Grant Refuses to Give Up Title Chase

The Chelsea manager Avram Grant insists his side can still win the Premier League despite only managing a 1-1 draw against Wigan at Stamford Bridge last night.

Chelsea are now five points behind league leaders Manchester United with just four matches left to play, after Emile Heskey's injury-time strike canceled out Michael Essien's 55th-minute opener. They play Everton at Goodison Park on Thursday night and United at home on April 26 and Grant knows victory in both games is vital.

"We need to win the games against Everton and Manchester United," admitted Grant. "If not, it will be more difficult. We are still in it and we will keep on fighting but we need one more bad result off Manchester United.

"The result did not help us but I thought the second half was one of our best performances from the footballing point of view. Every three or four minutes we created chances but their goalkeeper gave an excellent performance. This is football though; when you don't score the other team does."

Grant was deprived of striker Didier Drogba last night following a recurrence of his recent knee trouble and midfielder Frank Lampard was called away at the last moment because of a family illness. Drogba will have a scan on his knee later today to assess the damage but both may miss Thursday's clash with Everton. "It is a personal matter with Frank and I would prefer to leave it at that," said Grant. "I didn't like the first half but I think the players were a bit in shock because one of our best players had to leave the team at the last moment, which is understandable."

The Wigan manager and former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce said he had been inundated with calls and texts after the game.

"The phone in the pocket is going off repeatedly and there are a few friends in Manchester who will be absolutely delighted but I am very pleased for our supporters and players," he said. "There was a 20-minute spell when Joe Cole came on and nearly blew us away but [Chris Kirkland] made two or three great saves and in the end we managed to get something out of the game.

"I more pleased for us than my mates in Manchester. [Sir Alex Ferguson] texted me before the game and he has phoned me four times in four months - twice before playing Arsenal and twice before we played Chelsea."