Axel Disasi's late winner was controversially disallowed after a pitch-side review as Chelsea came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Aston Villa.

In stark contrast to their capitulation at Arsenal on Tuesday, the Blues produced an impressive fightback at Villa Park, with Noni Madueke's goal and a brilliant Conor Gallagher strike bringing them level late on.

Chelsea thought they had completed the turnaround in stoppage time when Disasi powered a header past Robin Olsen, only for VAR Chris Kavanagh to advise Craig Pawson to review the goal.

The officials judged the decision not to penalise Benoit Badiashile's nudge on Diego Carlos to be a clear and obvious error - sparking fury among Chelsea's players at full-time, while Mauricio Pochettino labelled Pawson "unbelievable" and the decision "ridiculous".

Villa had earlier raced into the lead thanks to Marc Cucurella's own goal, before Morgan Rogers doubled the advantage shortly before half-time.

However, Unai Emery's side were subdued throughout and missed the chance to move nine points clear of Tottenham - who host Arsenal on Sunday, live on Sky Sports - in the race for fourth place.

How VAR thwarted Chelsea surge at Villa

Chelsea may have endured the lowest point of their season at Arsenal earlier this week but their most recent trip to Villa Park was one of the most impressive outings of Pochettino's reign.

The Blues knocked Villa out of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win in February and almost pulled off an even more impressive victory on this occasion.

However, the evening started in miserable fashion for Chelsea, who conceded after four minutes for the second game in a row when Lucas Digne punished Madueke's feeble defending, before Cucurella diverted John McGinn's scuffed shot into his own net.

Villa then retreated into their own half for much of the game and briefly looked to have been pegged back by Nicolas Jackson's smart finish, only for VAR to show he was offside.

The forward then missed a glorious chance, hitting the post when unmarked from just yards out - and was punished a short while later when Rogers fired past Djordje Petrovic from the edge of the box.

The hosts suffered a blow when Emiliano Martinez failed to return for the second half, joining Youri Tielemans on the sideline after both suffered injuries during the opening period.

Olsen was called from the bench and endured a busy half, first being beaten when Gallagher robbed Douglas Luiz, with Madueke bending the loose ball into the net.

Gallagher then produced a superb finish on his left foot, curling the ball into the top corner in the 81st minute to deservedly draw Chelsea level.

A frantic finish then ensured, with Ollie Watkins blasting a brilliant chance over the bar after a rare Villa attack.

Cole Palmer then looked set to cap his return to the team with a solo goal, weaving through Villa's defence after Olsen's error, only for the goalkeeper to redeem himself with a vital save.

There was still time for Disasi to find the net in the 95th minute - only for the officials to chalk off a Chelsea goal for the second time.

Pochettino fumed as Jesus Perez, his assistant, dragged Chelsea's players away from the officials at the end of the game. The manager will be proud of the second-half display but no doubt knows his pledge to return the club to Europe is moving further out of reach.

Pochettino: The referee is unbelievable

Pochettino vented his fury at the officials, citing Disasi's disallowed goal and the failure to award Chelsea a penalty for a clear handball by Jack Grealish in their FA Cup semi-final defeat at Manchester City last weekend as evidence of VAR "damaging" football.

"Everyone that was watching the game will feel disappointed," Pochettino told TNT Sports.

"The referee is unbelievable and it's ridiculous. It is difficult to accept.

"Two weeks ago it was handball and it was no penalty - the referee, he didn't check it.

"It is painful as it has damaged English football and I think Villa players and their fans didn't understand why the goal was disallowed.

"If you see the challenge, if we go into every single challenge like this it is going to be a foul and we wouldn't finish the game with 11 [players].

"We can talk about the performance or the decision - it is damaging the game."

What's next?

Aston Villa's next outing is at home to Olympiakos in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final on Thursday; kick-off 8pm.

Villa then travel to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday; kick-off 2pm.

Chelsea are next in action at home to Tottenham on Thursday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 7.30pm. The Blues then host West Ham on Sunday; kick-off 2pm.

Teams

Aston Villa Martinez (Olsen 46), Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, McGinn (c), Tielemans (Diaby 27) (Duran 83), Bailey (Carlos 75), Luiz (Iroegbunam 75), Rogers, Watkins
Subs Not Used Carlos, Kelser-Hayden, Chambers, Lenglet, Kellyman
Booked Luiz, Rogers, Bailey
Goals Cucurella 4 (og), Rogers 42

Chelsea Petrovic; Chalobah, Silva (Dsasi 90), Badiashile, Cucurella; Gallagher (c), Caicedo; Madueke, Mudryk (Casadei 90), Jackson; Palmer
Subs Not Used Bettinelli, Curd, Washington, Gilchrist ,Acheampong, George, Dyer
Booked Caicedo, Mudryk, Silva, Madueke, Badiashile
Goals Madueke 63, Gallogher 81

Attendance 42,354

Referee Craig Pawson

VAR Chris Kavanagh