Ten-player Burnley rallied in impressive fashion to come from behind twice and claim a valiant 2-2 draw at careless Chelsea, who were guilty of spurning chance after chance in their quest to close in on the European places.
A chaotic five-minute period at the end of the first half landed the visitors in all sorts of trouble, as Lorenz Assignon allowed Mykhailo Mudryk to get the wrong side, before a clumsy arm on the shoulder saw the Chelsea forward go tumbling.
Referee Darren England pointed to the spot, before brandishing a second yellow to Assignon, who had already been booked for an earlier foul on Mudryk. The entire episode sparked fury from Clarets manager Vincent Kompany on the touchline, and he was duly sent to the stands. Cole Palmer then dispatched the resulting penalty in style via a Panenka.
The game twisted and turned from that moment on, as Josh Cullen stunned Stamford Bridge in the 47th minute with a superb volley to drag struggling Burnley level. And the drama did not stop there.
Under-fire Raheem Sterling, introduced from the bench to a mixed reception from the home crowd, teed up Palmer with a deft flick in the 78th minute and he swept the ball impressively into the far corner. But Burnley, still battling with a player less, had response yet.
Three minutes after Chelsea retook the lead, Dara O'Shea rose highest to Cullen's delivery and powered a header past Djordje Petrovic, with the goalkeeper fumbling the effort, allowing it to squirm carelessly beyond him.
Sterling should have won it when he burst onto Palmer's far-post cross but inexplicably nodded wide, before substitute Jay Rodriguez headed against the crossbar in the 88th minute as Burnley threatened the unthinkable.
Chelsea's unbeaten run extends to five games in all competitions but that will be scant consolation for Mauricio Pochettino, who was forced to watch his side twice throw away a valuable lead against a side with 10 players, languishing 19th in the table.
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