United are now five points clear at the top after fighting back from two goals down to beat Everton 4-2 at Goodison Park and with just three games to play, Sir Alex Ferguson's side are favourites to land the crown.

A second-half equaliser from Kevin Davies pegged Chelsea back and despite all their late pressure, Mourinho's side had to settle for a share of spoils in a 2-2 draw.

Mourinho declared: "I feel sad but I have a big game on Tuesday night and that's a good thing in this situation. We have no time to be sad.

"But it is almost lost, almost. In football, almost is always a big question mark. It is not over because mathematically there is a chance and when the chance is there, we have to believe and chase the opportunity you have.

"At this moment we have to win and we have to wait. It is much more difficult. Manchester United, in this moment, feel very, very close. They have to lose two games and we have to win all three.

"They don't feel pressure and feel quite confident. They can come to Stamford Bridge, lose and still be champions.

"They are very, very close to it. But we win things as a team and we lose as a team. We do it together in both the good and bad moments."

Bolton failed to quell rising speculation that manager Sam Allardyce will leave the club in the summer by sending assistant Sammy Lee to face the media after the game.

Allardyce is understood to have told chairman Phil Gartside he intends to quit the Reebok Stadium this summer.

But Lee said: "It's just speculation. But Sam has been ill and he didn't travel down with the team - he came down this morning. So that is one of the reasons for my appearance.

"At the moment, as far as we are concerned, it is only speculation. As soon as we know anything about that, we'll let everyone know."

The speculation certainly did not seem to affect Bolton's players who recovered from Chelsea's first-half fightback to snatch the vital leveller.

Lee added: "There's a misconception going around about Bolton. We don't feel we get the credit we deserve.

"But we are just trying to get as high up the table as we possibly can. We are desperate to get into the Uefa Cup and delighted to get another point today. We got into their faces a bit more in the second half."

But while Mourinho had almost conceded the title to Manchester United, Lee insisted that everything was still to play for.

He added: "Until it is mathematically impossible, I am sure Chelsea will keep on fighting.

"I have too much respect for both teams and there is still a lot of football to be played."

Bolton went ahead in the 19th minute and although Chelsea hit back to lead by half-time, Davies stunned the home crowd with the all-important leveller in the 54th minute.

Mourinho had made six changes as he prepared for the Champions League semi-final return leg against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night.

But after a bright opening, the biggest cheer was reserved for news of Everton's opening goal against United at Goodison Park.

But the cheers were soon reduced to deathly hush as Bolton took a shock lead.

Andranik Teymourian's free-kick caused panic in the Chelsea defence and when Chelsea failed to clear their lines the ball fell to Lubomir Michalik to fire past Petr Cech.

But Chelsea's remarkable fighting spirit hauled them level just two minutes later when Salomon Kalou met a cross from Wayne Bridge and glanced the ball beyond the stranded Jussi Jaaskelainen.

But Chelsea were rocked in the 29th minute by the loss of defender Ricardo Carvalho.

Carvalho, who shook off a hamstring injury in time to play against Liverpool in the Champions League last Wednesday, appeared to suffer a recurrence of the problem.

He was replaced by England midfielder Frank Lampard with Michael Essien switching to the centre of defence alongside England captain John Terry.

Carvalho must now be a major doubt for the semi-final return against Liverpool although Essien is capable of playing in his role.

Chelsea should have gone in front on the half-hour but a stunning volley from Andriy Shevchenko was tipped over the bar by Jaaskelainen and then Essien fired wide from Lampard's corner when the Bolton 'keeper had completely missed the flag kick.

The home side were now in totally control and it was only a matter of time before the second goal arrived. It came via the foot of goalkeeper Jaaskelainen in the 33rd minute.

Kalou rose highest to meet Lampard's corner at the far post and when his header came down off the bar it appeared to go into the net off Jaaskelainen.

Chelsea were incessant with their attacks but Bolton still had enough guile in the final third to keep the home side alert.

A minute before the interval, Bolton won a corner on the right but Cech used his experience to meet the ball and punch clear.

Chelsea made a further change at the interval with Didier Drogba replacing Andriy Shevchenko in attack.

In the 48th minute Kevin Davies was booked for a late challenge on Mikel John Obi and moments later Shaun Wright-Phillips sent a 20-yard shot flashing just wide of the Bolton goal.

But in the 54th minute Bolton were level through Davies who headed home Tal's free-kick on the edge of the six-yard box with Cech stranded.

The shock goal was soon forgotten by the home fans though who cheered loudly once more as news of Everton's second goal against Manchester United filtered through to them.

In the 57th minute Drogba almost restored Chelsea's lead but his free-kick went inches over the crossbar.

The game had now reached a critical stage as far as Chelsea were concerned as they had to ensure they made the most of United's woes at Goodison.

Mourinho, always a man to be relied upon when it comes to making the most of his substitutions, sent on Joe Cole in place of Lassana Diarra on the hour.

It was designed to put more pressure on Bolton's withering defence and moments later he was involved in the build-up which led to a Drogba shot flashing across the face of the goal.

In the 64th minute, Cole sent a 20-yard drive just wide of the right-hand upright as Chelsea exerted more pressure on the Bolton defence.

Chelsea poured forward in search of a winner but Bolton's rearguard refused to buckle.

The home were left stunned by news of United's fightback and Chelsea's efforts to score the winner grew more frantic.

Drogba, Kalou and Cole all went close to scoring but, for once, Chelsea's remarkable fighting spirit deserted them and the title now looks certain to be heading to Old Trafford.