Chelsea's bid to win the league title for the third consecutive season took another blow after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Villa Park even though the visiting had a host of easy chances to score goals. 

The only positive aspect that Mourinho can take from this game is the ability of his defenders to maintain a clean sheet in the absence of John Terry. Provided with a great chance to catch up with Manchester United after the league leaders were held to a draw at St. James Park, Chelsea wasted some easy chances to win the match. The draw closes a horrible Christmas period for Chelsea who have won just 1 match of the four played and are on 10th position in the form table.

With his team relying heavily on him to score goals, Didier Drogba missed an absolute sitter from 8 yards out after Michael Essien had crossed a great ball from the right wing. Drogba, who was unmarked, went for glory and bounced his volley onto the ground and over the cross bar.

The next chance fell to Lampard on 12 minutes but his shot was deflected wide of the goal. Salomon Kalou had a great chance to put his team in front on 28th minute but his shot flew well wide of the target. Such was the domination of Chelsea that even Ashley Cole had a free view of the goal, but headed the ball straight into the hands of the Villa keeper.

Chelsea continued to apply pressure on the Villa goal and should have broken the deadlock in the final minute of the match but only for Lampard to blast the ball over the cross bar from just 6 yards out. Chelsea defense, which has come under a lot of pressure in the absence of Terry, had a good game limiting Villa to just one shot when Ridgewell headed the ball just wide of the goal from a corner.

Chelsea's blip in form is soon turning into a slump with the league champions winning just 5 of the last 10 games. Mourinho was once again quick to deflect criticism from his team claiming that United have let them off the hook in the title race.

"No, I think Man United didn’t take advantage of our bad moment. It is six points and I’m happy. In the previous two seasons we killed them at Christmas time, but they have lost five points over this period. The gap could be bigger and we look forward to the second part of the season", he added.