Chelsea went into today's clash away at Aston Villa knowing that a win would all but book their place in next season's Champions League.
As it was, they fell behind to Christian Benteke's strike midway through the first half, before Ramires was sent off just before the break.
However, moments after Benteke had been red carded in the second half, Frank Lampard equalled Chelsea's all-time goalscoring record to make it 1-1.
He then made history two minutes from time by scoring his 203rd goal for the club to hand the Blues all three points.
Below you can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Morning all. While the FA Cup at Wembley is to come later, for these two teams, this encounter is just as big. Chelsea are eyeing a place in Europe's top competition, but their hosts Aston Villa are eager to retain their status in the top flight. It promises to be an eventful clash.
Right, before we get into all the pre-match chat and statistics, the team news from Villa Park is just beginning to filter through to us. Let's start with the home team.
VILLA XI: Guzan; Lichaj, Vlaar, Baker, Bennett; Westwood, Delph, Sylla, Weimann; Agbonlahor, Benteke
The big news for Villa is the fact they are without full-back Matthew Lowton because of injury. The youngster has impressed recently, but his absence has handed a chance to Eric Lichaj. Elsewhere, Gabriel Agbonlahor has kept his place in attack and will partner leading goalscorer Christian Benteke.
And here is how the away side will start the encounter...
CHELSEA XI: Cech; Cole, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Lampard, Moses, Mata, Hazard; Ba
So, there are four changes to the Chelsea team that drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. John Terry comes in to take the captain's armband, while Frank Lampard and Demba Ba are also included. Victor Moses also starts in what is an attacking Chelsea lineup.
Right, Villa fans may want to avert their eyes for a few moments because we are going to talk about the game between these clubs earlier in the season. In case you have forgotten, Chelsea won 8-0 at Stamford Bridge in what was a dark day for Villa. It was also the last time that Fernando Torres scored a Premier League goal for the Blues - the match took place in December!
Keep looking away you Villa supporters because here is a video reminder of that match - just to prove that Torres can score goals!
Okay, let's put a smile back on Villa faces shall we? There have been 67 meetings between these two clubs at Villa Park, but Chelsea have only managed to win 15 of those. On the other hand, Villa have emerged victorious on 32 occasions.
It's just come to my attention that you don't know who is on both benches. Let's put that right:
VILLA: Given, Holman, Williams, Gardner, Bent, Bowery, N'Zogbia
CHELSEA: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Luiz, Torres, Oscar, Benayoun, Ake
It's good to see Gary Gardner back among the substitutes for Villa. The young midfielder has spent several months on the sidelines with a serious knee ligament injury. He's played some reserve football of late, but it would be great to see him involved in the Premier League again.
Right, let's clear up what a win will do for both teams today. If Villa take maximum points, they will be a Premier League side next season without any doubt. Meanwhile, the Blues will confirm their place in the Champions League if they come out on top. A draw would leave both unsure of their fate heading into the final day of the season next weekend.
We are just seeing shots of Terry giving a team talk to the Chelsea squad during their warm-up. It will be interesting to see how he in particular deals with the likes Benteke and Agbonlahor. You'd have to imagine that on the ground, they will streak away from the Chelsea skipper.
Staying with Chelsea, here is what their interim manager Rafael Benitez has had to say about this game - talking to Sky Sports News: "We know that we have to win and then we can relax and concentrate on the Europa League final on Wednesday. We have a strong team of players on the pitch, but we have had some problems recently because we have had lots of games. We have two games in a week and it can be very difficult."
"Villa are scoring goals, they are playing in front of their home fans so it will be difficult for us today."
And another pro-Chelsea statistic, from Opta: "11 - Only against Bolton (12) has Frank Lampard scored more Premier League goals than he has against Aston Villa (11). Chance."
Right, the players are in the tunnel. There is a really good atmosphere building up inside Villa Park right now. That will hopefully help the players produce a decent match.
Here come the two teams. Not long now until we are off and running...
GAME ON! Chelsea, attacking from right to left, get us underway at Villa Park.
Some nice early football from Villa sees Ashley Westwood and Fabian Delph link well in the midfield. The ball is eventually worked to Benteke wide on the right, but his cross is easily cleared.
BOOKING! Dear oh dear, football has gone soft. It's a great challenge from Villa defender Nathan Baker. Yes he catches Juan Mata, but only after he clearly gets the ball. Referee Lee Mason is straight to his pocket though and dishes out a yellow card. Baker has to be careful now.
The visiting Blues are now beginning to impose themselves on the game as the rain lashes down. Their midfielders are seeing a lot of the ball and are controlling proceedings. Meanwhile, Villa are hoping looking to catch them on the counter-attack.
GOAL! Villa 1-0 Chelsea (Benteke)
Gary Cahill and Petr Cech will be very, very disappointed in themselves, that's for sure. Some credit has to go to Benteke though, because he bursts beyond a sluggish Cahill, before poking the ball inside the near post from a narrow angle. The Chelsea pair should have done much better to stop the Belgian, but nevertheless, Villa lead.
BOOKING! It's 1-1, but only terms of yellow cards. Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Ramires is the player to be cautioned for a sliding challenge on goalscorer Benteke. He tries to protest his innocence, but he doesn't really have a case.
The whole ground stands to applaud in tribute to Stiliyan Petrov, who confirmed his retirement earlier in the week following his battle with acute leukaemia. The Bulgarian is at Villa Park today and looks moved by the support - nice moment.
Another stat from the guys at Opta: "14 - Christian Benteke has now scored 14 Premier League goals in the year 2013, three more than any other player. Streak."
SAVE! Brad Guzan's performances have been hailed this season and the Villa goalkeeper has just kept his side in front with a brave piece of work. It looks as though Demba Ba is going to level up proceedings from close range following a lofted ball from Mata, but Guzan spreads himself well at the feet of the Chelsea striker to block.
OFF THE POST! Guzan deserves his luck as he gets down brilliantly to push clear Lampard's drilled free kick from 20 yards out. The ball trickles onto the post and the American keeper gets up in time to push it clear for a corner. Great stuff from the Villa number one.
For all of the ball that they have seen, Chelsea have created very little with it. Guzan has been forced to make two saves, but apart from that, he has been a spectator. Credit should to Villa because they've defended well so far.
These Villa defenders have been criticised for some of the decisions that they have made this season, but you can't argue with Joe Bennett's work just now. Moses looked to be bursting into the Villa area for a shot at goal, but the defender slid in brilliantly to clear the danger.
BOOKING! The Villa faithful are crying for a red card, but's only yellow for Chelsea skipper Terry. It's the correct decision as well because although it was a foul on Benteke, two Chelsea defenders were covering Terry. He wasn't the last man.
RED CARD! Ramires (Chelsea)
It may have taken two minutes, but Villa fans get what they want as a Chelsea player sees red. Ramires was on a booking already and once he raises his boot in challenge with Agbonlahor, there is only one outcome. Terry tries to stand up for his teammate, but referee Mason is having none of it. Chelsea are down to ten men and it's a big half-time team talk coming up for Benitez. Meanwhile, there will be two minutes of stoppage time.
HALF-TIME: Villa 1-0 Chelsea
Well, that was a rather entertaining half of football if truth be told. Chelsea have arguably controlled the game in terms of possession, but they have done very little with it. The likes of Eden Hazard and Mata have been unusually quiet - something Benitez will no doubt be hoping changes during the second half.
For Villa, they've defended very well - which can't always have been said about them this season. On the break as well they've looked dangerous and with the likes of Benteke in attack, you've always got a chance.
Talking of Benteke, he's actually lucky to be on the pitch. Replays during the break have shown that he has twice caught Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta in the face with an elbow. You'd have to say it was a deliberate act as well because on both occasions the Villa striker had a little look to see where his opponent was.
It seems as though David Luiz could be coming on for Chelsea. He's doing an extensive warm-up on the pitch and is going through some tactics with the coaching staff. Perhaps he will come on for Moses, we shall see.
Right, we are back underway and Luiz has indeed replaced Moses. That should free up Lampard to be a little more adventurous. It's a big 45 minutes ahead for both teams.
Infostrada Sports on Twitter: "Chelsea have never come back to win a #BPL away match after getting a man sent off when losing #avfc #cfc."
CHANCES! Two early sights of goal for Villa at the start of the second half, but Andreas Weimann kicks at thin air inside the area, before Yacouba Sylla fires well over the crossbar from the edge of the box. Positive stuff for the home team nonetheless.
There's been no change in Mata or Hazard's performance so far. Both are struggling to get on the ball and when they do, they have at least two Villa players putting them under pressure. Whether the home team can keep that up for the rest of the match remains to be seen.
RED CARD! Benteke (Villa)
And footballers why they are branded stupid! Having been cautioned for an elbow earlier in the match - and he really should have been red carded for that - Benteke catches Terry on the chest with his studs. Yes Terry makes the most of it, but what is the Belgian striker playing it? He had to go. 10 vs. 10.
GOAL! Villa 1-1 Chelsea (Lampard)
Why an earth are Chelsea considering allowing Lampard to leave on a free? Madness. He equals Bobby Tambling's record of 202 goals to become Chelsea's joint leading goalscorer of all time with a strike from the edge of the area that takes a nick off Bennett. You'd have to fancy Chelsea now.
By the way, it was Hazard who set up the goal. He's been largely ineffective, but he cut in from the right, beat two Villa defenders before presenting the opportunity for Lampard. We hadn't seen that from him all game until then.
CHANCE! Ashley Cole you lucky chap! Lichaj raids down the right and sends over a low cross. The Chelsea defender waves his leg at the ball, which deflects over Cech's head. It looks as though it is going to drop into the net, but luckily for Cole and Chelsea, it lands on the roof of the net.
OFF THE LINE! Cahill is adamant that he has put Chelsea 2-1 up, but replays show that is scuffed shot is blocked on the line by Sylla. Ba goes for the rebound, but Westwood throws himself in the way. That may have just edged over the line, but there is no way that the officials could be sure. It was far too quick and so it remains 1-1.
More bad news for Chelsea as their skipper is down on the turf and in agony. It looks as though he's hurt his ankle and the stretcher has been called for. The Villa faithful are being less than pleasant, let's put it that way! Branislav Ivanovic will come on in his place.
CHANCE! Lampard should now be out on his own as Chelsea's leading goalscorer. He's all alone inside the area, but sends his headed effort well wide of the target. It's the sort of chance that he would normally convert in his sleep.
SAVE! Luiz has shown his ability from distance in recent weeks and he almost adds to his collection with a free kick from 30 yards out. The ball swerves one way and then the other, but Guzan reacts clearly to push it away from danger. The way it moved, it looked more like a beach ball!
BOOKING! Lampard receives his third caution of the season in the Premier League for a nudge on Weimann. It's a clever booking really (if there is such a thing) because Villa were on the break then and Lampard's intervention has slowed things down.
SAVE! Villa have played well in the last 10 minutes and have actually looked like scoring a winner. It's Westwood who strikes the ball cleanly from the edge of the area, but Cech is able to parry it clear. Meanwhile, Torres has come on in place of Ba for Chelsea.
GOAL! Villa 1-2 Chelsea (Lampard)
He's done it! There's some Chelsea history as Lampard becomes the club's leading goalscorer of all time. He's in the right place at the right time as Hazard sends in a low cross from six yards out. That's 203 goals since 2001 from midfield - let that soak in. Incredible.
Incidentally, we will have seven minutes of stoppage time because of that injury to Terry.
England cricketer Kevin Pietersen on Twitter: "What an incredible day for Frank Lampard & his family.. #hero."
But joy turns to despair for Chelsea as Hazard is down and is clutching his hamstring. He looks to be in a lot of pain and there is a fair chance that will rule him out of the Europa League final on Wednesday. He will certainly play no further part in this game.
FULL TIME: Villa 1-2 Chelsea
So, the main talking point is the fact that Lampard made history on his way to giving Chelsea all three points. What a player he has been for the Blues. How can they consider letting him go?! For Villa, they must now wait to see how Wigan Athletic get on against Arsenal next Tuesday before they know what is riding on their last game of the season against the Latics.
That's all we have time for from Villa Park. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and be sure to look out for our analysis of the clash. What's more, we will have coverage of the FA Cup final later today, so don't go anywhere! Until next time, goodbye.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
