"IT isn't over until the fat lady sings, " crowed the Stamford Bridge PA announcer at half-time. With Chelsea winning and Manchester United losing he felt able to make such a fate-tempting declaration. But, oh dear, what a second 45 minutes, as the Premiership champions crumbled. Now the corpulent one is warming up that larynx . . . and we're not talking about "Big Sam" Allardyce in the shower . . . although as a job advert for a man set to leave Bolton Wanderers this summer drawing here was some statement. Especially as it was achieved without six first-choice players.

For Jose Mourinho it was a statement also. But not one he wanted. By the end his team was running on empty, losing their pattern, playing as individuals but not taking responsibility. They had plenty of time to score after being pegged back but frittered it away. To add to insult there was injury with Ricardo Carvalho damaging a knee.

According to Mourinho he will certainly miss Tuesday's Champions League semi-final against Liverpool and there was further encouragement for Rafael Benitez in the manner that Chelsea conceded their goals . . . both from freekicks. Even Mourinho's plans to rest players . . . Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Joe Cole . . . back-fired as he needed to throw on all three.

But the key question was the title race. Obviously there was no concession but it was clear from Mourinho's mood and body language that he believes it all but over.

Asked whether the Manchester United are champions elect, he merely spoke of need to keep faith. "Practically there is a chance and when the chance is there you have to believe. You have to chase the opportunity you have and you have to wait for things."

But waiting for things is not in his nature. He wants to make them happen. And yet, as the minutes ticked away with his team struggling, Mourinho, for once, looked dispirited while his assistants took the unusual step of sitting on the pitch-side tarmac.

They, too, looked spent. It was an unusual message.

But then, in sapping heat, it was an unusual match. It began with all eyes on Allardyce who later ducked the post-match press conference and questions over his future by sending in his assistant Sammy Lee who said his boss was feeling ill.

On the pitch, Bolton drew first blood when Idan Tal tapped a free-kick to Andranik Teymourian who swung the ball in. It was met by Meite. His header thudded against Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel only for the rebound to fall to Lubomir Michalik who prodded it in. It was the first goal Chelsea had conceded at home in the Premiership this year.

Michalik, a young Slovakian defender acquired in January, was involved in two other crucial incidents. First he allowed Salomon Kalou to steal in front and reach Wayne Bridge's excellent cross to guide a diving header beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen and draw Chelsea level.

Then, he collided with Carvalho as the ball ran free on half-way to cause the injury to the Portuguese defender. It was all the more maddening for Mourinho as the referee had already stopped play to book Ricardo Gardner for a wild lunge at Shaun WrightPhillips. Chelsea brushed aside the loss although it spoke volumes for the lack of faith Mourinho has in Khalid Boulahrouz, a specialist centre-half, that he preferred to bring on Lampard and shift Essien back.

It appeared to matter little as Kalou won a corner, Lampard delivered, and the Ivorian's header clattered off the bar only to divert in off Jaaskelainen. An own goal but it was hard on Kalou who deserved what would have been a 10th goal of the season.

But just as Chelsea were expected to cruise to the finish, they allowed Bolton back in. Tal centred for Davies to lose Essien and nod the ball beyond Petr Cech. Suddenly the tune had changed.