Graphic: Drogba's deep impact

As everyone else tightens their belts, Richard Scudamore, the chief executive of the Premier League, could be forgiven for enjoying a luxuriant Christmas feast. The league’s cheerleaders have claimed for some time that it is the most competitive in the world, an outlandish boast that is finally ringing true. Either that or the leading clubs are secretly engaged in a bizarre non-aggression pact as they continue to drop points like desperate retailers slashing prices. Selling the Premier League’s next set of television rights, by contrast, should not prove a problem as viewers are treated to the closest title race and relegation battle for several years.

With respect to the admirable challenge of Aston Villa, the top four from last season are likely to remain the same, though they could yet finish in any order. All four have problems to overcome, with Chelsea’s the most intriguing as their turnaround has been the most dramatic. The best home record in English football history has deteriorated to such an extent that their form on their own ground this season is worse than Stoke City’s, with 14 points slipping through their grasp already. Chelsea’s most recent home league win was a 5-0 demolition over Sunderland six weeks ago, with their last commanding performance against threatening opposition a victory over Villa at the start of October. Given such results, it was little wonder that they were booed off at the end against West Ham United and even Luiz Felipe Scolari, the manager, agreed with the punters’ considered opinion.

Scolari’s pale demeanour and hesitant manner were not solely because of his hospitalisation on Saturday night with kidney stones, as he contemplates ongoing problems on the pitch that could be equally painful. With even Roman Abramovich, the club’s owner, short of money, there will be no quick fix in the transfer window, either, and the Brazilian accepts that he must work with what he has.

Didier Drogba’s introduction as a second-half substitute brought some improvement after a dire first half in which they fell behind to Craig Bellamy’s second goal of a largely disappointing season, yet there remained more questions than answers. Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Joe Cole failed to gel as a front three, as Scolari conceded, and Deco’s contribution was minimal, a verdict that the manager found harder to accept.

Such was the lack of invention from a misfiring midfield that Chelsea resorted to launching long balls towards the end, a desperate tactic that brought little reward. Robert Green was by far the busier goalkeeper in the second half, making an outstanding save from a header by Alex and two more routine ones from Frank Lampard, but the best chance fell to Carlton Cole in injury time, only for the former Chelsea striker to shoot tamely at Petr Cech. “I was thinking, ‘Chip it over, chip it over the goalkeeper,’ ” said Gianfranco Zola, a far more assured finisher who relished his return to Stamford Bridge as the West Ham manager.

To linger too long on Chelsea’s deficiencies would be unfair on West Ham and particularly Zola, who deserves immense credit for formulating a bold game plan. The 42-year-old took a wrong turn before kick-off by visiting the home dressing-room, but given his friendship with Abramovich it is not too outlandish to suggest that he could return one day as manager, even if he needs more results like this.

It has long been a source of bemusement that West Ham’s East End boys are paid West End salaries, but for once their big earners justified their pay packets. Scott Parker was outstanding, Bellamy used his pace to give John Terry a difficult afternoon and Lucas Neill was flawless apart from a challenge on Lampard that could have given Chelsea a penalty.

Scolari will have to earn his money in the next few weeks, as a lack of penetration has been exacerbated by defensive frailties that were shown up when West Ham took the lead, Mark Noble controlling Herita Ilunga’s bouncing throw-in with his shoulder before crossing for Bellamy to score. Scolari’s complaints about a handball were groundless.

Chelsea’s equaliser showed that they can still play the one-touch stuff that was their hallmark at the start of the season, but it was all too rare. John Obi Mikel found Drogba, who shipped the ball on with his first touch to Lampard, whose angled pass left Anelka one-on-one with Green. The France striker scored his sixteenth goal of the season and Scolari must find a way of pairing him with Drogba if he is to end the slump.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): P Cech 6 - J Bosingwa 5, Alex 5, J Terry 5, A Cole 6 - J 0 Mikel 6 - J Cole 5, M Ballack 5, F Lampard 6, Deco 4 - N Anelka 6. Substitutes: D Drogba 6 (for Ballack, 45min), S Kalou (for J Cole, 75), J Belletti (for Mikel, 79). Not used: H Hilário, B Ivanovic, W Bridge, P Ferreira. Next: Everton (a).

West Ham (4-4-2): R Green 6 - L Neill 6, C Davenport 6, M Upson 6, H Ilunga 6 - J Collison 6, S Parker 6, M Noble 6, V Behrami 7 - C Bellamy 7, C Cole 5. Substitutes: H Mullins (for Noble, 72min), L Boa Morte (for Collison, 87), D Di Michele (for Bellamy, 90). Not used: J Lastuvka, J Faubert, D Tristán, F Sears. Next: Aston Villa (h).

Referee: M Riley Attendance: 41,675

Transfer targets

Chelsea

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s need for extra creativity is obvious, but he may have to be content with a loan signing such as Vágner Love, of CSKA Moscow.

West Ham United

Carlton Cole’s miss demonstrated Gianfranco Zola’s need for a striker, but he needs to sell to buy.