Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari was left struggling for an explanation after his Premier League title-chasing side dropped more points at their once impregnable Stamford Bridge home.

Sunday's 1-1 London derby stalemate against West Ham was the Blues' fourth home league draw this season and meant they failed to leapfrog Liverpool into first place in the table, instead staying a point behind the Merseysiders.

West Ham took the lead through Wales striker Craig Bellamy's 33rd minute effort before Nicolas Anelka equalized for Chelsea six minutes after half-time with his 100th Premier League goal.

"It was a difficult game for us, we had more time with the ball but we scored only one goal and I think if we have more quality in the last (third) we win this game," Scolari told Sky Sports.

Earlier this season Chelsea surrendered their 86-game unbeaten home league record to Liverpool and were subsequently defeated at Stamford Bridge by London rivals Arsenal.

"When we play here it's different than the way we play away, we have more space away," added former Brazil boss Scolari, on the touchline after an overnight kidney stone operation.

"Maybe we are now thinking 'this is not our home' and we're not scoring goals and I don't know what happens."

Scolari, also a former manager of Portugal, kept Didier Drogba on the bench rather than start him alongside Anelka and said there were sound reasons for not playing both forwards from the kick-off.

"It's dangerous because I lose my midfield. I need them training many times more together."

The draw saw West Ham move a point clear of the relegation zone after a hard-fought away draw.

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola, the former Chelsea forward, said he had been overwhelmed by the reception he received on his return to Stamford Bridge in an era where 'old boys' are often jeered by those who once adored them.

"The first 10-15 minutes I couldn't understand what was going on, the crowd was singing my name. It's fantastic to see they don't forget you. It was unbelievable," the Italian said.

Zola was delighted with his team's response following their defeat on Monday against Tottenham Hotspur in another all-London clash.

"My team was excellent, they really played well," Zola added. "At one point I was thinking maybe we could get something more but it was a tough match.

"We know it's not a great time for us but we are confident and we believe in ourselves. We want to go out and show what we can do. The way we did it today was the right way."

In the closing stages Chelsea were denied a penalty when Frank Lampard, who began his career at West Ham, was brought down in the box by Australia defender Lucas Neill.

"Yes there was contact but I don't think I could have got out of the way," Neill said. "I think the ref (Mike Riley) did really well."

Neill, whose side might have won the game in stoppage time when former Chelsea forward Carlton Cole saw his shot saved by Petr Cech when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, was frustrated by the way the Hammers let the Blues back into the match.

"As always we shot ourselves in the foot," he added.

(AFP via China Daily December 16, 2008)