Chelsea 4 Aston Villa 4: Chelsea preserved their incredible unbeaten league record at Stamford Bridge in a riveting draw with Aston Villa in a game which saw three players sent off.

Villa took a 2-0 lead with Shaun Maloney scoring in the 14th and 44th minutes, the second coming courtesy of a terrible error by goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The home side won a penalty in added time in the opening period when Zat Knight, the last man, touched Michael Ballack — on for the injured Frank Lampard - in the area and the German threw himself down with gusto.

Referee Phil Dowd gave the spot-kick and dismissed Knight before Andriy Shevchenko sent Carson the wrong way to haul his side back into the contest.

Chelsea were level in the 50th minute as Shevchenko rifled home a great equaliser and the stunning turnaround looked to have been completed in fitting style in the 66th minute.

Alex drifted forward, collected Shevchenko's pass and skipped through before coolly slotting the ball home.

Martin Laursen stabbed home an equaliser but when Ballack smashed home an 88th-minute free-kick despite Ricardo Carvalho's dismissal for a two-footed lunge, it seemed the points were Chelsea's.

However, Ashley Cole appeared to handle on the line in the 89th minute and was sent off before Gareth Barry calmly converted the penalty.