In isolation yesterday evening's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa was not a bad result for Chelsea but in the wider scheme of things it does little to relieve the building sense of pressure closing out the calendar year.

Failure to beat Manchester City on Sunday, should that game go ahead depending on what the Premier League decide following a coronavirus breakout in Pep Guardiola's squad, could see Chelsea slump as low as 10th depending on results elsewhere.

Despite every team dropping points and Lampard saying the table is tightly packed, his team now appear at risk of being cut off should they fail to beat City.

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Frank Lampard press conference after Villa draw

A loss would make it just four points from the past available 18 - an unacceptable tally for a team expected by many to challenge near the top - and they are currently on track to finish with 62 points. That is four fewer than last season.

Lampard was pleased with his players' response to the Boxing Day defeat to Arsenal but qualified that praise with the need for them to rediscover a winning touch - quickly.

"When things are going well it's pretty easy," Lampard said last night. "We were on a long unbeaten run and playing well but not too many levels up from what we were playing today.

"The focus of the team was good. Some of the play between the lines, particularly down our left hand side with Chilwell, Christian and Mason - was really good. And against a really good team.

"When I said I thought we'd have won a month ago, I felt when you're in a good run the ball goes in the back of the net more - Christian [Pulisic]'s chances, the chances at the end of the game.

"Their goal happened when we were a man down and lucky or whatever you want to call it. And that's just football. I think it's a positive for our lads to understand that. If we keep playing with that attitude we'll get back to winning ... we've had a short period where we haven't been."

A short period in terms of weeks but in such a congested footballing calendar that spell needs to have a line drawn under it fast.

Christensen's return does not go to plan

This was not the ideal return to the starting XI for the Denmark international as he inexplicably stayed down in the build-up to Aston Villa's equaliser having made a lame challenge on Jack Grealish.

In his first league start since the 3-3 draw away to West Bromwich Albion in late September, Christensen failed to make a successful tackle or interception in addition to being out of the game for the equaliser.

Kurt Zouma and Thiago Silva are unquestionably Lampard's strongest pairing but there can now be zero doubt over who the first back-up is as Toni Rudiger gave a far more solid audition.

As for Fikayo Tomori ... let's just see what January brings.

Chilwell back on form

On a positive note, the left back was sharp again having appeared shaky while injured against Arsenal. In addition to the assist for Giroud's goal, he almost won it in added time with a remarkable volley that was only a whisker wide at the far post.

A statistic tweeted by Opta during the game summed up his attacking contribution since joining from Leicester City in the summer: "Ben Chilwell has equalled his Premier League season-best tally of four assists, with the Chelsea defender having as many goal involvements in this campaign as 2019/20."

Mount's neverending energy

Does the young midfielder ever get tired? He was typically busy last night in his fourth consecutive full game. He did not stop working and while some others around him appeared fatigued, there was no wilting as Chelsea chased a winner.

Havertz concern

Kai Havertz did not start away to Arsenal and Lampard decided to bring him on for only the final 18 minutes here. The head coach has been positive about the German youngster every time he has been asked but this action spoke louder than words.

Havertz is lacking in confidence and still not 100% after his bout of coronavirus.