Conor Gallagher's beautiful late strike gave Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino the least they deserved with a 2-2 draw... while Aston Villa's second-half display will concern Unai Emery

There were fans pinch flares extracurricular of Villa Park’s Trinity Road Stand turning nan aerial claret and bluish arsenic nan squad coaches arrived. ‘On our way, connected our way, to nan Champions League, we’re connected our way,’ they slurred aft a thirsty Saturday build-up.

Even nan bloke pinch a surgery ankle was hopping on to nan chant connected his 1 bully leg. They expected a triumph against a Chelsea squad that person resembled a £1billion travelling circus astatine times this season, not slightest successful their five-goal mauling astatine Arsenal successful midweek.

And yet, location was thing clownish astir this showing. It progressive Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea showing arsenic overmuch courageousness arsenic we person seen from them each season. From 2-0 down astatine half-time, they took full control, scoring successful nan 2nd half done Noni Madueke and a Conor Gallagher curler into nan apical corner.

It was nan slightest they deserved and Chelsea mightiness moreover person won this match, too, were it not for VAR disallowing Axel Disasi's header aft a push by Benoit Badiashile connected Diego Carlos. At full-time, nan refereeing squad were surrounded by blue. Chelsea were furious, emotion they were unfairly denied a terrific turnaround.

Villa departed pinch a unusual consciousness of alleviation and disappointment. Relieved that they did not lose, but disappointed that they grounded to spell a afloat 9 points clear of Tottenham successful their pursuit of Champions League football. Seven will person to do, though nan measurement Villa performed present whitethorn interest Unai Emery, particularly against specified a depleted visiting team.

Chelsea person truthful galore men injured, you could sanction a nifty XI utilizing a small creator licence. Robert Sanchez successful goal; Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana and Ben Chilwell successful defence; Lesley Ugochukwu, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia successful midfield; Carney Chukwuemeka and Raheem Sterling connected nan correct and near down Christopher Nkunku. Et voila: a crocked squad that costs £486million to combine and does not moreover see nan nine captain, Reece James.

Cole Palmer was backmost successful nan line-up astatine least, nan club's apical goalscorer now complete nan unwellness which saw him miss their humiliation astatine Arsenal. Just for illustration that travel to nan Emirates Stadium, however, Chelsea’s cleanable expanse lasted little than 4 minutes here.

It progressive dire defending arsenic a azygous walk from Pau Torres divided Madueke and Trevoh Chalobah, nan correct winger and correct backmost who were not connected nan aforesaid page. That led to a cut-back by Lucas Digne for John McGinn, who bundled nan shot complete nan statement via Marc Cucurella.

Villa looked to shovel brackish into Chelsea’s wounds aft that ain extremity by scoring an contiguous second, pinch Digne striking nan side-netting while Ollie Watkins tested Djordje Petrovic.

Then, retired of nowhere, Chelsea equalised – aliases truthful they thought. Moises Caicedo’s shot complete nan apical was collected nicely by Nicolas Jackson, nan now shaven-headed striker producing a assured decorativeness complete Emiliano Martinez. Villa Park was silent until nan tannoy announcer confirmed VAR was studying whether Jackson was connected aliases offside. Unfortunately for Chelsea, he was off.

That acquainted emotion of lucklessness tin only person washed complete Pochettino successful that moment, though Chelsea started to create chances disconnected nan backmost of this. Trouble is, they could not find nan decorativeness required arsenic their head stood pinch arms folded successful his method area.

Mykhailo Mudryk sent astatine slightest 2 swerving shots embarrassing wide of Martinez’s goal, 1 of them truthful bad boy it landed astatine nan feet of nan adjunct referee. Palmer fired different opportunity complete nan crossbar while Gallagher could not find nan target from 20 yards, either.

The worst of nan wasted chances was squandered by Jackson erstwhile Cucurella’s hanging transverse recovered him unmarked and he headed into nan station from six yards.

The visiting supporters sang Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, insisting 'every small point is gonna beryllium alright’. In nan 42nd minute, however, Villa doubled their lead arsenic Morgan Rogers scored done nan legs of Chalobah from nan separator of nan container aft Chelsea’s defence grounded to clear.

Pochettino’s players had created much than capable chances to score. They had managed almost 80 per cent possession astatine Villa Park. And yet, they trailed 2-0 astatine half-time. Typical, Pochettino tin only person thought arsenic he trudged down nan tunnel.

Ahead of this match, nan statistic showed really successful a Premier League array based connected 2nd halves only, Chelsea would beryllium successful nan relegation zone. Instead of singing his young squad a half-time lullaby, Pochettino needed to find immoderate words of inspiration if they were to get backmost into this.

Worryingly for nan 52-year-old Argentine, his substitutes’ chair screamed inexperience pinch nan defender Axel Disasi his only elder outfielder. As good arsenic 2 goalkeepers, location was Deivid Washington and Tyrique George, some 18, and Josh Acheampong and Kiano Dyer, each 17, but nary 1 pinch a estimation for changing a game. It would mostly beryllium near to nan players connected nan pitch.

At nan commencement of nan 2nd half, Emery made a alteration himself, but not 1 we were expecting arsenic goalkeeper Martinez was replaced by Robin Olsen. Cucurella tried to trial his nerves wrong a infinitesimal of nan restart but only blasted nan shot into nan North Stand.

In nan 49th minute, Caicedo and Douglas Luiz engaged successful a insignificant scrap, earning each a caution. Caicedo soon took his anger retired connected nan shot but his rocket sailed into Olsen’s arms.

Chelsea started to create chances each complete again. Madueke hit Digne erstwhile he trim wrong but could not find nan acold corner. Thiago Silva, still going beardown astatine 39, sent a header goalward but Matty Cash threw his assemblage successful nan measurement to block.

Then, astatine agelong last, Chelsea scored. It started pinch Villa trying to play retired from nan back, only for Gallagher to show why he is nan Premier League’s champion presser by pinching possession disconnected Luiz. That led to Madueke directing nan shot into nan bottommost area to half nan deficit.

Chelsea were each complete Villa pinch Olsen needed to punch clear Madueke’s cross-cum-shot. Villa Park was showing its nerves, unsure if they would clasp connected to this win.

Chelsea’s capacity deserved a point, if not each three, and it was nan skipper Gallagher who saved them from conclusion successful nan 81st minute. A beautiful decorativeness it was, too, arsenic nan shot sailed beyond nan scope of Olsen and into nan apical corner.

In stoppage time, Palmer had nan chance to triumph it. He was one-on-one aft a protect cock-up by Villa but could not hit Olsen. From nan consequent corner, Disasi scored, but VAR told nan referee Craig Pawson that location had been a push by Badiashile connected Carlos. No goal, Pawson said via his monitor, leaving Chelsea’s fans proud of their players but furious that they were denied nan points.