tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16585604.post-1167252505993093462006-12-27T12:46:00.000-08:002006-12-27T12:48:26.006-08:00<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4008/1578/1600/136416/balla.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4008/1578/400/23688/balla.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Chelsea had a bad performance and helped Manchester United extend their lead at the top of the English Premiership to four points. Ferguson's team cruised to a 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford while Chelsea were held 2-2 by Reading at Stamford Bridge.<br /><br />The "Blues" lost ground on the leaders after a real struggle against Reading. African striker Didier Drogba twice put Chelsea ahead but Leroy Lita and an own goal from Michael Essien gave Reading a share of the spoils and left Chelsea four points off the pace.<br /><br />Michael Ballack had a regular performance, which was not enough to lift his team over the rival.<br /><br />Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho admitted that the draw was probably a fair result.<br /><br />“We did enough to get the triumph because we scored two goals and could have scored more — I can’t complain about my footballers.<br /><br />“For instance, the match at Wigan was easy but we made it hard for ourselves. Yes, I had reason to be unhappy with them then. But today, no, because Reading made it really hard for us.”</div>Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12365875281881377339noreply@blogger.com