How Chelsea must hate Tottenham Hotspur. Beaten by them in the Carling Cup final at Wembley last month, it was the North London side who again thwarted their ambitions, this time in the Barclays Premier League and in an astonishing eight-goal extravaganza at White Hart Lane last night.

Chelsea led three times — once by 3-1 midway in the second half — but had to settle for a draw when Robbie Keane curled home a shot from 20 yards in the 88th minute. After playing catch-up with Arsenal for much of the season, they would have moved level on points with them in second place had they held on for victory.

Instead, they will have to wait until Sunday, when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge. With Manchester United playing Liverpool at Old Trafford, on the same day, the top-of-the-table scrap could take on a completely different complexion by Monday morning. The title race is far from over.

Yet it might have been so much worse for Chelsea, with Tottenham — 2-1 winners after extra time at Wembley — going agonisingly close to stealing a remarkable win in the last throes of stoppage time. Dimitar Berbatov’s close-range shot was destined for the net until Carlo Cudicini, the goalkeeper, stuck out an arm. “We could have won it,” Juande Ramos, the Tottenham head coach, said, still in a state of some disbelief.

And it could have been so much worse for Chelsea had Ashley Cole, the England left back, been sent off — as he should have been — shortly before half-time for a studs-up challenge on Alan Hutton, the Tottenham right back. That Mike Riley, the referee, opted for a yellow card rather than a red spared Cole a suspension.

Cole’s reaction to the incident was inexcusable, too. He turned his back on Riley, and it was not exactly the example to set, the day after the FA had announced its £200 million-worth of investment in grassroots football. The showing of greater respect to referees is one of its key objectives.

Still, having done more than enough to win, with Joe Cole imperious in front of Fabio Capello, the England manager, Chelsea will fight another day. “There were so many positives to take from the game but, in the end, it was disappointing,” Avram Grant, the first-team coach, said. “At least we are closer to Arsenal than before.”

Grant was roundly criticised for his starting line-up at Wembley, mostly for deploying Nicolas Anelka out of position on the left flank and for leaving Joe Cole and Michael Ballack on the bench for too long. Last night, Joe Cole started, Ballack was among the substitutes and Anelka was left out because of a thigh injury.

Grant made six changes from the side that so underperformed at Wembley and, after three minutes, was rewarded when Chelsea went ahead. Didier Drogba battered a free kick into the defensive wall but Claude Makelele regained possession and released John Terry on the edge of the area. The Chelsea captain crossed to the far post and Drogba, running in alone, was allowed to head past Paul Robinson. For all Tottenham’s attacking splendour, their defensive deficiencies were laid bare again. And Chelsea, with revenge on their minds, appeared to be in the mood for it.

Strangely, though, they failed to build on their advantage. Ramos fielded the same team that had beaten Chelsea last month and it was Jonathan Woodgate, who scored the injury-time winner to secure the 2-1 victory on that occasion, who returned to haunt them with another header. This time, Woodgate did not need the good fortune of the ball hitting him in the face. Jermaine Jenas slung over a curling free kick from the right and Woodgate rose high above Drogba to send a looping header over Cudicini.

Chelsea were quick to respond. Joe Cole wriggled his way towards the home area, with barely a challenge, and passed the ball for Michael Essien comfortably to chip in.

Ashley Cole’s lunge at Hutton brought the half to a shuddering halt and prompted heated exchanges among the occupants of both benches.

Their passion undimmed, Chelsea stretched their lead after the break. There was only one outcome when Joe Cole latched on to Salomon Kalou’s pass and rounded Pascal Chimbonda. As Robinson came out, Cole guided the ball in off the goalkeeper’s body.

Game over? By no means. Tottenham bucked up their ideas and pushed forward, more in desperation than by design. Tom Huddlestone swung over a corner from the right and Berbatov, making his first real contribution to the game, headed beyond Cudicini.

Worse was to follow for Chelsea when Huddlestone slammed in the equaliser in the 74th minute. However, Joe Cole quickly responded when he left Chimbonda standing again and drove his shot over Robinson into the roof of the net. Keane’s late equaliser only provided another twist in what is becoming a fascinating race to the top.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2): P Robinson — A Hutton, J Woodgate, L King (sub: D Bent, 69min), P Chimbonda — A Lennon, D Zokora, J Jenas (sub: T Huddlestone, 46), S Malbranque — R Keane, D Berbatov. Substitutes not used: R Cerny, T Tainio, M Dawson. Booked: Keane, Huddlestone.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): C Cudicini — P Ferreira (sub: A Shevchenko, 89), R Carvalho, J Terry, A Cole — C Makelele — J Cole (sub: M Ballack, 83), M Essien, F Lampard, S Kalou (sub: Alex, 71) — D Drogba. Substitutes not used: Hilário, Wright-Phillips. Booked: J Cole, A Cole.

Referee: M Riley.