Blues 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 Barclays Premier League title hopes.

Frank Lampard limped off with a thigh strain, while Ashley Cole and Ricardo Carvalho's red cards have put more pressure on their weakened defence.

Boss Avram 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."

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.

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.