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In a game that had just about everything, we eventually had to settle for a point from an entertaining encounter at White Hart Lane.

Having been in front three times on the night, and never behind, it was a disappointing result for Avram Grant's men.

Joe Cole looked to have won it with two second half goals, after Drogba and Essien had set up a 2-1 lead at half-time, but Robbie Keane's late equaliser snatched a point for the home side.

Jonathan Woodgate, Dimitar Berbatov and Tom Huddlestone had all found the net for Spurs.

We arrived at White Hart Lane knowing that three points would see us draw level with Arsenal on 67 points, going into Sunday's clash with Tottenham's north London rivals at Stamford Bridge.

Just one defeat here since 1987 meant the Blues could be confident, but that was also our most recent visit, last season. With Carling Cup final disappointment fresh in the memory, we were expected to be quick out of the blocks.

With a goal on exactly three minutes, that's exactly what we did, with Drogba nodding home a deep cross from, of all people, John Terry.

The captain had been forward for a free-kick, awarded for a foul on Essien.

In the sixth minute the Chelsea bench rose to celebrate a second, but Joe Cole was rightly adjudged to be offside when he followed up Drogba's shot that had been parried by Paul Robinson.

Chelsea looked comfortable, but, having conceded a couple of free-kicks that allowed Jenas to cross into the area, we were punished with a goal hopelessly reminiscent of Wembley.

The midfielder crossed, this time from the right flank, and there again was Jonathan Woodgate, unmarked to head home, this time altogether more powerfully. From the replays, it looked as though it was Drogba who had let his man go.

Moments later there was a prolonged stoppage as Essien was treated following a tackle with Didier Zokora, but after some medical attention the Ghanaian was fine to continue.

It was his midfield partner Claude Makelele who broke next, laying off for Ricardo Carvalho. The Portuguese found Joe Cole, whose low cross was begging for the slightest of touches as it skidded across the goalmouth. It didn't get one.

We didn't need to wait long though, and within a couple of minutes were back in front, Essien now fully recovered grabbing his first goal since December as he cleverly flicked the ball over an advancing Robinson, following Joe Cole's through ball.

It was no less than we deserved, but there was always the danger of Spurs finding another. Jenas found space in the area but shot tamely at Cudicini, who shortly afterwards had to be quick out of his goal to deny Lennon.

Two minutes before the break, Lampard tackled Jenas in midfield, presenting Drogba with an opportunity to run at the home defence and shoot. His effort was powerful, but straight at Robinson.

Ashley Cole was given a yellow card for a late tackle on Alan Hutton, joining namesake Joe in the book. Robbie Keane became the third name in first half stoppage time.

At the break, Juande Ramos opted to replace Jenas with Tom Huddlestone, who slotted in alongside Zokora in central midfield.

It made no difference as Chelsea doubled the lead six minutes into the second half, Joe Cole scoring his second inside a week, lifting the ball over Robinson after he had beaten Chimbonda with ease.

Kalou had contributed with a square pass that found his fellow winger in space.

Spurs pulled another goal back on the hour mark as Berbatov headed home Huddleston's corner, which had come about after Terry had done well to cut out Malbranque's low cross.

It was a fine header, but again Chelsea marking was slack. With half an hour to play, such defensive play would need to improve.

Spurs were just as guilty though, as Huddlestone's lazy challenge sent Joe Cole to the floor. From the free-kick, Robinson did well to push away Drogba's fierce strike.

Cudicini matched his opposite number soon after, getting down low to block Keane's shot after Berbatov had played his fellow forward in.

It was end to end stuff, and it wasn't long before there were further chances. First of all Chelsea almost replicated our second goal, as Joe Cole put Essien through, but this time he saw his shot bounce back out off the post.

Spurs brought on Darren Bent for captain Ledley King, and so Chelsea introduced Alex to deal with the home side's three-pronged attack. Kalou was the man to make way.

There was more woe for Chelsea to come though, as Huddlestone, who had just been booked for diving, rifled in a loose ball after Keane had sent a corner into the danger area. With 15 minutes remaining, it could go either way.

Spurs nearly went ahead when Zokora broke and released Lennon, but the winger's cross was just too far ahead for Bent to connect.

With 11 minutes left, the game turned again, and it was in Chelsea's favour, to the great relief of the bench. The scorer again was Joe Cole and the finish was emphatic, right into the top corner after he had again evaded Chimbonda's challenge.

Cole was almost immediately substituted, as Michael Ballack came on to plug the midfield gaps.

It looked to be enough, but somehow on 87 minutes, Spurs pegged us back again, Robbie Keane the benefactor of a huge slice of luck after the ball fell to him off the back of Ricardo Carvalho.

There was no luck to the finish though, as he expertly curled the ball into Cudicini's top left-hand corner. It was simply unstoppable.

Dimitar Berbatov's shot in injury time looked to be equally impossible for the Italian to get anything on, but he miraculously pushed the ball behind for a corner, to save the Blues a point.

By Andy Jones

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini, Ferreira (Shevchenko 89), Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien, Makelele, Lampard; J Cole (Ballack 82), Drogba, Kalou (Alex 70).

Goals Drogba 3, Essien 19, J Cole 51, 79
Booked J Cole 35, A Cole 45

Tottenham (4-4-2): Robinson; Hutton, Woodgate, King (c) (Bent 68), Chimbonda; Lennon, Jenas (Huddlestone ht), Zokora, Malbranque; Keane, Berbatov.

Goals Woodgate 11, Berbatov 59, Huddlestone 74, Keane 87
Booked Keane 45+1, Huddlestone 72.