LONDON - Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas believes his side is still very much in the English title race after Daniel Sturridge's goal earned it a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Sturridge cancelled out Emmanuel Adebayor's early strike midway through the first half on Thursday to leave Chelsea 11 points shy of Premier League leader Manchester City.

John Terry - in his first appearance since being charged with a racially aggravated public order offense - was partly at fault for Adebayor's goal, but made a crucial block in injury time to ensure his side finished with a point.

And Villas-Boas saw the performance as evidence his philosophy of introducing an attractive, passing game to Chelsea was starting to produce results.

"In terms of our title challenge, it keeps it alive," Villas-Boas said after a share of the spoils in a London derby against third-placed Tottenham, which remain two points in front of Chelsea.

"The draw punishes us a little bit in terms of the league.

"We are still in it. If we take six points from our next two home fixtures, we are pretty much in it.

"We came to Tottenham who are also title challengers and it is a good point to get. We have been in a worse situation than this and I am sure we can further shorten the distance.

"Today (Thursday) our passing game exploded to wonderful levels. It was fantastic to watch this team play when they find themselves in possession and take opportunities."

The focus was on Terry ahead of the match after the Crown Prosecution Service charged him on Wednesday with racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during Chelsea's loss at Loftus Road in October.

But Villas-Boas added: "His performances have increased since the incident. His commitment was never in doubt and his quality and talent is never in doubt.

"He is completely focused to the causes of the football club and his performances have not dropped a single bit."

Both sides had chances to win it late, and afterwards Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was more circumspect than Villas-Boas on his side's title hopes.

Rather than which team would come out on top in May, Redknapp's main concern was an ever-increasing injury list in a busy period of the season.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 12/24/2011 page16)