Didier Drogba celebrated his return from the African Cup of Nations by scoring his 20th goal for Chelsea against Hull City last night, saving at least a point from the match.

Hull centre-back Steven Mouyokolo headed the Barclays Premier League strugglers in front, but Drogba, in his first Blues match for a month, snared a point for the table-toppers when he drilled home a contested free-kick just before the interval.

Hull started confidently, winning corners on the left and right inside two minutes.

Chelsea repelled them safely but Stephen Hunt’s delivery looked dangerous and the home side were assured in the opening minutes.

In the ninth minute Frank Lampard had the first chance of the match, capping a nice passing move with a swerving shot at goal. Boaz Myhill could only parry it to Nicolas Anelka 10 yards out but the Frenchman fluffed his finish.

Drogba was also off-target as he blazed wide soon after.

Hunt was looking dangerous down the left for Hull and Branislav Ivanovic appeared unsettled by the bustling Irishman.

Chelsea should have taken the lead 25 minutes in when Deco’s crossfield ball set Ivanovic free on the right and he arrowed a cross into the Hull area. Michael Ballack timed his run perfectly but headed tamely and straight at Myhill from close range.

Hull continued to give as good as they got, though, with crosses from Hunt and George Boateng both causing problems.

It was, then, no great surprise when Mouyokolo outjumped a number of Chelsea defenders to head home Hunt’s 29th-minute corner.

Anelka and Deco failed to beat Myhill with low drives as Chelsea fought back and Anthony Gardner made good ground to dispossess Drogba as he shaped to shoot.

With three minutes to go before the break the Ivorian striker lashed home the equaliser with a free-kick from just outside the penalty area.

Gardner missed a glorious chance to restore the lead before the break when he headed Tom Cairney’s flighted free-kick over from just a couple of yards.

John Terry was booked a minute after the restart for an ungainly leap with Jozy Altidore and it was almost a costly foul.

Hunt again sent in the cross and Altidore was left free in the box six yards out. He stooped to head goalwards but it looped up softly off the back of his head.

Ivanovic forced another parried save from Myhill in the 50th minute but when the loose ball was cut back across goal Lampard skied his shot.

There was more to worry about for Hull as the hour-mark approached. First Drogba and then Terry drew Myhill into action with strong headed efforts as the hosts failed to clear a corner.

Five minutes later Amr Zaki came off the bench for his second Tigers appearance and immediately had some joy as he got the better of Yuri Zhirkov to reach the byline.

Ancelotti introduced a fresh playmaker of his own with 19 minutes to play, Joe Cole replacing the off-colour Ballack.

Chelsea’s defending at set-pieces continued to falter as Hunt and Mouyokolo combined again with a near-post corner, though this time the defender headed wide.

Drogba was also off-target in the 77th minute, heading over Ivanovic’s curling delivery as last man Myhill charged off his line.

Drogba was booked late on for a frustrated flick at Paul McShane and Myhill ensured the Tigers held on to a valuable point as he stretched to save Daniel Sturridge’s late strike.

Source + Pic: premierleague.com

Tags: chelsea, Drogba, Hull City