Result: Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa
Date: 28 December 2020
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Chelsea's stuttering form in the Premier League continued after dropping points at home against high-flying Aston Villa on Monday night.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and Callum Hudson-Odoi were recalled, while Olivier Giroud replaced Timo Werner in the attack for the Blues.
The hosts could've found themselves ahead on 12 minutes when Christian Pulisic was played through on goal, but the winger American fired his effort wide of Emiliano Martinez's goal.
Villa carved out a couple chances of their own at the midway point, with Kortney Hause and Matty Cash failed to hit the target when left in the box.
The visitors were made to pay for those missed chances as Giroud opened the scoring on 35 minutes after nodding home Ben Chilwell's cross at the near post for his third league goal.
However, Villa were back on level terms five minutes after the break when an un-marked Anwar El-Ghazi turned home Cash's cross at the far post.
Dean Smith's men nearly found themselves ahead in the 69th minute when John McGinn rattled the woodwork with a powerful effort from distance that had Edouard Mendy beaten.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard responded with a double change, as Kai Havertz and Werner replaced Jorginho and Giroud for the final 17 minutes.
The double change failed to bring the desired results, with Chilwell going closest with a late volley as the Blues had to settle for a point on home soil.
