Ghosts of Christmas Past: 2007: Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa

You have to really be there to appreciate it. That's what they say don't they? It's OK watching a game on the telly but you can't beat actually being there.

It's Boxing Day 2007 and Villa are at Stamford Bridge for a tasty Christmas clash.

But I'm not there.

I used to go to Chelsea a lot, in the days when the away terrace was miles away from the pitch, Ken Bates wanted to electrocute us all and if the home fans couldn't get close enough to thump us, they'd hurl sandbags at us. Not all together pleasant but at least it was affordable to go.

No real excuses, but I very rarely go to Chelsea nowadays because I don't like to validate their policy of charging extortionate prices for tickets by paying for them. I have occasionally lapsed but not on this occasion. Attempting that sort of trip on public transport on a Bank Holiday is no easy task and I've no wish to spend hours on a coach full of people who've been eating Brussels Sprouts the day before.

So as kick off time arrives, I'm in a packed drinking establishment on Broad Street, all red vinyl upholstery and gassy Carlsberg. Mind you the atmosphere is buzzing. Though the place is busy, some of my friends and acquaintances have managed to establish a bridgehead in a ideal spot, with good views of several of the tellies and one of the big screens, and relatively easy access to the Bar and the bogs.

Crucially, though the bar seems top be three deep at times, service is relatively swift.

The match gets under-way and Villa waste no time getting at Chelsea's suspect full backs, Ashley Cole and Paulo Ferreira. Their hesitance leads to early opportunities for both Gabby and Ashley Young.

It seems that a goal is almost inevitable and on the quarter hour, we strike, Gabby robbing Saloman Kalou of possession making headway down the right then finding Big John Carew with an inch perfect pass. Big John heads the ball across the goal on to the boot of Shaun Maloney who volleys home with aplomb.

The pub explodes with delight, with Carlsberg and Brummies flying everywhere. What's better is that Villa are keeping up the pace on a reeling Chelsea. Gabby gets two more great chances, putting one just over from am awkward angle where Petr Cech denies him a goal from the other one with a reflex save.

Things are going well until Fat Frank Lampard picks up an injury and his replacement, Michael Ballack, starts to give Chelsea a foothold in the game. As a consqeuence Chelsea get their first decent chance of the match but Joe Cole hits it with all the force of wet lettuce and it drops safely into Scott Carson's arms.

Then Shaun Maloney tests Cech again and this time the Chelsea keeper made a total hash of it, the ball bouncing off his arm and squirming into the net.

Two nil up, damn nearly half time and with Chelsea on the back foot, what could possibly go wrong?

Did I mention that the ref is Phil Dowd?

Michael Essien mishits a shot from 25 yards out and somehow the ball contrives to fall spawnily at the feet of Ballack who gets in front of Zat Knight . Knight gives Ballack the slighest of touches but that's enough for Dowd to award a penalty and having done so, giving him little option but to send the hapless Villa defender off. Shevchenko sends Carson the wrong way from the penalty spot and it's 2-1 at half time.

Martin O'Neill has no choice but to reorganise and it's two goal hero Shaun Maloney that is sacrificed. It's probably the last straw for the young Scot and he'll leave Villa not long later, which is a real shame. In this match Curtis Davies replaces him to slot in for the departed Zat.

While those in the ground are no doubt queueing for a Bovril, we are trying to negotiate the drinking establishment's toilets where they seem desperate to flog us a squirt of after shave.

As the second half gets underway, Chelsea make their superior numbers count putting Villa under the cosh. Soon Kalou finds space on the edge of the box and lays a ball across to Shevchenko who needs just one touch to hit a stunning shot leaving Carson no chance.

Two-two.

Grrrrr.

Chelsea are pummelling us now. Kalou skies one over and Ballack has two decent efforts from distance before Brazilian centre-half Alex decides to wreck our Christmas, bringing the ball out of defence, playing a one-two with Shevchenko and running on to drive a low shot into the bottom corner.

Three-two to them.

Double Grrrrr.

We are not out of it though. Not by a long chalk. Ashley Young drifts a free kick right into the heart of the box and Martin Laursen of all people is there to drive it past Cech on the volley.

Glorious!

Three-three. What a game! What an afternoon. We're not done yet.

Carvalho inexplicably decides to use both feet to tackle Agbonlahor, giving Phil Dowd the perfect excuse to get his red card out again and level up the numbers.

It's now a ding-dong battle as both teams go in search of the win and it looks like Chelsea have sealed it when Ballack caps a wonderful display by netting an awesome free-kick with just minutes remaining.

Four-three to them.

HUMBUG!!!

Gabby Agbonlahor's last gasp header is cleared off the line by Ashley Cole. The whole pub shouts “HANDBALL” in unison. We might be in Birmingham but we're making so much noise Phil Dowd might just have heard us in London. He gives the penalty.

Gareth Barry duly nets from the sport and the game, a truly remarkable rollercoaster of a game finishes 4-4.

Absolutely wonderful. Football as it should be played. Full of heart, passion, skill and thoroughly entertaining.

You have to really be there to appreciate it. You do.

But I'll tell you something, this was pretty bloody enjoyable viewed from a Birmingham boozer packed full of like minded Villans. It must have been pretty special for the people that were there.