?
|
Jordi Gomez of Wigan Athletic scores an equalising goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Wigan Athletic and Chelsea at the DW Stadium on December 17, 2011 in Wigan, England. |
Chelsea suffered a last-gasp slump in the 16th-round clash on Saturday as Wigan fought back with a vital 1-1 draw in their relegation battle and made the Blues slow down in the league's top-three rivalry.
Jordi Gomez's tap-in goal after 87 minutes cancelled out Daniel Sturridge's superb strike, denying the Londoners fourth straight league win.
A point was valuable to Wigan as the host side was just one point behind the 17th-placed Wolves and was likely to climb out of the relegated zone soon.
But for the visitor, it was not enough.
The Blues was left still third place in the table but six and four points respectively behind the leading Manchester "big two".
Man City, with one game in hand, will host the fifth-placed Arsenal on Sunday, while Man United and fourth-located Tottenham Hotspur (two games in hand) will both start this round campaign.
Elsewhere, Blackburn also suffered a late blow as Peter Odemwingie's last-minute goal earned West Bromwich a 2-1 victory.
Leon Osman of Everton rescued a 1-1 draw against Norwich with an equaliser nine minutes before the final whistle.
Fulham showed no mercy to bottom-of-the-table Bolton after Clint Dempsey and Bryan Ruiz handed the host a 2-0 victory.
Peter Crouch's iconic header led the visiting Stoke City to a 2-1 comeback victory over Wolves. Newcastle gained one point in a goalless draw against Swansea.