LONDON – Chelsea’s bid to retain the Premier League title suffered another blow as struggling Aston Villa snatched a dramatic 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were on course for a crucial win after late goals from Didier Drogba and John Terry, but Ciaran Clark equalised in stoppage time and the reigning champions are now in severe danger of losing touch with the main title contenders. Even a Champions League spot isn’t certain for fifth-placed Chelsea.
The Blues have won just once in eight league games and are six points behind leaders Manchester United, who also have a game in hand. Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front with a 23rd-minute penalty, but Ashley Young levelled from the spot four minutes before half-time. Villa took the lead when Emile Heskey headed in Stewart Downing’s cross in the 47th minute. Drogba equalised in the 84th minute and it looked as though Chelsea would steal the points when Terry netted in the 89th minute.
But in stoppage time the Chelsea defence went to sleep and Clark beat the offside trap to head in the leveller. A Georgios Samaras second-half double helped Celtic to a 2-0 win over Rangers in the second Old Firm derby of the season as they extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to four points.
Lee McCulloch’s header was cleared off the line in an explosive start but the neither side created many chances in a tame first 45 minutes. However, Celtic looked sharper immediately after the break and after Paddy McCourt came close it was Samaras who opened the scoring in the 62nd minute with a breakaway goal.
Just seven minutes later the Greek striker, in only his second start since October, won and dispatched a penalty after being brought down by Madjid Bougherra as Celtic got off to 2011 with their first win at Ibrox since December 2008. “I didn’t think there was one failure out there today,” proud Hoops boss Neil Lennon said.
“They were very resilient, the back four were magnificent, the midfield players, once they got a grip of the game, dominated and I thought Samaras was unplayable.” Walter Smith thought his side had started well. “We can be pleased with the way we played in the first-half of the match with the exception of a little bit more creation needed to be shown,” the Rangers boss, whose side have played two games less than Celtic, said.
“It looked as though the first goal was going to be a vital one for whoever was going to get it and disappointingly we gave away two goals that have cost us the game.” Celtic made several changes to the side that beat Motherwell in midweek due to suspension and injury as Rangers handed youngster Jamie Ness an Old Firm debut at the expense of the injured Steven Naismith.
Before the game both clubs impeccably marked the 40th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster, where 66 fans lost their lives and 200 were injured on a crush on Stairway 13 during a 1-1 draw between the teams on January 2, 1971. But normal hostilities resumed at kick-off and Rangers came close to taking the lead in the fifth minute. McCulloch leaped to knock on a Vladamir Weiss corner which looked to be dropping in before Emilio Izaguirre headed it off the line via the crossbar.
McCulloch then had to time a tackle to perfection in the box as he won a challenge with James Forrest after Paddy McCourt had sent him in on goal. The Hoops started the second-half with more purpose and within 60 seconds McCourt was presented with a chance in the box but under pressure from David Weir the Northern Ireland international pulled his shot wide.
And it was the Hoops who took the lead through a quick break away in the 62nd minute.
