Chelsea lose ground after Dempsey heroics

(CNN) -- Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw at west London neighbors Fulham on Sunday to lose ground in the English title race on leaders Liverpool.

Chelsea went into the game four points adrift of Liverpool, who thrashed Newcastle 5-1 in an earlier kick off, but were frustrated by a battling home side who scored a late equalizer through Clint Dempsey.

The American international had put Roy Hodgson's men ahead in the 10th minute before Chelsea equalized through Frank Lampard five minutes after the break following a defensive error.

Lampard's 72nd minute goal from a free kick appeared to be enough to secure three points for the title challengers, but midfielder Dempsey rose superbly to head home a corner to level with a minute of regular time remaining.

"We lost two points today," Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari told Sky Sports News.

"We made two mistakes with our marking and conceded two goals. I think they had one more chance - we had 10 chances and scored two goals."

Arsenal took closer order in the title race with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Portsmouth, secured by an 81st minute headed winner by deposed skipper William Gallas.

Victory over a team managed by their former captain Tony Adams saw Arsenal reclaim fourth spot from Aston Villa, who do not play until Tuesday, on goal difference, 10 points behind Liverpool.

Adams left "angry" England striker Jermain Defoe on the bench, increasing speculation the former Tottenham star will be leaving Fratton Park.

In-form Everton also continued their recent charge, moving into sixth place with a 3-0 thrashing of Sunderland with Mikel Arteta scoring twice.

West Ham crept into the top half of a congested table as striker Diego Tristan scored his first goal for the Hammers with two minutes remaining to beat 10-man Stoke 2-1.

Visiting striker Ricardo Fuller was sent off for punching his own teammate at Upton Park -- his bizarre dismissal coming after Carlton Cole had equalized Abdoulaye Faye's early strike for Stoke.

Fuller slapped his captain Andy Griffin as the pair argued near the center circle following Cole's goal.

Wigan also continued their fine run with a third straight win as they beat sliding Bolton 1-0 with Egyptian striker Amr Zaki scoring his 10th goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Tottenham remained in trouble at the wrong end of the table after West Bromwich Albion scored a second straight home win, beating Harry Redknapp's men 2-0.

Tottenham's Benoit Assou-Ekotto was shown red 10 minutes before the break for a foul on Gianni Zuiverloom.

But it wasn't until the 83rd minute that Roman Bednar scored for WBA before Craig Beattie added a second as Tottenham pushed for an equalizer.

In Sunday's late game, Blackburn were left frustrated in their relegation battle after Manchester City came from two goals down with six minutes remaining at Ewood Park to snatch a draw.

Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts put Sam Allardyce's new team ahead, but Daniel Sturridge pulled one back and Brazilian star Robinho equalized in the fourth minute of added time to complete a remarkable comeback.

Champions Manchester United host Middlesbrough on Monday, bidding to cut a 10-point gap on Liverpool but with three games in hand.