By David Awopetu
Chelsea ended the year with just one win in five as Anwar El Ghazi’s controversial equaliser earned Aston Villa a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Olivier Giroud, so often the scourge of the visitors, put Chelsea ahead with a fine near-post header from Ben Chilwell’s cross, meaning the striker has now scored in 10 goals in 10 games against Villa, and has eight in eight for Chelsea.
But El Ghazi’s far-post finish through the legs of Edouard Mendy from Matty Cash’s cross angered Chelsea, with the hosts wanting a foul on Andreas Christensen from Jack Grealish in the build-up and a handball from Matt Targett.
Dean Smith’s side started brightly but found themselves behind when Giroud marked his return to the Chelsea starting line-up with a trademark finish from Ben Chilwell’s cross.
Parity was restored five minutes after the interval, though, when the unmarked El Ghazi converted Matty Cash’s inviting delivery at the back post.
Both sides had chances to steal victory, with Villa coming closest when John McGinn smashed a thunderous long-range effort off the crossbar.
The result lifts Villa to fifth in the table, a point outside the top four, and level with sixth-placed Chelsea with two games in hand.
