Villa edged a point closer to the title with a deserved point at Griffin Park.

Nathan Baker grabbed the second-half equaliser after Franco Di Santo had given the hosts an undeserved lead nine minutes from time.

The draw means Villa will be crowned champions if Reading fail to beat Portsmouth tomorrow night.

Di Santo fired high over the bar from the edge of the box on four.

Taylor did well to deny Pizzaro, parrying a low shot on eight. Di Santo fired over from the rebound.

Lowry almost connected with a right-wing cross from Routledge as the winger skipped past his full-ack on 12. Smith cleared to safety for the hosts.

As Villa started to settle Salifou dragged a right-foot drive past the post from 25 yards two minutes later.

Bannan fashioned a chance for himself on the edge of the box on 19 but fired over the bar under pressure from Cummings.

Routledge forced Chelsea keeper Searle into an outstanding save with a rising 25-yard half volley on 23.

Moments later Osbourne headed behind as he got his wires crossed with keeper Taylor.

Taylor made amedns as he parried a rising effort from Di Santo on 30.

Searle fumbled a right-foot volley from Osbourne a minute later.

The action was suddenly end to end and Taylor produced the save of the night so far to dent Sidwell on 31.

Maloney fired a right-foot free-kick straight at Searle on 36.

Smith headed over the bar as he rose to meet a Younghusband corner from the right on 38.

Salifou linked up well with Malonery a minute later but sent a low drive straight at keeper Searle.

Smith charged down a right-foot effort from Maloney as the Scot cut in from the right on 43. Maloney headed over from a Routledge centre seconds later.

Williams sent a shot on the turn over the bar from the edge of the box a minute after the restart.

Chelsea substitute Stoch fired into the side netting as he cut in from the right on 47.

Maloney sent a right-foot free-kick narrowly over the bar on 49 as the lively start to the second period continued.

Routledge's low drive was deflected weide by Rodriguez on 51. Baker saw a low shot blocked on the line from the subsequent corner.

Taylor denied Stoch on 52 as the Chelsea man cut in from the right and rifled in a rising right-foot effort.

Salifou fired narrowly wide on 58 as he raced onto a Routledge through ball.

Osbourne then sent a rising drive over the bar as he found space on the left-hand side of the box on 60.

With Villa enjoying their best spell of the game so far Delfouneso headed just wide from a Routledge centre on 62.

Searle raced off his line to beat Delfouneso to Maloney's through ball on 69.

Villa substitute Forrester was denied by Searle on 75 ads the keeper tipped a superb 25-yard free-kick around the post.

Salifou fired over the bar from distance as Chelsea only half cleared a Forrester free-kick on 77.

Chelsea had the lead on 81 as Di Santo pounced on a mix-up between Baker and Taylor and headed into an empty net.

Salifou headed high and wide from Forrester's left-wing centre a minute later.

Routledge almost levelled matters with a thunderous low drive on 83, but Van Aanholt cleared off the line.

The scores were level a minute later as Forrester's left-wing corner wass headed home by Baker.

Searle denied Lowry on 86 as Villa pressed for a winner. Routledge then saw another low effort deflected behind.

Baker went even closer on 89 but saw his half volley from the edge of the box palmed wide by Searle.

Salifou fired straight at Searle as the game entered stoppage time.

VILLA: Taylor, Herd, Lowry, Osbourne, Clark, Baker, Salifou, Routledge, Williams, Bannan, Maloney. Subs: Delfouneso (for Bannan 59), Parish, Albrighton, Forrester (for Maloney 73), Lichaj (for Herd 35).

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