Axel Disasi had a stoppage-time winner disallowed but Chelsea came from two goals down to dent Aston Villa’s top-four hopes in Birmingham.
Disasi thought he had sealed victory after he nodded home Benoit Badiashile’s cross but the video assistant referee (VAR) recommended an on-field review and referee Craig Pawson decided the latter had barged a Villa defender before the cross.
Chelsea’s players were incensed and crowded Pawson at the full-time whistle, while manager Mauricio Pochettino had a passionate discussion with Villa defender Ezri Konsa.
Villa, whose top-four hopes are now not in their hands as a result of the dropped points, had taken an early lead after John McGinn’s miscued effort deflected off Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella and into the bottom corner.
The visitors responded well with Nicolas Jackson having an effort disallowed by the video assistant referee for offside, before the Senegal international planted a header against the base of the post.
Morgan Rogers doubled the home side’s lead after finding space on the left and tucking the ball into the near post through the legs of Trevoh Chalobah.
Chelsea found a route back into the game after catching Villa in possession high up the pitch, with Noni Madueke sliding a clever finish into the far corner.
The visitors pressed for an equaliser without creating too many opportunities, until Gallagher worked a shooting opportunity on his left foot and curled into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Both sides had chances to win the game before the disallowed goal, with Ollie Watkins slicing a cutback over the bar and Cole Palmer having a shot saved when dribbling through one-on-one.
Unai Emery’s side are seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, but Ange Postecoglu’s side have three games in hand, starting with Sunday’s north London derby against Arsenal.
There was further concern for Villa too, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez withdrawn at half-time after appearing to struggle with a thigh injury in the first period, and any period of absence could damage them with their Europa Conference League semi-final this week.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Aston Villa
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameE Martínez
Average rating5.87
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Squad number2Player nameCash
Average rating6.21
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Squad number4Player nameKonsa
Average rating5.84
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Squad number14Player nameP Torres
Average rating5.82
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Squad number12Player nameDigne
Average rating5.70
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Squad number31Player nameBailey
Average rating6.10
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Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Average rating5.81
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Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Average rating4.76
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Squad number27Player nameRogers
Average rating6.05
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Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Average rating6.13
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Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Average rating6.50
Substitutes
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Squad number3Player nameDiego Carlos
Average rating4.94
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Squad number19Player nameDiaby
Average rating5.75
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Squad number24Player nameDurán
Average rating4.68
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Squad number25Player nameOlsen
Average rating5.30
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Squad number47Player nameIroegbunam
Average rating4.99
Chelsea
Starting XI
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Squad number28Player namePetrovic
Average rating4.95
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Squad number14Player nameChalobah
Average rating4.98
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Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Average rating5.47
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Squad number5Player nameBadiashile
Average rating4.68
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Squad number3Player nameCucurella
Average rating4.35
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Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
Average rating4.98
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Squad number23Player nameGallagher
Average rating5.86
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Squad number11Player nameMadueke
Average rating5.51
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Squad number20Player namePalmer
Average rating4.54
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Squad number10Player nameMudryk
Average rating4.84
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Squad number15Player nameJackson
Average rating4.84
Substitutes
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Squad number2Player nameDisasi
Average rating6.21
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Squad number31Player nameCasadei
Average rating6.07
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1E MartínezSubstituted forOlsenat 45′minutes
- 2Cash
- 4Konsa
- 14P Torres
- 12Digne
- 31BaileyBooked at 66minsSubstituted forDiego Carlosat 75′minutes
- 8TielemansSubstituted forDiabyat 27′minutesSubstituted forDuránat 83′minutes
- 6Douglas LuizBooked at 49minsSubstituted forIroegbunamat 75′minutes
- 27RogersBooked at 64mins
- 7McGinn
- 11Watkins
Substitutes
- 3Diego Carlos
- 16Chambers
- 17Lenglet
- 19Diaby
- 24Durán
- 25Olsen
- 29Kesler-Hayden
- 47Iroegbunam
- 71Kellyman
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 28Petrovic
- 14Chalobah
- 6Thiago SilvaBooked at 87minsSubstituted forDisasiat 90′minutes
- 5BadiashileBooked at 90mins
- 3Cucurella
- 25CaicedoBooked at 49mins
- 23Gallagher
- 11MaduekeBooked at 90mins
- 20Palmer
- 10MudrykBooked at 82minsSubstituted forCasadeiat 90′minutes
- 15Jackson
Substitutes
- 2Disasi
- 13Bettinelli
- 31Casadei
- 36de Souza Eugênio
- 40Curd
- 42Gilchrist
- 63Acheampong
- 67George
- 78Dyer
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 42,354
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Aston Villa 2, Chelsea 2.