EPL: Norwichs draw hurts Chelsea title bid

John Terry reacts after the 0-0 draw against Norwich City at Stamford Bridge yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

London: Chelsea missed the chance to go top of the Premier League after being held to a goalless draw at home to strugglers Norwich yesterday.


John Terry reacts after the 0-0 draw against Norwich City at Stamford Bridge yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

The stalemate at Stamford Bridge all but ended Chelsea's title bid, with Jose Mourinho's men now a point behind both leaders Manchester City and second-placed Liverpool with just one match of their league season remaining.

Liverpool will return to the summit if they win away to Crystal Palace today.

However, City will still have a game in hand on both Liverpool and Chelsea after today's match at Selhurst Park.

Norwich's battling effort left them on 33 points with one game remaining and on the brink of relegation.

Gunners victorious
Earlier, Arsenal celebrated their qualification for next season's Champions League with a 1-0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion yesterday.

France striker Olivier Giroud scored the only goal of the game when he headed in a 14th-minute corner.

Everton's 2-3 defeat by Manchester City meant Arsenal kicked-off knowing they could not be caught in the race for fourth place in the Premier League and a spot in next term's Champions League.

"I believe the mentality of the team was outstanding (in reaching the Champions League)," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side will look to end a nine-year spell without a major trophy when they face Hull in this month's FA Cup final.

"We still have games in front of us. You can be pleased of the attitude, but frustrated because we were top of the league (for 128 days) then we dropped off."

The veteran French boss added: "We had injures - three or four players who missed too many games.

"And in some games, at the start away from home, we were caught by surprise. We were perhaps too cautious and not confident enough. We paid a heavy price for it."

128
Number of days Arsenal spent on the top of the English Premier League table