GABRIEL Agbonlahor helped Aston Villa maintain their unbeaten start to the season with a precious equaliser at Stamford Bridge.

Agbonlahor glanced a header into the net in the 45th minute to cancel out a thirdminute goal from Didier Drogba.

Drogba managed to poke a scrambled goal to the net after Thomas Sorensen failed to gather Arjen Robben's free-kick, but the visitors had their keeper to thank for keeping them in the game with a string of superb saves.

Chelsea had made four changes from the side which beat Levski Sofia in the Champions League in midweek. Defenders Paulo Ferreira and Wayne Bridge plus midfielders Michael Ballack and Mikel Jon Obi were replaced by Geremi, Ashley Cole, Claude Makelele and Arjen Robben. Villa manager Martin O'Neill kept faith with the same side that defeated Charlton 2-0 last time out.

But O'Neill's brave belief that his side could preserve their unbeaten start to the season at Stamford Bridge was shaken after just three minutes when Drogba scrambled the ball in.

Three minutes later Frank Lampard brought a superb save from Thomas Sorensen with a 25-yard drive but Chelsea were denied a corner by referee Graham Poll.

Villa demonstrated they had the ability to hurt the champions when Stilian Petrov forced Petr Cech to punch the ball for a corner with a stinging 20-yard drive in the 15th minute. But four minutes later Villa had Sorensen to thank for preventing Chelsea from adding to their lead.

Robben concluded a mazy run on the left flank by pulling the ball back for Lampard to force the Danish goalkeeper into another fine save with a thumping left-foot drive.

In the 27th minute the busy Sorensen had to be at his most alert to deal with a header from Michael Essien after the Chelsea midfielder had climbed highest to meet another corner from Lampard.

Chelsea continued to dominate proceedings and Drogba was unfortunate not to land a second for the day in the 38th minute. But Villa were back on terms in the 43 rd minute.

Agbonlahor took advantage of a wayward pass from Ricardo Carvalho to run at the Chelsea defence and win a corner. Drogba's initial headed clearance was sent back into the danger area by Steven Davis. His cross found the unmarked Liam Ridgewell at the far post and when he headed the ball back into the six-yard box, Agbonlahor sent a glancing effort beyond the unprotected Cech for the leveller.

Chelsea should have taken the lead for the second time five minutes into the second half when Geremi's clever pass gave Drogba a clear chance but he completely missed his kick with just Sorensen to beat. On the hour mark Sorensen saved Villa yet again when Andriy Shevchenko put Essien clear inside the penalty area but the Dane dived low to his right to deny the Ghanaian international.

In the 67th minute Mourinho opted to give his side more attacking options and replaced Robben with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Geremi with Salomon Kalou.

The changes inspired Chelsea to drive forward once more and Wright-Phillips smashed the ball against the underside of the crossbar in the 69th minute.

In the 72nd minute Lampard should have scored but he sent his header wide of the target after WrightPhillips had found him on the edge of the six-yard box.

Moments later the Danish keeper flung himself into the air to prevent Shevchenko's 20-yard drive from finding the top corner.