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London - Chelsea's Premier League title challenge is fading after the Blues were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton on Wednesday. Guus Hiddink's side couldn't break down a stubborn Everton rearguard action at Stamford Bridge and look destined to miss out on the English crown for a third successive season. The west London club are six points behind leaders Manchester United, who returned to the top of the table with a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth, and Sir Alex Ferguson's team can make the gap nine points with a win in their game in hand.
After being frustrated by Everton, Chelsea will see the Champions League, where they face Barcelona in the semi-finals, and the FA Cup as their best hopes of giving Hiddink a successful send-off before he returns to his role as Russia coach on a full-time basis. Judging by the evidence of this FA Cup final dress rehersal, Chelsea will have to raise their game considerably to beat David Moyes' team at Wembley.
Moyes' men arrived in west London basking in the afterglow of Sunday's victory over United, which booked their first FA Cup final appearance for 14 years. In a bid to combat the debilitating effects of extra-time at Wembley, Moyes made four changes to his team, with defender Phil Jagielka, scorer of the winning penalty in the shoot-out, relegated to the bench.
It was Chelsea who looked more lethargic in the first half. The Blues' defence has been surprisingly porous of late and they were exposed again in the early stages. Jo tested Petr Cech with a header from Steven Pienaar's cross before the visitors created an even better chance. Tim Cahill's pass dissected Chelsea's defence and Jo surged onto it. The goal was at his mercy but the Brazilian shot too close to Cech.
Hiddink's side finally threatened when Frank Lampard, playing his 50th game of the season, drove a swerving strike just over the crossbar.
But Chelsea were still struggling to impose their usual high-tempo style and Pienaar, Everton's South African midfielder, bent a long-range shot past the far post.
Jo was causing no end of problems and he took up a clever position wide on the left before picking out Cahill. The Australian turned and hit a low shot on target but Cech made a sprawling stop. Another astute Pienaar pass gave Jo a sight of goal just before the break, but he slipped and shot wide as John Terry made a last-ditch attempt to block.
Hiddink's half-time team-talk didn't seem to have the desired effect as Everton went close again when Cahill met Lars Jacobsen's cross with a diving header that forced Cech to save.
Didier Drogba has been revitalised under Hiddink but the Ivorian made little impact against Joseph Yobo and Joleon Lescott. His one contribution was a neat flick to put Nicolas Anelka through, but the Chelsea forward shot tamely wide. Hiddink had seen enough and sent on John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou for Anelka and Michael Essien.
At last there were signs of life from the Blues. Terry tried to raise his team with a fierce shot from 35 yards which Tim Howard pushed away for a corner. Kalou should have broken the deadlock with 15 minutes to go but he headed over from Ashley Cole's cross. Chelsea kept going until the end and Howard made a finger-tip stop to push over Kalou's rasping drive.
There was one last chance as Drogba rattled the crossbar in stoppage time but Chelsea's time had run out.
