Gareth Barry

Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa

Gareth Barry's injury-time penalty rescued a deserved 4-4 draw for Aston Villa at Chelsea to cap a thrilling game which produced eight goals and three red cards.

Michael Ballack appeared to have snatched victory for Chelsea with a dubious free-kick three minutes from time amid some controversial refereeing from Phil Dowd.

But Barry converted from the spot in the 92nd minute after Ashley Cole had been

Shaun Maloney double had put Villa on course for their first Barclays Premier League double against Chelsea but disaster struck when Zat Knight was sent off on the stroke of half-time.

Knight had clipped substitute Ballack, who was making his first league appearance of the season, and Dowd reached for the red card after pointing to the spot.

It was a harsh dismissal that is sure to have infuriated Villa boss Martin O'Neill and Andriy Shevchenko powered home the penalty to spark Chelsea's fightback.

The Ukrainian fired a stunning second and then set up defender Alex who finished clinically to give the Blues the lead for the first time.

But Martin Laursen escaped a static Chelsea defence to level the score at 3-3 and set up that dramatic climax.

Chelsea, who were already missing John Terry and Didier Drogba for the Christmas schedule, also lost Ricardo Carvalho for three games following his red card.

Carvalho crashed into Ashley Young with a two-footed challenge that was correctly punished by Dowd and the Portuguese will join Ashley Cole on the sidelines.

Villa capitalised on Chelsea's lethargic start to ease 2-0 ahead shortly before the interval.

Maloney needed the assistance of a rare blunder from Petr Cech for the second, however, as Chelsea toiled to subdue their more lively opponents.

The Scotland striker's effort should have been routine for Cech, who was a surprise inclusion in the team after sustaining a bruised side and hip against Blackburn.

But the Czech goalkeeper allowed the ball to bounce in front of him and watched in horror as it slipped into the net for a goal that will raise doubts over his fitness.

He could not be blamed for the first, however, as Agbonlahor skipped into space in the 14th minute and picked out John Carew whose looping header was bundled home by Maloney.

The move was perfectly executed and Chelsea's rearguard continued to creak as Agbonlahor blasted a reasonable chance over the crossbar.

Frank Lampard's hopes of netting his 100th goal for Chelsea ended in the 26th minute when he limped off having failed to run off what appeared to be a thigh injury.

Ballack, who has been out for eight months with an ankle injury, came on and was involved in the build-up as Claudio Pizarro tested Scott Carson.

Dowd was unmoved when Ashley Cole went down in the area following pressure from Knight and then a mazy run by Joe Cole was halted by stout defending from Wilfred Bouma.

Cole then wasted Chelsea's best chance, created by astute work from Ballack, when he pushed his shot straight into the arms of Carson.

Alex nodded a corner wide but the home side then slipped further behind thanks to Cech's howler.

Maloney pulled clear on the left flank and darted into the area before pulling the trigger with an attempt that Cech missed completely.

There was still time for one more twist in the first half, however, as on the stroke of half-time Knight clipped Ballack and Dowd pointed to the spot.

Knight was harshly given his marching orders by the Staffordshire official and to rub salt into the wound Shevchenko powered home the penalty.

Curtis Davies appeared after the interval to plug the gap in the defence left by Knight's exit with Maloney, the hero of the first half, sacrificed to make room.

Shevchenko failed to get hold of the ball as Chelsea made use of the extra man but the Ukraine striker swiftly made amends by firing a stunning 50th-minute equaliser.

Salomon Kalou teed up the chance and Shevchenko made no mistake, sprinting on to the ball and smashing it home from 25 yards out to give Carson no chance.

All the momentum was with Chelsea and it came as little surprise when they took the lead for the first time.

Shevchenko did the damage by skilfully escaping Barry and finding Alex who escaped Davies and buried the ball in the net with an emphatic strike.

But there was still plenty of fight left in Villa who equalised in the 72nd minute when Martin Lauren escaped a static defence to prod home Ashley Young's free-kick.

A vicious two-footed tackle by Ricardo Carvalho saw the Portuguese centre-back join Knight in the stands, blowing the game wide open.

It was Chelsea who appeared to have struck the decisive blow when Laursen's tackle on Joe Cole was penalised by Dowd and Ballack converted with a thunderous free-kick.

But more drama was to follow as Ashley Cole was sent off for clearing Agbonlahor's shot off the line with his hands and Barry's penalty snatched the point.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill pointed the finger at Michael Ballack over a controversial penalty and condemned the performance of referee Phil Dowd during today's thrilling 4-4 draw with Chelsea.

O'Neill is considering an appeal of the red card shown to Zat Knight on the stroke of half-time after claiming his player had made no contact with Ballack.

And the Villa boss was also frustrated by the free-kick awarded for Martin Laursen's challenge on Joe Cole that was converted by Ballack to nudge Chelsea 4-3 ahead in the 88th minute, insisting Dowd's decision was influenced by the crowd.

He said: 'Zat Knight's sending off was a major moment.

'I've seen it a couple of times now and while I'm aware that I have the benefit of replays I will look at it again.

'I might appeal and we have until noon tomorrow to do so. It wasn't a penalty.

'The Chelsea player went over and there was no contact. That's my view - it wasn't a penalty.

'The free-kick they got with three minutes to go was not a free-kick. It didn't look like it could be possible.

'I've seen it again since but how did I feel at the time that he might just give it? He did.

'The referee was in a position to get that one right because he was on the spot.'

O'Neill said: 'Thank God the linesman saw the penalty on the line and we got something. Cole handled the ball and it was clear cut.'

O'Neill said: 'Absolutely, we deserved nothing less than a draw. We were terrific.

'In the first half we were 2-0 in front just before half time, were playing brilliantly and deserved to be in front.

'We never gave up and came back from the dead twice.'

O'Neill insisted Chelsea could have no complaints at Ricardo Carvalho's red card for a vicious two-footed tackle on Agbonlahor.

He said: 'It was straight forward red card and he was the last man, even though Gabriel had 40-odd yards to go. It was a sending off offence.'

Chelsea boss Avram Grant refused to condemn Carvalho - despite the severity of the challenge.

He said: 'For me what's important is that Carvalho did not intend to hurt the player - I didn't see any intention.

'It was the decision of the referee and I respect it. I will look at the incident again.'

Frank Lampard limped off in the first half with a thigh problem while Cole and Carvalho are suspended for three matches after picking up red cards.

The trio have joined the injured Didier Drogba and John Terry on Chelsea's absentee list, although Lampard has not yet been ruled out of the frantic Christmas schedule.

Chelsea began the day six points behind Premiership leaders Arsenal and today's developments have dealt another blow.

Grant said: 'We can't give a diagnosis on Frank Lampard after one hour. We'll wait and see.

'Frank was not happy about coming off because he likes playing even in training games.

'We have a very good medical department and he will be fit as possible. We need to wait until tomorrow for an update.'

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Kalou, Essien, Lampard (Ballack 26), Joe Cole, Pizarro (Obi 85), Shevchenko (Wright-Phillips 82).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ben-Haim.

Sent Off: Carvalho (80), Ashley Cole (90).

Booked: Essien, Alex, Ballack.

Goals: Shevchenko 45 pen, 50, Alex 66, Ballack 88.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma (Harewood 90), Maloney (Davies 46), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Carew (Moore 78), Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Gardner.

Sent Off: Knight (45).

Booked: Reo-Coker, Harewood.

Goals: Maloney 14, 44, Laursen 72, Barry 90 pen.

Att: 41,686

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).