Hull City 1 Chelsea 1:Didier Drogba marked his return from African Nations Cup duty by notching his 20th goal of the season to spare Chelsea's blushes against lowly Hull.
All eyes were, inevitably, on John Terry in his second match since allegations over his private life were made public but it was Hull centre-back Steven Mouyokolo who grabbed the limelight by heading the Premier League strugglers in front.
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.
But the result must be viewed as a setback for the Blues who squandered the chance to move four points clear of Manchester United in the title race.
Chelsea have 55 points from 24 games with United on 53. Third-placed Arsenal, who play at Chelsea at the weekend, are on 49 points.
Hull, one of four sides on 21 points, remain in the relegation zone on goal difference.
In tonight’s FA Cup action Notts County caused a major upset at the DW Stadium as two late goals saw them defeat Wigan 2-0 and book a place in the FA Cup fifth round.
Having survived a series of Wigan attempts on goal, League Two County took a shock lead with 15 minutes to go as Stephen Hunt headed home Ben Davies' corner.
Gary Caldwell then scored an own goal three minutes later to leave the Premier League side stunned and the Magpies looking forward to a trip to Fulham in a week on Sunday.
Makeshift striker Danny Butterfield grabbed a stunning six-minute hat-trick to dump Wolves out of the FA Cup and hand Crystal Palace a huge financial boost.
The Eagles, in administration with debts of more than €34million, set up a lucrative fifth-round visit from Aston Villa courtesy of Butterfield's treble in a 3-1 victory.
The popular right-back Neil Warnock has thrust into attack in his mix-and-match line-up had scored just one goal in the last six seasons.
But he was the unlikeliest of heroes as Warnock's side continue to defy the odds.
Selected Cross-Channel Results
Premier League
Hull 1 Chelsea 1
FA Cup Fourth Round replay
Crystal Palace 3 Wolverhampton 1
Wigan 0 Notts County 2
Scottish Premier League
Aberdeen 0 Falkirk 1
Kilmarnock 1 Celtic 0
Scottish League Cup Semi-Final
Hearts 0 St Mirren 1