Chelsea hold Taylor's Villa

Merson celebrates scoring Villa's goal after 28 minutes

Aston Villa 1-1 Chelsea
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Frank Lampard's second-half goal meant Graham Taylor had to be content with a point on his return to club management at Villa.

Taylor received a standing ovation from the home supporters as he walked to the dug-out before the game.

And the afternoon got better for Taylor after 28 minutes when Paul Merson's goal gave Villa the initiative in a match of few chances.

  Key moments

28 mins: Merson scores for Villa

65 mins: Lampard equalises for Chelsea

89 mins: Hasselbaink shoots wide with only the goalkeeper to beat

But Gianfranco Zola and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink combined to create an equaliser for England-hopeful Lampard in front of Sven-Goran Eriksson, who watched the match from the stands.

Without ever really inspiring, Villa extended their unbeaten run to seven games, while Chelsea's three-match winning streak came to an end.

Chelsea created the first chance of the match in the fourth minute.

Hasselbaink - in excellent form going into the game - narrowly missed the target after getting in front of Steve Staunton to meet Graeme Le Saux's cross.

Chelsea shaded it and will be disappointed that they haven't won

Villa boss Graham Taylor

But, despite lots of attacking intent from both teams, chances were at an absolute premium in the opening half-hour and Villa's first real opportunity resulted in a goal.

Darius Vassell burst into the Chelsea penalty but his shot was deflected.

Merson - who had earlier gone close from 25 yards - was the first to react and smashed the ball into the top corner from short range.

Mario Stanic put Eidur Gudjohnsen clear as Chelsea searched for an equaliser, but his control let him down and the ball bobbled out.

Taylor received a standing ovation from the Villa fans

Then - with half-time looming - Marcel Desailly picked out the Icelandic striker eight yards out, but Gudjohnsen ballooned his shot over the bar.

Minutes into the second-half John Terry fouled Vassell on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area but Angel narrowly missed with the subsequent free-kick.

Cheslea equalised through Lampard after 65 minutes - but much of the credit must go to substitute Gianfranco Zola.

The Italian's sumptuous pass picked out Hasselbaink, who deftly headed the ball into the path of Lampard for the midfielder to knock the ball into the net.

I thought we deserved to win

Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri

Chelsea did not settle for a point but went in search of a winner.

Mikael Forssell - introduced as a substitute at the same time as Zola - shot inches over the Villa crossbar with a thunderous shot.

And with full-time approaching Peter Enckelman - playing his third game in a row after Peter Schmeichel failed a fitness test - did enough to distract Hasslebaink.

The Dutch striker was through on goal but pulled his shot wide under pressure from the Villa goalkeeper.

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Aston Villa: Enckelman, Delaney, Mellberg (Barry 45), Staunton, Samuel, Hadji, Hendrie (Stone 57), Boateng, Merson, Vassell (Dublin 87), Angel.
Subs Not Used: Myhill, Balaban.
Booked: Samuel.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Ferrer (Zola 63), Desailly, Terry (Keenan 76), Le Saux, Dalla Bona, Petit, Lampard, Stanic, Gudjohnsen (Forssell 63), Hasselbaink.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Jokanovic.
Booked: Dalla Bona.

Att: 41,137

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).