And so the home puzzle continues. Two more points are dropped as Nicolas Anelka's 100^th Premier League goal proves only enough for a draw.

That second-half strike was an equaliser to Craig Bellamy's well-taken first-half opener and although Chelsea can point to a very strong penalty appeal turned down late on, it was once again a case of plenty of pressure resulting in too few chances apart from a salvo of long-range shots.

There had been just one change to the team that had started against CFR Cluj in the previous game - Lampard naturally returning with Kalou making way, allowing Deco the freedom of one of the wider roles in midfield. Anelka retained his place despite Didier Drogba's Tuesday winner.

Prior to kick-off, the applause for Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke was prolonged and heartfelt, but was it ever likely to anything else? The songs later changed to 'Gianfranco Zola, taking West Ham down,' but the former hero of the Bridge could claim the last laugh.

The first shot of the game was Ballack's - rising over from distance after an impressive move involving Joe Cole, Bosingwa, and Lampard.

That was on four minutes and the next effort, two minutes later, went a lot closer. Joe Cole took aim and his shot was diverted wide by Parker's block after a Lampard pass.

West Ham, who had lined up with a diamond four in midfield and Carlton Cole and Bellamy up front, won a free-kick out wide that Noble played into the danger area at the far post, Cech reacted positively and punched clear.

On 15 minutes, Lampard put a similar dead ball delivery across and a stretching Alex nodded not too far wide.

John Terry had suffered early on in making a point by winning a 50-50 challenge with the combative Parker and for several concerning minutes was left limping, but by the quarter-of-an-hour mark the skipper was thankfully running freely again.

There were strong challenges going in regularly and just minute after he himself had been clattered by Noble (the West Ham midfielder perhaps fortunate to escape a booking) Mikel was cautioned for a trip on Carlton Cole.

Joe Cole was involved in much of the good work in this opening period and it took a sliding Parker challenge to end a 40-yard run that threatened to go all the way.

Around the half-hour mark, Chelsea began playing at increased pace and forced West Ham deeper and deeper.

But after a Bosingwa shot went wide, the visitors broke loose and won a throw on the left. Noble collected and nipped the ball past Bosingwa to cross. Bellamy took it down with one touch and volleyed inside Cech's near post with his second.

Chelsea appealed for a handball against Noble in the build-up but referee Mike Riley was unmoved except to book Ballack for dissent.

Two further bookings followed in quick succession, Ashley Cole for a studs-up challenge on Parker and Carlton Cole for interfering with a free-kick being taken.

The period following the goal and leading up to the break was worryingly the most even yet. Anelka had a shot in stoppage time but a deflection reduced the power and it was comfortable for the underworked Green to take.

There was plenty of Chelsea work to do in the changing room and on in the pitch in the 45 minutes that remained.

The second half began with Drogba on for Ballack. The new arrival played up front and centrally with at times Joe Cole supplying width on the right and Anelka floating around in a free role. At other times Cole was at the front of a diamond with the other two in tandem.

Whatever the shape, the results were there to enjoy within five minutes of the restart, Anelka finishing coolly after Lampard's brilliantly-weighted lob over the defence. Drogba had been involved with a muscular lay-off to Lamps from Mikel's pass. It was an all-round accomplished goal.

Stamford Bridge was feeling a lot happier but Carlton Cole fired a warning shot wide after turning strongly against Alex. Lampard then took aim but fired straight at Green.

A second effort from the same source on 64 minutes was struck with more venom, the keeper this time needing two grabs at the ball.

Alex was now proving an unlikely attacking force and had a shot deflected over after his own cross was half-cleared. From the corner that followed, Drogba volleyed crisply and on-target but Green beat the ball away at the near post.

On 77 minutes, Kalou, recently introduced for Joe Cole, had a close-range shot deflected over and from the corner, Green put the wind up his team-mates and supporters by miss-punching towards his own goal. It needed a combination of a leaping Parker and the crossbar to keep it out.

The West Ham keeper did better a minute later in keeping out an Anelka header.

Lampard had another attempt at a highly-desirable winner with a 30-yard free kick but again fired too close to the keeper, shortly before a big moment of controversy when he was caught by a flicked out leg from Neill in the box.

There were vociferous appeals but the ref had not seen the contact. There were 87 minutes on the clock.

Although the Blues streamed forward at the end it was West Ham who had the final chance, Carlton Cole suddenly in the clear but his shot was saved at full length by Cech.

So a strange weekend of draws all-round at the top continued. West Ham had taken their first point from Chelsea in over five years.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel (Belletti 78); J Cole (Kalou 74), Ballack (Drogba h-t), Lampard, Deco; Anelka.
Scorers Anelka 50
Booked Mikel 20, Ballack 36,

West Ham (4-1-2-1-2): Green; Neill (c), Davenport, Upson,  Ilunga; Parker; Behrami, Collison (Boa Morte 86); Noble (Mullins 71); Bellamy (Di Michele 90+3), Cole.
Goal Bellamy 32
Booked Cole 39.

The game can be seen in full from midnight on Chelsea TV. Highlights on Chelsea Plus.