BIRMINGHAM - A late winner on 88 minutes from Frank Lampard helped Chelsea tighten their grip on third place with a 2-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Keeper Petr Cech carries a jubilant Frank Lampard at the end of Saturday's 2-1 victory at Villa Park in Birmingham (AFP Photo)
Lampard's second goal of the match made the rugged midfielder the London club's all-time leading scorer with 203 goals.
He had equalled Bobby Tambling's record of 202 goals with a side-footed strike at the 61-minute mark to bring Chelsea level after Christian Benteke opened the scoring for Villa after 14 minutes.
Lampard, 34, scored his first goal for Chelsea in 2001, having joined the club from London rivals West Ham that year.
Chelsea had Ramires sent off before halftime and Benteke was dismissed in the 58th minute.
Chelsea finished the game with nine men after losing both defender John Terry and midfielder Eden Hazard to injuries that could rule them out of Wednesday's Europa League final against Benfica.
Chelsea now have 72 points with one match left in their season as they pursue Champions League qualification. Arsenal are five points behind in fourth place with 67 points and two matches left, and Tottenham Hotspur lie fifth with 66.
Spurs play Stoke on Sunday and Arsenal play Wigan on Tuesday night.