 19, 2016
Unfair to draw like today when absolutely we deserve the 3 points!Now time to relax & charge the batteries! #COYIpic.twitter.com/baEtIJpyBg
— Adrián San Miguel (@AdriSanMiguel) March 19, 2016
QUOTES CORNER
Chelsea's Hiddink on the plans for the rest of the season:
"Our target now for the rest of the season is to see if we can get a European spot.
"You must get the highest position possible."
West Ham boss Bilic on his side's recent displays:
"I don't look too much at the table. But what gives me confidence is the way we're playing.
"We can approach every game, no matter who we're playing against, where we're playing, no matter how difficult this league is - and it is very difficult, it's like a minefield - (and) we are capable. We are having chances against any team."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
4 - Four of Manuel Lanzini's five Premier League goals this season have been scored away from home. Tourist.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 19, 2016
2009 - Cesc Fabregas has scored his first goal directly from a free-kick in the Premier League since December 2009 (v Villa). Placed.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 19, 2016
2 - Andy Carroll has scored in both home and away games v Chelsea in the same Premier League season for the first time. Impact.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 19, 2016
2 - Cesc Fabregas has scored twice in a Premier League game for the first time since December 2009 (v Aston Villa). Brace.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 19, 2016
