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John Terry watches in anguish as Frank Lampard’s shot trickles past Thibaut Courtois in the Chelsea goal

Manchester. – Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer Frank Lampard returned to haunt his old club with the late equaliser that gave Manchester City a point at the Etihad Stadium.
Lampard – on loan at City from New York City FC until January – wrote his name into Chelsea folklore with 211 goals in 648 appearances for the Stamford Bridge club.
And he added another dramatic chapter to his illustrious story when he slid home a strike with five minutes left after Andre Schurrle looked to have scored the goal that would have given Chelsea an eight-point advantage over the reigning Premier League champions.

City will feel they deserved a point after battling back into contention following the second-half sending off of defender Pablo Zabaleta following a tussle with Chelsea striker Diego Costa.

The spotlight, inevitably, will focus on 36-year-old Lampard. The former England international refused to celebrate his goal and looked to be on the verge of tears at the final whistle as he received a standing ovation from Chelsea’s fans, who set aside their disappointment to acclaim the player who served them so wonderfully.

Lampard’s name was chanted by the travelling support before he was also applauded off by City’s followers, grateful for a glimpse of the goalscoring gifts that earned Manuel Pellegrini’s side a draw.

Jose Mourinho’s side remain three points clear at the top of the table despite losing their 100 percent Premier League record – although there will be disappointment at conceding two points so late on against a City side down to 10 men.

After the extravaganza of Leicester City’s 5-3 win against Manchester United, even two teams of this calibre had a tough act to follow and, for long periods, this was a game that failed to live up to its pre-match billing.

Costa was involved in a bruising physical battle with Vincent Kompany but showed once again that he is up for the fight in the Premier League as he had a hand in Schurrle’s goal, was involved in Zabaleta’s second yellow card and also struck a post with a shot that almost sealed the three points.

Kompany and his new defensive partner Eliaquim Mangala, making his first start following his £32 million summer move from Porto, were in imperious mood but Costa’s head never dropped and he looks a striker perfectly suited for the Premier League.

The first 45 minutes were a dull war of attrition as City dominated territory and possession – Chelsea responding with the sort of defensive resilience some suggested had been sacrificed with the introduction of the greater flair of Costa and Cesc Fabregas. – BBC Sport.