Aston Villa played out a hard-fought draw against Frank Lampard's Chelsea to continue their assault on the European places.
The 1-1 draw means Villa have taken 11 points from a possible 15 over Christmas as Dean Smith's side climb to fifth-place in the Premier League and ahead of Chelsea below them despite playing two games fewer.
Lampard, meanwhile, had the luxury to make as many as six changes to his side after their Boxing Day defeat at Arsenal while, for Smith, he made just one enforced change by starting Ezri Konsa for the suspended Tyrone Mings.
And it was Chelsea's freshness that gave them the upper-hand.The home side went close through Christian Pulisic a few times before Olivier Giroud scored the opener. His stooping header from Ben Chilwell's delivery was his ninth goal in seven games against Villa and it was a deserved onew at that stage knowing Villa hardly laid a glove on Chelsea - but for a curling Jack Grealish effort - during the opening 45 minutes.
After the break, though, it was Villa who played with the bit between their teeth and, just five minutes after the restart, it was that man again - Anwar El Ghazi - who fired home his fifth goal in as many games as his imperious form continues.
The winger latched onto a brilliant whipped delivery from deep from Matty Cash as he slotted well between Edouard Mendy's legs before being mobbed by his teammates at Stamford Bridge.
Villa, meanwhile, were made to defend after that and it was the returning Konsa who heroically headed Pulisic's goal-bound effort away from underneath the crossbar. The ball eventually ended up in the net - but for Cesar Azpilicueta to be ruled offside.Villa, though, bit back themselves when John McGinn smacked the crossbar from all of 25-plus yards out.
Lampard then brought on £120 million worth of talent in Kai Havertz and Timo Werner and the latter went close late on before substitute Jacob Ramsey saw an effort of his own whistle past the post.
In the end, Villa held on for a deserved point to extend their festive record to five games unbeaten (W3 D2). Up next it's Manchester United on New Year's Day.
PLAYER RATINGS
READ MORE: Aston Villa player ratings vs Chelsea: Matty Cash a class act as Anwar El Ghazi scores again
CLOSE!
Jacob Ramsey goes so close to scoring with his first touch. The ball whistling past Mendy's post from the edge of the area.
SAVE!
Martinez gets a touch on Pulisic's powerful effort to tip it over for a corner. Jacob Ramsey about to come on for Villa.
OFF THE LINE!
Konsa clears off the line from Pulisic's header. The ball ends up in the net but there's an offside on Azpilicueta.
EL GHAZI ON FIRE
That's El Ghazi's fifth goal in as many games now as his imperious form continues. Matty Cash with a fantastic assist from the right and El Ghazi side-foots his effort between Mendy's legs from the corner of the six-yard box.
CLEARANCE!
Matt Targett does really well to scoop out Chilwell's dangerously delivery from inside the six-yard box. Villa restart with a goal kick.
Fans react to Beglin's Grealish comment
Aston Villa fans have reacted to Jim Beglin’s criticism of their captain Jack Grealish during the Premier League clash with Chelsea.
Grealish, who has five goals and seven assists in the Premier League this term, started at Stamford Bridge looking to add to his team’s impressive points haul.
Villa started the evening in fifth - one place ahead of Chelsea - after eight wins from their opening 13 matches. Dean Smith’s side also boast one of the best defensive records in the Premier League and no goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets than Emiliano Martinez.
Read Beglin's criticism and the reaction HERE
TACKLE!
A last-ditch tackle by Cash denies Pulisic from striking at goal. Targett had given the ball away initially with Chelsea again coming down Villa's right side. Great covering by the right-back.
OVER!
Mason Mount drives is effort over Villa's crossbar after continuing his run into the box.
CHILWELL TOO MUCH TIME
Villa have been outnumbered on the Chelsea's left-flank throughout this half. Bertrand Traore has failed to track the runs of Chilwell which is a tough task at the best of times. The left-back raided forward once more and delivered for Giroud who scores his seventh in nine games against Villa with a stooping header after he peeled off Konsa.
CHANCE!
Azpilicueta crosses, the ball hits Giroud and then Cash before Pulisic skews his effort over Martinez's crossbar from inside the six-yard box.
PENALTY CLAIMS!
Chelsea want a penalty for shove on Giroud in the box by Konsa. They were never getting that one. Chilwell, in the build up, was allowed too much time to cross.
OVER!
Cash blazes over after Mendy spilled El Ghazi's lofted ball inside the box. "Eh, Cashy, well done," shouts Martinez. A decent chance, that.
GREAT START DOUGLAS
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz has been brilliant during the opening stages. He always looks so cool under pressure and keeps hold of it. He's a class act and probably Villa's best player thus far 28 minutes gone.
WIDE!
Kortney Hause connects with Grealish's whipped free-kick from deep - but his headed effort is well wide of the mark.
MAN DOWN!
Cash takes a whack to the face from Pulisic after heading clear. It's been a great start by 'Cashy' at right-back who's been his usual aggressive self. The right-back is getting some treatment. He'll no doubt soldier on.
OVER!
Watkins hits one high and well wide as he looks for his first goal in seven attempts dating back to the Arsenal fixture.
