O'Neill makes his point as Chelsea held by Villa

Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor celebrates after scoring against Chelsea during their Premeirship match at Stamford Bridge. Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill came out marginally on top in his rematch with Jose Mourinho after his side held out for a 1-1 draw.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill came out marginally on top in his rematch with Jose Mourinho after his side held out for a hard-fought point at Chelsea.

Gabriel Agbonlahor's headed equaliser cancelled out Didier Drogba's opener as Villa extended their unbeaten start to their first Premiership campaign under former Celtic boss O'Neill.

Saturday's match was the first time O'Neill had clashed with the Chelsea manager since the 2003 UEFA Cup final, when Mourinho's FC Porto triumphed narrowly over Celtic in a pulsating clash in Seville.

This time their duel produced an equally thrilling match but it was O'Neill who headed home the happier man.

For Chelsea, it was two points lost as Arsenal, who beat Charlton, gained ground on them, and they paid for missing a host of chances, mostly in the second period.

Villa could not have suffered a worse start with Drogba continuing his fine run in front of goal by opening the scoring in only the third minute.

Arjen Robben's flighted ball from the right was contested by Andriy Shevchenko and Thomas Sorensen.

The ball then dropped invitingly for Drogba, who still had to force it over the line under intense pressure from Villa centreback Olof Mellberg.

The early strike for Chelsea looked like opening the floodgates, but Villa regrouped impressively and set about making life difficult for the Champions.

Stilian Petrov, who played under O'Neill at Celtic and was in the side beaten in Seville, fired a goalbound effort which was beaten away by Petr Cech.

Villa themselves survived a scare when Sorensen saved well from Frank Lampard, but they hauled themselves level moments before half-time thanks to some clever movement in the penalty area.

Steven Davis put over a cross from the right, Liam Ridgewell peeled off to the far side and aimed a header back into the area, where Agbonlahor glanced the equaliser beyond the reach of Cech.

The goal seemed to puncture Chelsea until midway through the second half, when they stepped on the gas and began creating chances.

Sorensen did well to tip over from a vicious cross-cum-shot from Robben, before he made way for an injection of penetration from the flanks.

The introduction of Saloman Kalou and Shaun Wright-Phillips revitalised Chelsea's attacking options and Mourinho's side started pumping balls into the box.

Sorensen dealt admirably with everything that came his way, though he and his defence rode their luck when Wright-Phillips powered a shot against the underside of the bar.

Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor (top) heads in an equaliser during the Premiership match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Villa also survived a sticky moment when another Wright-Phillips effort was diverted wide at the far post off the head of Lampard.

However, Villa might have won the game if Juan Pablo Angel had shown more pace and composure when through with 10 minutes left. The Colombian fell under John Terry's challenge, but despite O'Neill's protests, referee Graham Poll signalled for play to continue.

Chelsea failed again during four minutes of injury time, and when the whistle went, O'Neil and Moruinho embraced to celebrate an intoxicating contest.