ASTON VILLA comfortably held out for a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge to stay above Chelsea, who missed out on the chance to move into the top four.
The Blues took the lead through a well worked Olivier Giroud header but Anwar El Ghazi replied with a close range finish after half time.
THANKS FOR JOINING US
That’s all for tonight, as Chelsea and Aston Villa played out a 1-1 draw in both teams last game of 2020.
The Blues are meant to host Manchester City in their next game, but the postponement of City’s clash with Everton tonight due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the City camp means that game scheduled for January 3 is now in doubt.
Aston Villa meanwhile kick off the New Year with a trip to Old Trafford on New Year’s day.
That’s all for now though.
Thanks for joining us, it’s been a pleasure.
MATCH REPORT
Plenty to talk about from this evening’s game as Chelsea missed the chance to go above Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Anwar El Ghazi’s leveller early in the second half cancelled out Olivier Giroud’s first half header, meaning the points were shared at Stamford Bridge.
CLICK HERE TO READ OUR MATCH REPORT FROM THE GAME.
AS IT STANDS
Here’s what this evening’s result means for the Premier League table.
Aston Villa are now unbeaten in five games, and knocking on the door of the top four after finishing 2019 18th in the Premier League.
It’s been some season for the Villans.
Chelsea meanwhile have won just once in their last five but the Blues are still just a point off the top four, although teams above and below them have games in hand on Frank Lampard’s side.
FULL TIME SCENES
Players from both sides react to the spoils being shared.
Credit: EPA
OLD FRIENDS
John Terry and Frank Lampard react at the full time whistle.
Credit: AFP
SO CLOSE
Ben Chilwell is inches away from winning it at the death with this brilliant effort.
FRANK’S THOUGHTS
This is what Frank Lampard has to say on whether he saw a response today from his team:
“Yeah I did definitely in [the] performance.
“[We] started really well, Villa had some moments but [we] dealt with them in the second half and came through the first half pretty strongly, get our goal that we deserve.
“Second half conceded with our man on the floor, that’s kind of the run we’re on at the minute and then we pushed and we couldn’t break the deadlock in the end to get the win but attitude wise, effort wise, some of the play was really good against a good team.”
MCGINN’S ANALYSIS
Man of the match John McGinn has this to say at full time:
“I think it was a very even game.
“Chelsea are a good side, not many teams will come here and get a result so I think we showed today that we’re going to be a good team this season.
“Especially after the efforts of the last couple of days it’s a good result again.
“We’ve got great character in the squad this season, coupled with ability, grit, determination, everyone’s grafting until the last second of the game and we fought for every ball.
“Last season we might have come away losing a cheap goal near the end but we fought hard and deserved the point.”
SMITH SPEAKS
Here are the post match thoughts of Dean Smith on his side’s performance:
“It’s tough, turning it round, but I trust the players.
“You know I asked every one of them today whether they was ready to go again and they looked me in the eye and said they was.
“And I think it’s a big thing to have that trust with them and they’ve gone and proved that today.
“I mean it is tough, we’re not going to get away from that fact, and you know we’ve had to battle at times today.
“I thought there was spells of pressure from both teams, but great to get a point here.”
FULL TIME STATS
Here’s a look at the full time stats from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea had the better of the possession, and had more efforts on target, but Anwar El Ghazi’s volley secured a well earned point for Aston Villa.
FULL TIME
The points are shared at Stamford Bridge in the last game of 2020 for both sides.
There wasn’t too much in it, with a apiece point probably a fair reflection of the game.
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
That’s full time!
A well earned point for Aston Villa in South-West London after an entertaining game between the two sides.
Olivier Giroud fired the Blues ahead in the first half, before Anwar El Ghazi equalised for the visitors.
Ben Chilwell had the chance to win it late on for the hosts, but volleyed just wide of the post, meaning the game ended level.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
94. Mendy is out to claim the corner, and that might well be that.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
94. Villa corner.
They couldn’t nick this one, could they?
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
93. CLOSE!
That would have been special!
Hudson-Odoi crosses the ball right onto the boot of Chilwell, who hits it on the volley with incredible technique.
It looks like it’s flying into the top corner, but goes inches past the post and Villa survive.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
91. Douglas Luiz goes down under a challenge from Mason Mount, and wins a free kick for his side which will eat away some seconds on the clock.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
90. Four minutes of added time are indicated by the fourth official.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
90. Another Chelsea corner.
Konsa again defends well to put a Pulisic cross behind for another corner.
Rudiger meets this one, but he’s off balance as he heads it, and it runs through to Martinez.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
89. Chelsea corner.
Kai Havertz forces a corner off the solid Ezri Konsa.
Konsa’s centre back partner Hause is up well to head the corner away from danger.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
87. Aston Villa substitution.
Keenan Davies is on to replace Bertand Traore.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
86. Mount looks up and tries his luck from range, but is met by a firm block from Ezri Konsa.
Aston Villa will take that if those are the only chances Chelsea get in the final five minutes.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
84. Mount crosses into the Villa box, and the ball is only partially cleared.
It drops to Werner on the edge of the box, who has time to take a touch and shoot.
His effort is blazed well over the bar though when he should be doing better.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
83. CLOSE!
What an introduction that would have been!
Ramsey’s first involvement is to curl an effort JUST wide of the goal, with Mendy scrambling to reach it.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
82. Aston Villa substitution.
Anwar El Ghazi is coming off, with Jacob Ramsey on in his place.
CHELSEA 1-1 ASTON VILLA
81. Again Aston Villa deal with the corner comfortably.
Martinez comes off his line to claim well amongst a host of bodies.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
