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*Moore leveller ensures Villa Park hoodoo unhinges Chelsea again*

Luke Moore, the first player to breach Chelsea’s defence in the Premiership this season, plundered a goal of greater significance last night when his late equaliser extended the visitors’ winless streak to three matches, reinforcing the belief that the champions are experiencing a dip in form.

It is only the second time in Jose Mourinho’s tenure that Chelsea have endured such an unproductive run and, though the Portuguese may not be gripped with fear about retaining the title, there can be little doubt that his side are no longer playing with the swagger that characterised their performances earlier in the season.

Arjen Robben’s early goal ought to have provided a platform for victory but for the second league match in succession Chelsea surrendered a first-half lead. Mourinho admitted they were missing Didier Drogba, who is at the African Nations Cup, but the Chelsea manager must harbour worries about the form of other players, including Frank Lampard.

The England midfielder was largely anonymous last night, though the same could not be said of Rob Styles. Mourinho was angered by the referee’s failure to award a penalty when Robben tumbled to the floor under the challenge of Jlloyd Samuel late on. He did, however, concede that Villa should have had a penalty in the first half when John Terry handled after Gareth Barry deceived the captain with a neat turn. According to Mourinho, Styles was “compensating” for his refusal to give Villa a spot-kick when he waved away Chelsea’s appeals. This is the second time the Chelsea manager has left Villa Park cursing the official; in the corresponding fixture last season Drogba was booked for diving after he appeared to be tripped inside the penalty area by Ulises De la Cruz. “I hope that next season there is no Mr Styles [at Villa Park],” said Mourinho.

Results elsewhere, however, meant that their rivals failed to take advantage of their slip. “People think the Premiership has lost its competitiveness but tonight was a perfect example of what the Premiership is,” the Chelsea manager said. “Chelsea drew, Manchester United lost, Liverpool drew. It’s a great situation because we made a mistake and everybody else did the same.”

David O’Leary said Villa’s defenders had also made a mistake when they allowed Robben to fire Chelsea into a 14th-minute lead, but he could have few complaints about his side’s belligerent display. Kevin Phillips, starting for the first time in two months, buzzed with menace and Gareth Barry turned in the kind of performance that brought international recognition not so long ago.

Barry came close to a breakthrough in the 13th minute when Petr Cech’s attempted punch clearance landed at his feet. However, from no more than 12 yards the Villa midfielder hammered over. It was a reprieve which Chelsea punished immediately, switching from defence to attack to craft Robben’s opener.

William Gallas rampaged forward on the left beyond Aaron Hughes, creating the space for a cross, and, with Olof Mellberg and Mark Delaney stood watching, Joe Cole chested down for Robben to sweep a left-foot strike beyond Thomas Sorensen. It was the Dutchman’s fifth Premiership goal of the season and another should have followed 14 minutes later. This time Eidur Gudjohnsen was the architect, sliding a ball beyond a static defence and into the path of the Chelsea forward. With Cole unmarked and the angle narrowing Robben ought to have squared but he opted to go alone, drawing a comfortable save from Sorensen.

Cole’s frustration was manifest but at least he was on the pitch; Shaun Wright-Phillips did not even make the substitutes’ bench. It was from the dug-out that Moore emerged to have the last word. With Gallas out of position, Delaney gambolled forward on the right and his near-post cross eluded Glen Johnson and Cech. Moore did not need a second invitation, bundling the ball into the unguarded goal. “It was the least we deserved,” said O’Leary.