Eight goals, three sent-off, some remarkable football - who needs the sales?

Villa showed grit, determination and no little quality to secure a hard-earned point at Stamford Bridge.

Shaun Maloney put Villa 2-0 up with a first-half brace, before Zat Knight was dismissed for a professional foul.

Andriy Shevchenko reduced the arrears from the spot and then levelled early in the second-half.

The writing appeared to be on the wall for Villa when Alex put the hosts ahead, but Martin Laursen levelled matters.

Michael Ballack appeared to have won it for Chelsea with an 88th minute free-kick. But Villa refused to surrender and Gareth Barry secured a point with a stoppage-time free-kick after Ashley Cole handled on the line.

Agbonlahor sent a low angled drive into the side netting on two, cutting in from the right.

Young then dragged a low cross cum shot wide as Villa made a positive start.

Cech punched off his line on four, after Mellberg flicked on a Young corner.

Essien denied Carew on eight as the striker prepared to shoot from Maloney's flick into the Chelsea box.

Carew then headed over the bar from Young's right-wing centre a minute later.

Viilla had the lead on 14 as Carew flicked Agbonlahor's clever cross into Maloney's path and the Scot applied the finish from close-range.

Lampard fired high and wide from distance a minute later.

Laursen's timely challenge on the edge of the box denied Pizarro on 17.

Agbonlahor met another Carew flick on 20, but fired high and wide from close-range.

Agbonlahor flashed a right-wing centre across the face of goal on 24 as Villa continued to take the game to their hosts.

Carson comfortably gathered Pizarro's angled ball from the right on 28.

Chelsea came into the game as the first-half wore on, though Villa continued to press for everything.

Cech did well to block Agbonlahor's right-foot effort from pont blank range on 35.

Joe Cole fired straight at Carson on 39, after cutting in from the right.

Maloney doubled Villa's lead on 44, cutting in from the left and firing a low shot that Cech spilled over his line.

Villa were reduced to ten men in stoppage time as Knight was adjudged to have fouled Ballack in the box. Shevchenko reduced the arrears from the spot.

Carson denied Shevchenko on 48, easily blocking a low shot from the edge of the box.

Laursen fired wide from 30 yards a minute lateras Villa refused to totally sit back.

Shevchenko made no mistake on 50, firing past Carson from 25 yards.

Kalou fired high over the bar from distance on 52. Ballack then cleared the bar from the edge of the box two minutes later.

Carson comfortably gathered a low long-range drive from Ballack on 57.

Young's rising drive was deflected behind for a corner on 59 after a surging run from Barry.

Alex put the hosts ahead on 66, skipping past Davies on the egde of the box and planting a low shot past Carson.

Carson palmed a rising angled drive from Pizarro wide on 71. Moments later Shevchenko dragged a low shot wide.

Villa were not dead yet though and Laursen levelled matters on 73, meeting Young's free-kick with a right-foot volley.

Chelsea were then reduced to ten on 80 as Carvalho was dismissed for a two-footed lunge on Agbonlahor.

Ballack restored Chelsea's lead on 88, planting a low right-foot free-kick into the bottom corner.

Villa were offered a lifeline on 90 as Ashley Cole was sent off for handling Moore's effort on the line. Barry made no mistake from the spot.

Chelsea: Cech, A.Cole, Essien (booked 19), Carvalho, Shevchenko, Lampard, J.Cole, Pizarro, Ferreira, Kalou, Alex. Subs: Hilario, Mikel (for Pizarro 85), Ballack (for Lampard 26), Ben Haim, Wright-Phillips (for Shevchenko 83).

VILLA: Carson, Bouma, Mellberg, Laursen, Barry, Young, Carew, Agbonlahor, Knight, Reo-Coker (booked 55), Maloney. Subs: Taylor, Harewood (for Bouma 90), Davies (for Maloney ht), Moore (for Carew 78), Gardner.