Didier Drogba and John Terry looked to have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with goals in the final six minutes at Stamford Bridge but the hosts’ poor defending cost them when Ciaran Clark nodded home the first goal of his career in stoppage-time.

Both sides had held the lead in an incredible, topsy-turvy game, with Frank Lampard’s penalty cancelled out by Ashley Young’s spot-kick and Emile Heskey’s header.

Ancelotti threw on Salomon Kalou for Ramires for the final 17 minutes.

Downing drilled straight at Cech from 25 yards before John Terry was carded for a lunge on Young and Ancelotti played his final card by introducing Daniel Sturridge for Nicolas Anelka.

Chelsea were denied in the final 10 minutes by some desperate Villa defending as the visiting fans began to chant, “You’re getting sacked in the morning!” at Ancelotti.

But Drogba came to his manager’s rescue six minutes from time with the ugliest of equalisers.

The struggling striker’s miscontrol set up Kalou, whose shot was blocked back for Drogba to rifle home via Carlos Cuellar.

Drogba then nodded over Malouda’s corner after Villa had brought on Marc Albrighton for an injured Agbonlahor.

With barely a minute remaining, Chelsea snatched what they thought was a winner.

Drogba’s bullet header was parried by Friedel straight to Terry, who produced a superb sidefoot finish to spark wild celebrations, with Ancelotti mobbed by his own players.

But the joy was short-lived with Clark stealing in completely unmarked at the back post to nod in Albrighton’s cross.

There was still time for Drogba to volley Bosingwa’s cross wide and Albrighton to mis-hit a volley as both sides poured forward in search of a winner.