Chelsea 2-2 Burnley: Mauricio Pochettino’s side dealt fresh blow as Clarets snatch late point at Stamford Bridge

Cole Palmer’s brace proved in vain as Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw by 10-man Burnley in the Premier League.

The Blues were pegged back twice at Stamford Bridge where, despite Lorenz Assignon’s early red card, second-half goals from Josh Cullen and Dara O’Shea rescued a point for the relegation-threatened Clarets.

Having gone close through Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson - as well as seeing Axel Disasi denied by VAR - Chelsea broke through just before half-time.

Assignon was dismissed for a second yellow card after bundling over Mykhailo Mudryk in the box, before Palmer’s delightful Panenka from the penalty spot put the hosts in front.

Burnley responded within two minutes of the restart. Cullen played a neat one-two with substitute Josh Brownhill, and drilled a tremendous 20-yard volley past Djordje Petrovic.

Palmer restored Chelsea’s lead in the 78th minute, latching onto Raheem Sterling’s neat flick before slotting past Arijanet Muric.

However, the visitors hit back four minutes later as O’Shea headed in another equaliser.

Both sides went close to snatching all three points late on. Sterling nodded wide from close range, while Jay Rodriguez headed against the crossbar as the points were shared at the Bridge.

Following West Ham’s collapse at Newcastle earlier on, Chelsea had the chance to close the gap on the seventh-place Hammers to just two points - and still with two games in hand.

The Blues controlled large periods of the contest with 69% of the possession, while they twice led and also had 33 shots on goal, but to no avail.

Burnley also registered 18 attempts with the combined total of 51 the second-highest in a single Premier League game on record (2003-04), after Queens Park Rangers’ showdown with Leicester City in November 2014 (52).

With relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and Luton Town failing to win, The Clarets moved to within four points of safety with a morale-boosting draw.

Palmer continued his impressive season with Chelsea, taking his goal tally for the campaign to 13 - albeit an unlucky 13 as far as he and The Blues were concerned.

The first player to score in five successive home Premier League games for Chelsea since Eden Hazard in December 2014, his total of nine shots was the highest recorded by any Blues player in a single game this term.

He also became the fifth Chelsea player to have 20 or more direct goal involvements during their maiden season with The Blues, after Hazard, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.

Chelsea: Petrovic 6, Gusto 7, Disasi 7, Badiashile 6, Cucurella 6, Caicedo 7, Fernandez 7, Palmer 9*, Gallagher 7, Mudryk 7, Jackson 7. Subs: Madueke 6, Sterling 7, Gilchrist N/A.

Burnley: Muric 7, Assignon 3, O'Shea 8, Esteve 6, Vitinho 6, Bruun Larsen 5, Cullen 8, Berge 6, Odobert 7, Amdouni 4, Foster 7. Subs: Taylor 6, Brownhill 7, Gudmundsson 6, Rodriguez 6.

23' - NO GOAL: Chelsea think they have taken the lead at Stamford Bridge as Mudryk's deep cross is turned in by Disasi at the far post. However, a lengthy VAR check rules that the defender diverted the ball into the net with his arm and the goal is chalked off.

41' - PENALTY TO CHELSEA AND A RED CARD: The referee points to the spot as Assignon is adjudged to have bundled over Mudryk in the box. However, the punishment does not end there for the Burnley full-back, who is then shown a second yellow card.

44' - GOAL!!! CHELSEA 1-0 BURNLEY (PALMER): A delightful Panenka from Palmer! Despite the delay, Chelsea's top scorer steps up and calmly chips the ball down the centre of the goal, as Muric dives away to his right.

47' - GOAL!!! CHELSEA 1-1 BURNLEY (CULLEN): The visitors are level within two minutes of the restart! It is a lovely goal as Cullen plays a neat one-two with Brownhill - on as a half-time replacement for Bruun Larsen - before drilling a 20-yard volley beyond the helpless dive of Petrovic.

78' - GOAL!!! - CHELSEA 2-1 BURNLEY (PALMER): Palmer is at the double to steer Chelsea back in front! Fernandez slips the ball into Sterling's feet, who - with his back to goal - excellently flicks the ball to Palmer in the box as the forward takes the ball in his stride before slotting beyond Muric.

81' - GOAL!!! CHELSEA 2-2 BURNLEY (O'SHEA): 10-man Burnley are level once more! O'Shea sends a simple header goal-bound, but Petrovic flaps at it and can't keep it out and Burnley have another equaliser! The Chelsea goalkeeper will not want to see that again.

85’ - BIG MISS: Palmer crosses for Sterling in the box, but the forward sends his free header wide of the post! It looked easier to score, what a chance for Chelsea to restore their lead.

88’ - OFF THE BAR: From another Burnley corner, Rodriguez sends a thumping header toward goal, but it crashes of the woodwork. Petrovic is beaten again and Chelsea are all over the place!

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