Ciaran Clark saved the day for Aston Villa after snatching a stoppage-time goal against Chelsea to seal a 3-3 draw.
Villa man's last-gasp equaliser adds to Chelsea's woe
Ciaran Clark saved the day for Aston Villa after snatching a stoppage time goal against Chelsea to seal a 3-3 draw.
The reigning Premier League champions thought they had three points in the bag after John Terry found the back of the net in the 89th minute to put them 3-2 ahead.
But Villa, who fought hard all afternoon with an encouraging display at Stamford Bridge, were able to clinch a much-needed point as substitute Marc Albrighton floated in a superb cross to allow Clark to nod home a cool late equaliser.
Frank Lampard put Chelsea ahead with a penalty early on after James Collins brought down Florent Malouda in the area, but Ashley Young responded from the spot for Villa following a reckless tackle from Michael Essien on Nigel Reo-Coker.
Emile Heskey, who contributed a dangerous display, added another for the visitors soon after the break and although Chelsea applied serious pressure until Terry broke through, Clark was able to earn Villa a share of the spoils.
Boost
The draw provides a much-needed boost for Villa, with Gerard Houllier's men dangerously close to the relegation zone, while the Blues remain outside the top four and will be left rueing what could have been a crucial win.
The result left Chelsea marooned in fifth place, six points behind Manchester United having played a game more, and crucially outside the Champions League places.
That will place manager Carlo Ancelotti's position under fresh scrutiny, while opposite number Houllier may enjoy some respite after ending a run of six defeats in seven games.
Chelsea began today's match buoyed from ending their worst set of results for 11 years in Wednesday night's ugly 1-0 win over Bolton.
But for all their early possession, they once again lacked any real penetration.
Jeffrey Bruma - making his full Premier League debut - saw a header from a corner blocked but the better chances all fell to Villa, with Gabriel Agbonlahor, Young and Stewart Downing all going close.
But a sudden loss of discipline cost them dear, captain Stiliyan Petrov booked for a stupid lunge on Florent Malouda moments before James Collins climbed all over the Frenchman to concede a penalty.
Malouda did throw himself to the floor, and Brad Friedel and Collins were both cautioned for protesting, but it was a definite foul and Lampard stepped up to convert his first goal since August.
Villa's frustration got the better of them and they were penalised for more than one late tackle, while Reo-Coker, Agbonlahor and Clark were all booked before half-time.
Clark and the recalled Richard Dunne both missed glorious chances to level when they headed and hooked over, respectively, from close range as Chelsea's defence went to sleep.
Dunne also produced a last-gasp tackle to stop Malouda and a vital clearance to thwart Essien.
Ramires was booked for clipping Petrov's heels and Villa's pressure finally told when Essien's clumsy tackle on Reo-Coker handed them a penalty four minutes before the break. Young made no mistake from the spot.
Collins nodded another half-chance too close to Petr Cech before half-time and Villa picked up where they had left off right from the restart.
And Heskey put them ahead just two minutes in when he climbed above young Bruma to power home Downing's excellent right-wing cross.
The former England player was then booked for a late tackle on Essien as
