Chelsea narrow gap as United lose

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LONDON, England -- Chelsea closed to within two points of Manchester United on Sunday after the English champions won 3-2 at Everton while the leaders lost 1-0 at West Ham United in Alan Curbishley's first game in charge of the Londoners.

A stunning 87th-minute goal by Didier Drogba earned Chelsea their win after they twice trailed, while a 74th-minute Nigel Reo-Coker strike handed Manchester United their first away defeat of the season.

A week ago United led the league by eight points but a midweek win over Newcastle United in their game in hand and Sunday's results have closed things up quickly approaching the half-way mark in the season.

After 18 matches United have 44 points with Chelsea up to 42. Liverpool are third on 31 points after winning 3-0 at Charlton Athletic on Saturday, with Arsenal fourth on 30 after they were held 2-2 at home by Portsmouth.

Tottenham Hotspur climbed to seventh on Sunday when they secured their first away win of the season, 2-1 at Manchester City who were previously unbeaten at home.

Manchester United had not lost at Upton Park since the start of the Premier League in 1992 while Curbishley had never been in charge of a winning team against them in 15 attempts. However, both those runs ended on Sunday as the Hammers finished a turbulent week on a high.

After losing five of their previous six games to slip to third-bottom in the standings, the Londoners sacked manager Alan Pardew on Monday, appointing former Charlton Athletic manager -- and West Ham midfielder -- Curbishley two days later.

As so often happens in such a situation, the change rejuvenated the team. They had the best chance of the first-half when Bobby Zamora broke free in the 32nd minute but shot straight at Edwin Van der Sar.

The leaders upped their game after the break and West Ham keeper Robert Green had to make several good saves, the best to deny Cristiano Ronaldo after 56 minutes.

The goal was created by a combination of substitute Teddy Sheringham's guile --- a pass threaded through Nemanja Vidic's legs -- and the persistence of Marlon Harewood, who battled past Rio Ferdinand to reach the byline and square the ball.

Reo-Coker, who has been very much at the center of West Ham's recent troubles with rumors of a transfer request, then burst forward to slide the ball home.

"It has been such a stressful week, not just personally but for the squad," said Reo-Coker. "It has been a whirlwind, so much has gone on, such a quick change, but we had to make sure we were focused today."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson bemoaned the timing of his team's visit. "We played really well, we didn't deserve to lose but I think we came here at a time of tremendous upsurge in energy, enthusiasm and optimism," he said.

"If they played like that every week they wouldn't be in that position but that's what happens when a new manager comes in."

Earlier on Sunday, Everton took the lead at Goodison Park in the 38th minute with a Mikel Arteta penalty after Khalid Boulahrouz's clumsy challenge brought down striker Victor Anichebe.

It was a deserved lead too after the home side made most of the running against the lackluster champions who barely mustered a shot.

Chelsea equalized four minutes into the second-half with a Michael Ballack free- kick which crept in off a post and goalkeeper Tim Howard's back.

Chelsea then stepped up the pace and Boulahrouz hit a post but Everton survived the onslaught and retook the lead in the 64th minute with a Joseph Yobo header.

Chelsea levelled in the 81st minute with a fiercely struck swerving 25-meter shot by Frank Lampard, who also grabbed a late equaliser for a 1-1 draw in last season's corresponding fixture.

Drogba thrn hit a post in the 85th minute but was on target two minutes later when his 35-meter looping shot somehow got through Howard's flailing arms.

"The players had incredible character, they believed until the last moment," said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

"When Everton scored the second goal the game had been completely in our hands and that's the goal that can kill a team if they are not mentally very strong."

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