Chelsea were held to a point at home by high-flying Watford as the two sides played to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Diego Costa's opener was canceled out by Troy Deeney's penalty and Odion Ighalo's deflected effort before Costa bagged his brace to level the scoreline. Oscar missed a penalty for the Blues leaving both sides with just one point on Boxing Day.
Costa back among the goals
The opening quarter of an hour was dominated by the home side, with the Blues coming close on two occasions. It took just three minutes before Guus Hiddink's men had a look on goal after Pedro's ball was whipped in but Diego Costa could only head over. Chelsea came close yet again in the 10th minute with Willian's free-kick taking a deflection and almost finding the far corner but it would go behind for a corner.
Watford would come into the game after 15 minutes and had the better of the chances early on as Odion Ighalo found himself in acres of space after getting on the end of a volley but the striker snatched at his shot and put it wide.
The deadlock was eventually broken just after the half hour mark with Diego Costa firing in his fourth goal of the season to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead. Willian's corner was met by John Terry, whose header was hammered home by Costa, leaving the Watford 'keeper helpless. It was almost 2-0 six minutes later as Branislav Ivanovic's low-driven cross was hit over by Oscar.
Watford were level a few minutes before the break after they were awarded a penalty for a handball by Nemanja Matic. Captain Troy Deeney stepped up and sent Thibaut Courtois the wrong way to make it 1-1 at halftime.
Blues come from behind for a point
The second half began in a similar fashion to the first but it was Watford with the best chance of the opening ten minutes. Etienne Capoue's thunderous shot was parried by Courtois but Capoue's follow up shot was blocked by a Chelsea defender. Watford would take the lead a minute later as Ighalo's shot took a big deflection off of Gary Cahill, sending Courtois the wrong way.
A fairly quiet period after Watford's second goal came to an end with Chelsea equalising in the 65th minute. A superb ball from Willian found Diego Costa, who rounded Gomes in the Watford goal and stroked the ball into an empty net.
Costa came close to completing his hat-trick a couple of minutes later, latching onto Oscar's cross but Gomes saved well at the near post. Chelsea had a golden chance to take the lead the ten minutes left after Behrami clattered into Eden Hazard inside the box, giving away a penalty. Oscar was the man to take but slipped on the spot-kick and skied the penalty over.
John Obi Mikel came close in stoppage time with an effort from distance but the midfielder's shot went wide of the post.
Chelsea had a chance to win it from the penalty spot but a 2-2 draw was a fair result on the day, with both sides threatening at different times. Oscar will regret the penalty miss as the single point carries Chelsea to 15th in the table, still 13 points off of fourth place. Watford meanwhile remain in seventh, level on points with Manchester United.