Adebayor’s sixth goal in as many league games gave Spurs, who remain two points ahead of Chelsea with a game in hand, an early lead [GALLO/GETTY]

England captain John Terry produced a trademark block to spare Chelsea defeat in a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League on Thursday, in his first match since he was charged by UK prosecutors with racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

Centre-back Terry got in the way of a goalbound shot from Emmanuel Adebayor in stoppage time at White Hart Lane to ensure a point for the visitors.

The draw left Spurs third in the English Premier League table, two points in front of their London rivals, after Adebayor's opener was cancelled out by an equaliser from Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge.

And it meant Spurs were nine points adrift of leaders Manchester City and Chelsea 11 shy of the table-toppers.

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Chelsea skipper Terry was, inevitably, booed by the home fans in this London derby.

And in the eighth minute he failed to cut out a cross from Gareth Bale, a mistake compounded by goalkeeper Petr Cech's failure to gather the centre and that allowed Adebayor to score.

But Chelsea were level in the 23rd minute when Sturridge arrived to turn in a low cross from Ashley Cole, which came in after Spurs midfielder Rafael van der Vaart had deflected the ball onto the full-back's hand.

However, despite shouts of handball from Tottenham players, 2010 World Cup final referee Howard Webb allowed the goal to stand.

Chelsea were nearly 2-1 up before the break when Didier Drogba's fierce shot came back off the angle of post and bar.

Bale, with six minutes left, screwed a first-time shot wide and soon afterwards Spurs's former Chelsea defender William Gallas was off-target from a corner.

But Chelsea's Ramires then wasted a great chance when, unmarked, he headed wide from a free-kick.