Wigan Athletic's Ronnie Stam (right) challenges Chelsea's Didier Drogba during their English Premier League match at the DW Stadium in Wigan, northern England, on Saturday. The teams drew 1-1. [Phil Noble / Reuters]

Gritty Wigan holds Blues to a 1-1 draw at DW Stadium with late strike

WIGAN, England - Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas maintains his team's confidence will not be dented by its late slip in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Wigan.

The Blues had the chance to move within four points of leader Manchester City at the DW Stadium and it took the lead through Daniel Sturridge, only for Jordi Gomez to equalize with three minutes left.

Chelsea, who beat City 2-1 on Monday, passed up the chance to win four consecutive games for the first time under Villas-Boas.

The Stamford Bridge club has received plenty of criticism for its performances since the arrival of the Portuguese in the summer.

But he insisted another slip-up would not affect the mood of the club, as it prepares to travel to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham on Thursday.

"We conceded a goal towards the end that was disappointing and it prevented us from getting the three points we expected and it's a pity because the players worked hard for three points," he said.

"But the confidence won't be affected. We'll have to wait for Sunday's games to see how the title race is affected and we might drop points back from the leaders.

"I don't think it undoes the positivity we had created. Wigan is a different Wigan because it has momentum from its recent results."

Sturridge's effort took him to nine goals for the season and he has now scored four in his past five.

But Villas-Boas is adamant the former Manchester City striker, who has just broken into the England squad, is not carrying the team's hopes on his shoulders.

Villas Boas said: "He had a good game and everybody has been playing well.

"We're on a good run of confidence again. It's not affected but it is a shame that we didn't get three points because that might have changed the perspective on how we look in the league table.

"We have to continue to wait for the December fixtures and to have as many points as possible. We have a difficult game against Tottenham, an exciting game in perspective, two opponents that are close in the table, two title challengers."

Villas-Boas expects Brazilian midfielder Ramires to return from a dead leg he sustained in the win over City when his team travels to Tottenham.

He also played down concerns that John Terry and Frank Lampard, who received respective knee and head knocks, could be doubtful.

Wigan has now picked up seven points from its past four matches as it prepares for another tough run of fixtures over the festive period.

Roberto Martinez's team hosts Liverpool, whose manager Kenny Dalglish was at the DW Stadium, on Wednesday before heading to Old Trafford on the following Monday.

Agence France-Presse