Chelsea winger Juan Mata has admitted that Chelsea needed more than a draw after being held by Fulham, but he has backed misfiring striker Fernando Torres to come good.

The Blues are looking to get back into the title race after falling off the pace during the first part of the season, and they were desperate to beat their capital rivals on Boxing Day.

Mata opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge but Clint Dempsey quickly replied for the Cottagers and Chelsea were thwarted by a magnificent performance from Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale as the game ended 1-1.

The result left Chelsea 11 points adrift of leaders Manchester City and Manchester United, and Andre Villas-Boas later admitted it would now be very difficult for his side to win the league.

Mata was similarly downbeat in his assessment saying "My goal wasn't enough and we are very disappointed with the point because we needed three points. .

"'We had so many chances to score, particularly in the last 15 minutes with Fernando, with Didier [Drogba] and with Raul [Meireles], but it wasn't enough. For sure, their goalkeeper made some very good saves so congratulations to him."

Mata added: "We tried to move the ball quickly but it is difficult when the other team has a lot of players behind the ball and it was difficult for us to find the spaces."

Torres has endured a torrid 2011 since joining Chelsea from Liverpool in January and again drew a blank against Fulham after being given the opportunity to start ahead of Drogba.

However, Mata insists that his Spanish compatriot is doing everything he can to try and click back into gear.

"Fernando had a good movement to score earlier in the first half but the keeper saved as well, but Fernando is working hard every day in training and for sure the goal arrives soon," said Mata.

"Fernando always has the goals and for sure for Chelsea he has to score a lot of goals."

Chelsea could drop out of the top four if Arsenal beat Wolves on Tuesday and Mata accepts that it is important to bounce back against Aston Villa on New Year's Eve.

"It is going to be very difficult because there are a lot of teams and they are having very good seasons like Arsenal, like Tottenham, like Liverpool so we have to fight," said Mata.

"Our next game is another that we have to win but Aston Villa is a very good team. We wanted to achieve the six points in our two home games but against Fulham we got one, and we hope to win three points against Aston Villa."