LONDON - Chelsea dropped their first points of the English premiership season when they were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at bottom club Everton today.
James Beattie put Everton ahead in the 35th minute but Frank Lampard equalised just after halftime to extend the champions' unbeaten run to 39
league matches and keep them nine points clear at the top of the table.
A brilliant free kick by Turkish midfielder Emre Belozoglu earned Newcastle United a 3-2 win over north-east neighbours Sunderland, West Ham United beat Middlesbrough 2-1 and Bolton Wanderers defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-0 in Sunday's other games.
Everton were dreaming of only their second win of the season when striker Beattie converted a penalty following a foul on Tim Cahill by Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.
England midfielder Lampard continued his prolific scoring form, however, with a clinical 20-metre strike five minutes after halftime.
Chelsea dominated possession for the rest of the match but were unable to break down a disciplined Everton defence except when striker Didier Drogba had an effort ruled out for offside.
The draw ended Chelsea's nine-match winning streak since the start of the season, two short of Tottenham Hotspur's record.
Newcastle and Sunderland were level after four goals in seven minutes shortly before halftime.
Shola Ameobi twice put Newcastle in front with headers but Sunderland hit back through Liam Lawrence and Stephen Elliott.
The derby game was heading for a draw until Emre struck in the 63rd minute, curling the ball round the wall from 25 metres.
Elliott nearly equalised again six minutes from time when his deft lob struck the crossbar but Newcastle hung on to climb to 12th in the table. Sunderland stayed one place off the bottom, a point ahead of Everton.
Substitute Teddy Sheringham put West Ham ahead on 66 minutes and a Chris Riggott own goal doubled the hosts' lead before Franck Queudrue headed a late consolation for Middlesbrough.
West Ham climbed to ninth, two places below Bolton who also needed two late strikes to see off West Brom at the Reebok Stadium.
Japanese midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata scored his first goal for the club with an 81st-minute free kick and Kevin Nolan sealed victory in the final minute to leave West Brom down in 16th place.
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham on Saturday, Arsenal beat Manchester City 1-0 and European champions Liverpool lost 2-0 at Fulham.
- REUTERS
Soccer: Chelsea held by Everton
LONDON - Chelsea dropped their first points of the English premiership season when they were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at bottom club Everton today.
James Beattie put Everton ahead in the 35th minute but Frank Lampard equalised just after halftime to extend the champions' unbeaten run to 39
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