aston villa 3-3

Telegraph:

Chelsea 3 Aston Villa 3

By Henry Winter


They thought it was all over. But Chelsea celebrated too soon. It’s never over until the final peep from the man in black: not in the Premier League, not in this division of relentless commitment, and certainly not with Aston Villa sensing the champions’ enduring vulnerability.When Carlo Ancelotti had finished revelling in John Terry’s 89th-minute goal, cavorting on the pitch like a better dressed David Pleat, Villa simply stormed back. Chelsea’s defence had dozed off, seemingly still basking in the glow of Terry’s goal, allowing Ciaran Clark to steal in and prise a deserved point. Chelsea’s stop-start season was held up again in stoppage time.Now it was Villa dancing a jig, leaping up and down in front of their jubilant support. This was a match of extraordinary scenes, of Villa racking up a £25,000 fine for six bookings before the break, of hapless performances by the likes of Paulo Ferreira, whose eventual replacement by Jose Bosingwa felt like a mercy subbing by Ancelotti. Such was Ferreira’s relief that he planted a kiss on Bosingwa’s face.This was the sort of electric, mistake-riddled game that makes the Premier League drama so intoxicating for the global viewing audience, loving all the thrills, spills and hissy-fits. Even after the final whistle, the spectacle continued with Terry and Didier Drogba arguing and then making up. Again. Terry and Drogba are fast becoming the Taylor and Burton of west London.Terry actually rallied Chelsea well in the second half, but the best displays could be found cloaked in claret and blue. Brad Friedel was exceptional in goal, conceding three goals but saving as many with some remarkable stops.Richard Dunne’s return to the back line brought organisation and defiance. The versatile Clark excelled at left-back. Stewart Downing was tireless up and down the right, tracking Ashley Cole’s runs and contributing to Villa’s forward momentum. In attack, Emile Heskey was immense, scoring and providing.Although the points were shared, this felt like a triumph for Villa, and in particular their manager, Gérard Houllier, who has been criticised for recent poor results and displays. Not here. Villa fans sang his praises. Houllier successfully preyed on the weaknesses in Chelsea’s defence, unleashing Heskey on Jeffrey Bruma, and targeting Ferreira with Gabriel Agbonlahor and Clark.Houllier’s approach worked, particularly the recall of Dunne. The Frenchman has had issues with certain players, including the Irishman, but there was no sign of any lack of team unity here. Villa looked very much together as they responded to Houllier’s game plan. They have some terrific youngsters, and Marc Albrighton again confirmed his promise with a lively late cameo, but the older heads such as Dunne were vital on Sunday.Being positive, Chelsea are now unbeaten in two but a clearer picture is provided by a league run that reads L L D D D L W D, seven points from 24 for a side hailed before the game by Terry as “the best team in the country”. Chelsea lie fifth, six points behind Manchester United, who boast a game in hand and have yet to find top gear. Unless Chelsea stir sharpish, that March 1 game at the Bridge will come too late, let alone May 7 at Old Trafford.Myriad reasons have been ventured for Chelsea’s travails, from Ray Wilkins’s ludicrous sacking to the loss of Ricardo Carvalho to Real Madrid. Chelsea have so missed the centre-half and Alex’s long-term injury and Branislav Ivanovic’s one-game ban left them vulnerable in the air.Chelsea started brightly enough, taking the lead on 23 minutes. After Ramires and Frank Lampard had combined, Florent Malouda contested an aerial ball with James Collins. The Villa defender undoubtedly fouled Malouda, who milked the contact. Lampard drove the penalty past Friedel: 1-0.This was a “roller-coaster of emotions”, according to Houllier, whose team responded well. Shortly before the break, Ferreira dithered in possession and Clark closed him down, deflecting the right-back’s attempted clearance into the box. As Nigel Reo-Coker sought to address the ball, Michael Essien brought him down and Ashley Young calmly converted the penalty: 1-1.Villa maintained their confident form after the break. When Young worked the ball to Downing out wide within two minutes of the restart, Chelsea failed to man the barricades. Downing eluded Cole and crossed right-footed for Heskey to leap above Bruma and score: 1-2.Chelsea urgently needed galvanising. The fans responded, loudly reminding the players they were champions. Drogba’s effort was blocked by Dunne. Ramires shot wide. Villa’s resilience was superb. Dunne denied Malouda, whose ensuing corner was headed clear by Collins. Friedel was magnificent, thwarting Lampard and Malouda. Clark denied the disappointing Nicolas Anelka.But the pressure told six minutes from time. After Friedel had saved from Salomon Kalou, Drogba pounced on the loose ball, driving it in: 2-2. When Essien crossed in the 89th minute, Drogba’s header caused chaos and there was Terry driving Chelsea ahead: 3-2.Villa refused to yield. A minute into injury time, Albrighton cleverly worked a yard of space and lifted the ball towards the far post. Cole was too busy appealing for offside rather than following Clark, who stole in to head Villa level: 3-3.
And soon it really was all over


.============================



Independent:

Chelsea revival halted as Villa discover their fighting spirit

Chelsea 3 Aston Villa 3

By Sam Wallace at Stamford Bridge


By the time Carlo Ancelotti emerged from the huddle of Chelsea players celebrating their third goal yesterday he was 10 paces past the touchline and about five minutes from one of the most important wins at the club. He patted his hair back into place, took a moment to compose himself and then watched as his team threw it away all over again.It was a wonderful match and a very early contender for the best game of 2011 but for Ancelotti it must have felt like he was trapped in a recurring nightmare. It turns out that Wednesday's victory over Bolton Wanderers was not the moment that Chelsea exited their twilight zone of bad results; they are still capable of tossing away points as the title race heats up.Judging by his players' reaction to John Terry's 89th-minute goal, Ancelotti remains popular among his players, although history will tell him that does not guarantee Chelsea managers longevity. What he needs now is a run of wins and none more important than when the leaders Manchester United visit west London on 1 March.It was in the bag at 3-2 to Chelsea just before the fourth official put up the board to announce five minutes of injury time at the end of the match. Didier Drogba had battled his way back from a miserable performance to score the equaliser with six minutes left. Then when Chelsea's Captain Collision scored the third goal it looked like they had nailed that famous win to climb closer to United.That they did not was a testament to a Villa team who looked badly short of anything that might loosely be described as fighting spirit in their defeat to Manchester City last week. But they had it yesterday, in outstanding performances from Brad Friedel, Emile Heskey and Ashley Young, right through to assistant Gary McAllister who spent the aftermath of Villa's celebrations offering to fight a member of the Chelsea staff.It is rare to see a game in which one team wants to win so badly that even in an indifferent run of form, and amid continued setbacks, they score a crucial goal in the last few minutes. But to watch both teams do it was one of those occasional privileges that the Premier League offers up to remind us how much we love it – in spite of all its faults.It was a performance that did more for the Villa manager, Gérard Houllier, than it did for Ancelotti who came out later wearing that slightly shell-shocked expression that accompanies Chelsea's more careless performances. Houllier had the puffed-up demeanour of a man who thinks that he is on the brink of being proved right.Villa still have a long way back after a run before yesterday of five defeats in six games although it was impossible not to be impressed by the way in which they took the match to Chelsea. Heskey went through one of those temporary transformations when he plays more like Drogba than the Heskey who was such a frustration for all those years – although his form has been much better under Houllier.Young took the game to Ashley Cole down Villa's right and was the outstanding player of the first half, scoring Villa's equaliser four minutes before the break. With a 2-1 lead and Chelsea coming at them in the second half it was the likes of Friedel and Richard Dunne who rose to the occasion and it was right that they went home with a point at least.When Ciaran Clark, another fine performer for Villa, flicked his 91st-minute equaliser past Petr Cech, the cameras at Stamford Bridge picked out Randy Lerner, the Villa owner, jumping into the embrace of his chief executive Paul Faulkner. It was a great moment that showed football's power to make even billionaires behave like beery teenagers – just a pity we do not see a bit more of it from Chelsea's Russian custodian.If Ancelotti was looking for signs that his team are gearing up for the last 18 league games of the season then there was an encouraging performance from Frank Lampard in just his third start since August, while Terry, coaxing Jeffrey Bruma through the 19-year-old centre-half's first league start, did not win everything against Heskey but his was an influential display nonetheless.Villa picked up six bookings in the first half, seven in the entire game, which means they get an automatic £25,000 fine from the Football Association. They earned two arguing with referee Lee Mason when he awarded a penalty against James Collins on 23 minutes for jumping on top of Florent Malouda in the area. It looked marginally the right call. Lampard smashed in the penalty.Despite that Villa had the best of the first half although they might have had a couple more bookings including Heskey, subsequently cautioned in the second half, for a late challenge on Terry. No arguments about Paulo Ferreira's clumsy tackle on Clark that earned Villa a penalty, Young putting it away.A combination of his earlier foul on Cole, and then an exuberant goal celebration, earned the Villa winger the recognition of the home crowd. "Whose the w***** in the snood?" was the chant – the first time, but surely not the last, we will hear that one. It was Young's ball from left to right to Stewart Downing two minutes after the break that was crossed to Heskey, who beat Bruma to head in Villa's second.At 2-1 down we saw the best of Chelsea and were it not for Friedel they would have overwhelmed Villa. He saved brilliantly from Lampard after the hour and stopped a shot from substitute Salomon Kalou in the build-up to Drogba's goal. When it rebounded to the striker in the 84th minute he drilled in a low shot that eluded four Villa players.Terry's goal in the 89th minute originated when substitute Marc Albrighton lost the ball but it was Albrighton who subsequently crossed for Villa's dramatic equaliser. Chelsea misjudged their offside line and Cole allowed Clark to sneak in and score. It was a breathtaking end to a great game, although as Chelsea's players left amid recriminations that looked like no consolation to them at all.


======================================


Guardian:

Aston Villa's Ciaran Clark claims dramatic draw against Chelsea


It is not only the Premier League title that is being removed from Chelsea. Their very identity is being stripped from them. Having come from behind to take a 3-2 lead in the 89th minute they were still incapable of winning.At present the principal ambition for Carlo Ancelotti's side is to overtake Tottenham Hotspur and seize the last of the Champions League places. Aston Villa, far more spirited than anticipated, always had cause for hope since their opponents' defence was uncertain.That fallibility would verge on the absurd in the first minute of stoppage time as an ummarked Ciaran Clark headed in a cross from Marc Albrighton. The notion of a Chelsea side unable to attend to the basics confounds every assumption associated with the club since the appointment of José Mourinho as manager.Even so, this outcome also reflected a spiritedness on Villa's part that was remarkable considering they were taking only their fifth away point of the campaign. The manner in which that outcome was reached angered Chelsea as much as it dismayed them, with Didier Drogba and John Terry arguing with each other at the end.Such a scene could never have been predicted. The centre-half Richard Dunne was reinstated in Gérard Houllier's line-up for a first appearance since 6 December but, while that amounted to an upgrade of the Villa defence, it is still true that three goals at home should suffice for a win. Chelsea could cite mitigating circumstances since they were without Alex and Branislav Ivanovic in defence but this fallibility could never have been anticipated, even though the 19-year-old centre-half Jeffrey Bruma was given his first start in the Premier League.Chelsea's flaw lay in an inability to impose themselves on visitors whose away form has been so fruitless. Given that context, Villa ought to have been devastated when their 2-1 lead was overhauled late in the game. There was an onslaught in progress by then and, after Brad Friedel had made an outstanding save, Drogba still threaded the loose ball past several opponents in the 84th minute.Momentum then appeared to be sweeping the match towards a Chelsea win. Five minutes later there was still no prize for excellence by Friedel and, after he had denied a Drogba header, Terry followed up to convert with precision.The lapse that let Villa recover from that was baffling in its lack of the rigour that we take for granted in Chelsea. Presumably they had an offside trap in mind yet the effect was to let the visitors do as they pleased without any interruption. That ought to wound the pride of Ancelotti's line-up but flaws of one sort or another are no longer so startling, even if the course of this particular fixture was beyond anticipation.This outcome will incite further speculation over Ancelotti's future at Stamford Bridge. This should be absurd, given that his Chelsea side did the Double last season, but managers never feel secure under the Roman Abramovich regime, which saw even Mourinho reaching a point where he thought it best to leave. When they are actually dismissed, there is compensation to be paid but the process is still less expensive than acquiring the young equivalents of footballers such as Frank Lampard and Drogba. And few proprietors are ever keen to embark all over again on the sort of exorbitant purchasing of their early and enraptured days with a club.Abramovich's opposite number at Villa, Randy Lerner, also has self-sufficiency in mind as a long-term target, even if costly contracts make it impossible for the moment. His side opened here with much enterprise even with Emile Heskey alone in attack. The visitors played well and with some ambition but they had already conceded 22 goals away from home in the league and were sure to reveal that fallibility again. The brittleness, even so, took a strange form.At the opener James Collins leapt for a high ball by Lampard, made no contact and then collided with Florent Malouda. Lee Mason awarded the penalty, and after the saved effort from Drogba that prevented a win at White Hart Lane, Lampard resumed duty, converting in the 23rd minute. Villa's disquiet was witnessed, too, in seven bookings.They merited their equaliser, although Paulo Ferreira's poor clearance caused danger that continued with Michael Essien fouling Nigel Reo-Coker for a penalty that Ashley Young slotted home while sending Petr Cech the wrong way in the 41st minute. The visitors took the lead two minutes after the interval. Stewart Downing made space to cross from the right and his cross went beyond Bruma for the excellent Heskey to head home.Chelsea must have later thought they had put down an uprising by Villa but the old Stamford Bridge dominance had not been re-established.


==================================


Mail:

Chelsea 3 Aston Villa 3:

Ciaran Clark keeps his head to score dramatic late leveller and inflict further damage on Chelsea's title bid

By Matt Barlow

Carlo Ancelotti was not expecting Ciaran Clark’s equal iser. Otherwise he would never have been tempted into such a frenzied celebration when John Terry fired Chelsea ahead two minutes earlier.Terry struck with 89 minutes on the clock and all the momentum was with the Barclays Premier League champions after they had fought back from behind.With six minutes to go, they had been trailing but Didier Drogba scored and Terry grabbed what looked sure to be the winner.Ancelotti skipped on to the pitch in his black trench coat, with his coaching team trailing behind him.This was a David Pleat moment. Arms aloft, he was mobbed by his players and seemed reluctant to retreat again.The Italian paused to savour the feeling and had to be reminded to go back to his bench so the game could restart. Minutes later, after Clark had nodded Marc Albrighton’s cross in at the back post, Ancelotti looked crushed and empty as he offered his hand to Gerard Houllier and turned down the tunnel.Some players couldn’t wait for the sanctuary of the dressing room before Terry and Petr Cech were locked in animated conversation, then the captain and Drogba.Fingers were pointed, voices were raised. How did it happen? More points dropped in the defence of the title, this time to a team in a rut of form as bad as their own.Chelsea have won twice in 10 Premier League games, they wake this morning in fifth place and the scrappy win against Bolton last week already seems a distant memory.Ancelotti admits the confidence has drained from his team and it showed as they struggled against a team they hit for seven at Stamford Bridge only nine months ago.They were flat from the start, failing to create anything and always looking vulnerable at the back, but were gifted the lead from the penalty spot when James Collins climbed clumsily over Florent Malouda, who collapsed theatrically.Villa’s players were incensed by Lee Mason’s decision. ‘It was harsh,’ said Houllier.‘Malouda bent forward and Collins couldn’t jump. The reaction of all my players showed it was a very harsh penalty.’Collins and Brad Friedel were booked for dissent but Frank Lampard made no mistake from the spot, reclaiming the responsibility from Drogba, who missed one at Tottenham last month.It was Lampard’s first goal since August and it provoked an angry response from the visitors and a flurry of yellow cards. Emile Heskey was booked for crashing into Terry’s standing foot as the Chelsea defender cleared the ball and tensions simmered.Ashley Cole squealed and leapt into the air in reaction to what seemed a fair challenge from Ashley Young. Houllier’s assistant Gary McAllister was furious with Cole.By half time, Villa had six in the book and a £25,000 FA fine heading their way. Heskey’s name was added in the second half but somehow the game finished with 22 players on the pitch.‘They felt frustrated at the penalty but the ref did OK,’ said Houllier.‘I was nervous because I was thinking, “Oh my God, if we get a man sent off this could be very difficult”. Despite the brief disciplinary meltdown, Villa were always composed in possession. Heskey dominated in the air and Young supported him well.‘When Emile is in form, not many defenders can cope with him,’ said Houllier.Gabriel Agbonlahor impressed wide on the left, where he gave Paulo Ferreira a torrid start to the year. On the other flank, Cole struggled to contain Stewart Downing. Chelsea’s narrow midfield does not protect their full backs.It is irrelevant if they dominate possession but Houllier’s team managed to cause them problems in those areas. Lampard’s penalty ought to have settled nerves but Ancelotti’s team continued to surrender chances.Clark headed over a corner from Young and Richard Dunne smashed a volley over from close range. Villa levelled from the spot after Clark charged down a clearance from Ferreira and Nigel Reo-Coker beat Michael Essien to the loose ball.Young scored the penalty and taunted Chelsea fans by cupping his hand to his ear and sliding joyfully into the corner in front of the Matthew Harding Stand.Cech denied Collins in first-half stoppage time but Villa were ahead within two minutes of the restart. Downing wriggled free on the right and lofted a cross to the back post, which Heskey buried after springing high above Jeffrey Bruma.Travelling fans suggested Ancelotti might be sacked in the morning, which prompted a brief response from Chelsea fans in support of their manager.‘Carlo, Carlo,’ they sang. His players responded by finding a better rhythm. Ramires dragged a shot across the face of goal and Friedel saved brilliantly from Lampard and Malouda.Salomon Kalou made an impact from the bench, running at the Villa defence. Clark and Dunne denied him twice, then he was thwarted by another Friedel stop but this time the ball spilled kindly.Drogba seized on it, took a touch and rammed a low shot through a congested goalmouth and into the net. It was the first time since October the Blues had scored more than once in a Premier League game and they kept coming forward.Match ZoneAgbonlahor had performed well, out of position on the Villa left, but he hobbled off and was replaced by Albrighton, who was caught in possession by Essien as Chelsea took the lead.Drogba threw himself at Essien’s cross but Friedel sprang to his right to keep the header out. Terry collected the rebound and drove it into the corner of the net.Cue bedlam at the Bridge, Ancelotti’s rare display of emotion and the final act of a thrilling game. It was Albrighton, keen to make amends for his mistake, who retrieved the ball on the Villa left, turned inside on to his right foot, took another touch and then curled it to Clark, who glanced a header past Cech from close range.This time it was Randy Lerner losing his cool. High in the posh seats, the Villa owner punched the air and hugged his chief executive


.==================================