Frank Lampard breaks Chelsea hearts

Frank Lampard - how we all remember him

Jose Mourinho nearly pulled out another big away victory on Sunday only for old boy Frank Lamard to ruin his afternoon. Andre Schurrle went from hero to villain and the spoils were shared. Alex Johnson reports...

Frank Lampard returned to haunt Chelsea as he scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for ten-man Manchester City at the Etihad.

The veteran midfielder, who joined City on loan from MLS side New York in the summer, came off the bench to face Chelsea for the first time since 2001.

And it was written in the stars that he produced a trademark finish with five minutes left to cancel out Andre Schurrle's effort and salvage a deserved share of the spoils for Manuel Pellegrini's side, who had Pablo Zabaleta sent off with 25 minutes of the game remaining for two bookable offences.

Chelsea's 100% start to the season has been ended but they remain at the top of the Premier League with a three-point cushion over Southampton, while reigning champions City have now gone three league games without a win and stay in sixth, five points off the leaders.

City started brightly but found it difficult to break down a resolute Chelsea in the opening 20 minutes as Jose Mourinho's men dug in to ensure the hosts could not find a way through.

Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko both sent early headers over the top, while Yaya Toure headed straight at Thibaut Courtois from a corner in the ninth minute.

On 29 minutes a mishit effort from Fernandinho rolled invitingly for James Milner down the right and he hit a low angled drive which Courtois got down to save at his front post.

Two minutes later John Terry's attempt to head away a David Silva cross dropped to Aguero inside the Chelsea box but the Argentinian hooked his shot over the bar.

The game turned scrappy with five bookings in the space of 12 minutes, while Chelsea had a penalty appeal turned away when Gary Cahill flicked on a Cesc Fabregas free kick and it hit the arm of Yaya Toure.

Two minutes later Diego Costa seemed to clumsily bundle over Dzeko in the Chelsea area but nothing was given either by referee Mike Dean.

Chelsea came closest in the 45th minute when Branislav Ivanovic headed down a corner from the right and Fernandinho got enough on the ball to take it away from Costa at the back post.

City went close on 55 minutes when Chelsea could not clear a short corner and Eliaquim Mangala managed to scramble the ball to Fernandinho just outside the area but with Cahill and Terry closing him down his effort flew wide of the post.

A minute later the hosts went even closer when Courtois got down well to parry an Aguero strike and Ramires did brilliantly to put the rebound behind ahead of Dzeko.

The game swung in favour of Chelsea in the 66th minute when Zabaleta brought down Costa and picked up a red card for two bookable offences to leave City down to ten men.

And they took full advantage within five minutes when a quick counter-attack from a City corner saw Costa play in Hazard down the right and his low cross put a chance on a plate for substitute Schurrle at the back post which he duly converted from close range.

On 81 minutes it was almost game over but Costa rattled a low strike off the post with Joe Hart rooted to the spot.

Chelsea were made to pay for that miss on 85 minutes when Lampard, who had only been on the pitch for seven minutes, got on the end of a James Milner ball into the centre from the left and he fired into the bottom corner past Courtois.

He was not finished as he had a strike charged down by Terry before firing a 30-yard strike past the post in the closing stages as City ended the game well despite their numerical disadvantage.