( CNN ) -- Chelsea 's chances of retaining the English Premier League title suffered another setback on Sunday as struggling Aston Villa snatched a last-gasp 3-3 draw in London . Carlo Ancelotti 's team had fought back to lead 3-2 with two goals in the last 10 minutes , but poor defending allowed young Villa fullback Ciaran Clark to equalize with a free header in the second minute of time added on . The result left Chelsea in fifth place , a point behind Tottenham and six adrift of the leading Manchester clubs United and City . The Blues ended 2010 with a morale-boosting win over Bolton last Wednesday , and looked like extending that form when Frank Lampard scored his first goal since returning from long-term injury in the 23rd minute . The influential midfielder netted a penalty after James Collins was punished for a clumsy shove from behind on Florent Malouda , but Villa equalized four minutes before halftime when Ashley Young smashed home another spotkick following Michael Essien 's foul on Nigel Reo-Coker . New year , new Rooney as United stay top . Former England striker Emile Heskey put Villa ahead two minutes after the break with a powerful header from Stewart Downing 's cross , but Chelsea 's relentless pressure finally told in the 84th minute when Didier Drogba fired home a low shot after the visitors could not clear his clever chest-down to Malouda . Defender John Terry then popped up to slot in a rare goal with a minute to go in regulation time after Villa 's otherwise excellent goalkeeper Brad Friedel could only parry Drogba 's header into the former England captain 's path . That sparked scenes of jubilation and relief on the Chelsea bench , but Villa left Ancelotti 's future in some doubt when the 21-year-old Clark stole into the penalty area unmarked to head home a teasing cross from substitute Marc Albrighton . Chelsea have now won only once in eight league games , having played one more game than United -- a situation that is unlikely to please the club 's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich . `` We needed to win this game . We did n't and now it 's more difficult to prepare for the next game , '' Italian coach Ancelotti told reporters . `` I 'm disappointed because we worked very hard in the second half to come back into the game when 2-1 down . We did a fantastic job , we came back and scored to make it 3-2 and everyone thought the game was finished . '' While Ancelotti will have to face more questions about his increasingly insecure tenure , the result lifted the pressure on Villa 's French manager Gerard Houllier , whose team moved two points clear of the bottom three . Football 's heroes and villains of 2010 . `` It 's a massive point , '' American veteran Friedel told match broadcaster Sky Sports . `` We 've been in such a bad run of form we needed something , and it 's great to get it at Stamford Bridge . `` We 've got over what I thought was a poor penalty decision against us at the start and we 've fought back , and hopefully this will kick-start our season and we can get back up the table . '' In Sunday 's late game , Newcastle won 1-0 at Wigan to give new manager Alan Pardew his second victory after two successive defeats . Striker Shola Ameobi , playing alone up front in place of England striker Andy Carroll , scored a 19th-minute winner from close range after Joey Barton 's shot was blocked and Peter Lovenkrands poked the follow-up against the post . Newcastle moved up to 10th place , above Blackpool on goal difference but below Liverpool , to be six points clear of the bottom three . Defenders Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini headed against the bar , while Gary Caldwell struck the woodwork for Wigan , who remained just a point above the relegation zone . Meanwhile , Celtic moved four points clear in the Scottish Premier League with a 2-0 victory at defending champions Rangers as Greece striker Giorgios Samaras netted both goals , the second from the penalty spot after he was fouled . Rangers have played two fewer games than their Glasgow rivals following recent postponements due to snowy weather in Britain .
Aston Villa deny Chelsea a much-needed victory with a late equalizer in six -goal thriller . Premier League champions fought back from six -1 down to lead with a minute to play . Struggling Villa earn a precious point in time added on to leave Premier League in fifth place . Aston Villa win 1 -0 at Chelsea to give new manager Alan Pardew his fifth victory .