Chelsea to assess walking wounded

Chelsea have been left to assess the damage of their 4-4 draw with Aston Villa as they reflect on the latest setback to their fading Premier League title hopes. The dismissal of Ashley Cole and Ricardo Carvalho at Stamford Bridge yesterday has left manager Avram Grant without virtually his entire first-choice defence.
Cole saw red for blocking a Gabriel Agbonlahor shot on the line but Chelsea are to appeal referee Phil Dowd's decision on the grounds of wrongful dismissal.
There was no dispute over Carvalho's exit, however, with the Portuguese centre-back offering an apology to Agbonlahor after the match for his vicious two-footed lunge.
The suspended duo will miss league matches against Newcastle and Fulham and an FA Cup third-round clash with QPR, joining skipper John Terry on the sidelines.
To make matters worse England midfielder Frank Lampard limped off with a thigh injury and an update on his fitness is expected today. Grant said: 'We'll wait for a diagnosis on Frank. 'We have a very good medical department and he will be fit as soon as possible.'

While Grant refused to condemn Carvalho's horror tackle after the game, the player himself took the unusual step of formally apologising to Agbonlahor. He said: 'It was never my intention to hurt Gabriel Agbonlahor with the tackle. 'I didn't see him after the game to apologise but I asked for a message to be passed on to him.' Carvalho's challenge was just one incident during an afternoon of high drama at Stamford Bridge that ended with Gareth Barry rescuing a point from the spot.
The Villa captain tucked home the penalty awarded for Cole's handball, completing the second of the game's two fightbacks. Shaun Maloney fired Villa into a deserved lead with a well-taken brace - the second courtesy of a terrible blunder by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech. But Zat Knight was shown a red card for clipping Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko took advantage from the spot, firing the first of his two goals. After dispatching a brilliant second the Ukraine striker set up Alex to put Chelsea 3-2 ahead before Martin Laursen equalised for Villa to set up the grandstand finish. Ballack plundered a brilliant free-kick - harshly awarded for Laursen's tackle on Joe Cole - before Barry pounced in the 93rd minute.