Chelsea stay second

A bizarre own goal from Michael Essien prevented Chelsea from going top of the Premiership as brave Reading left Stamford Bridge with an unlikely share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw.

The Blues looked on course for victory with Didier Drogba's double sandwiching Leroy Lita's equaliser but a blunder from Ashley Cole in the 85th minute handed Reading a point.

Kevin Doyle crossed but Cole, who had come on as a second-half substitute and was under no pressure, rushed his clearance, hitting it at Essien who unwittingly deflected the ball into the net.

The build up to the match had centred around what treatment Stephen Hunt and Ibrahima Sonko would receive after October's controversial encounter at the Madejski Stadium in which Petr Cech sustained a depressed fracture of the skull and Carlo Cudicini was left with concussion after clashes with the two Reading players.

Both players received death threats as a result, however, Hunt was named on the bench while Sonko approached his task of keeping Chelsea quiet with impressive calm.

Chelsea took the lead in the 38th minute when Drogba jumped high to head home Frank Lampard's corner.

But Reading equalised in the 67th minute. Glen Little escaped from Essien down the right before picking out Lita, who nodded home with a diving header.

Chelsea replied in incisive fashion with Drogba heading the Blues back into the lead in the 72nd minute.

Shaun Wright-Phillips did the initial damage with a surging run and cross for Drogba at the far post and he made no mistake.

Reading sensed a chink in Chelsea's armour and their second equaliser came in bizarre circumstances. Doyle crossed into the area and Cole, under no pressure, hit the ball straight at Essien and it deflected off the Ghana midfielder and into the net.