Chelsea coach Avram Grant admitted his side need to beat Everton and Manchester United to keep their dwindling title dreams alive.The Blues are five points adrift of the leaders with four matches to play after failing to overcome Wigan in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.

Michael Essien looked to have earned the hosts three vital points with a 55th-minute strike but Emile Heskey pounced in added time to put a massive dent in Chelsea's title hopes.

Chelsea play Everton at Goodison Park on Thursday and United at home on April 26 and Grant knows victory in both games is vital.

United could even win the title at Stamford Bridge if results go their way in the interim.

"We need to win the games against Everton and Manchester United," admitted the Chelsea boss. "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 today 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.

"We know at some stage you can lose the points but we didn't want it to happen today.

"First half we didn't play good but it was one of our best performances in the second half but you need to score a second goal.

"It is very disappointing. The fans need to respect the football we played even though we didn't win the game.

"We have played good football in many games and created a lot of chances but we don't use them so much."

Grant's problems were heightened by the loss of Didier Drogba through injury and Frank Lampard because of a family illness.

Lampard was called away at the last moment and Grant believes that may have had an effect on his side's performance.

Drogba will have a scan on his injured knee tomorrow to assess the damage but Grant was unable to say whether either player will be available for 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.

"Didier will have a scan tomorrow and we will see. We will wait and see with Frank as well."

Grant made seven changes - five of them unforced - but the Israeli coach insisted he was right to make them.

"I do it all the time," said Grant. "We are at the end of the season and you need to keep players fresh.

"We have a big squad and it is not the first time we have played with this team."

Chelsea were furious when the Premier League brought their game against Everton forward two days to Thursday night and the ruling could well have a major bearing on the outcome of the title. Yet Grant refused to hit out at the decision.

"We now play two games in three days," said Grant. "But this is the decision and we will do our best.

"I didn't like the decision but I don't want to say anything because we played well today. We needed to win the game."

Wigan boss and former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce could not stop his phone vibrating with text messages from friends after he virtually gifted Sir Alex Ferguson's side the title.

Emile Heskey's injury-time equaliser helped Wigan's fight for top flight survival but gave Bruce's former employers the biggest lift of all.

"I am genuinely more pleased for us that we have picked up a point," said the Latics boss.

"Of

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