Aston Villa fans may have been forgiven for not feeling too optimistic ahead of facing Chelsea at home. A side who many think will run away with the League title visiting the team who had, until this game, only mustered 11 goals as a collective all season. For context, it took Chelsea just 4 games into this season to go above and beyond that.
Having said that, Jose Mourinho’s Aston Villa record left much to be desired, with him having never won at Villa Park. Well, until Saturday…
Ultimately, it was a defeat. On paper, 2-1 is a respectable score-line and perhaps indicates a close game. To assume that would be foolish. In the opening stages Chelsea asserted control of possession and seemed the more threatening, actually scoring with their 1st main attack, and it was a goal of remarkably clinical quality. Willian received the ball just outside the Villa area and as the defenders tried to close him down, he slipped a wonderful through ball into Eden Hazard, who steered it into the far corner past Brad Guzan. The rest of the half passed by without major incident, although it is worth noting that Aston Villa grew into the game as the half progressed, with Carles Gil seeing much of the ball. The new signing was very much Villa’s best outlet, and he seemed to have the better of whichever man he looked to beat, as he was being utilised in a roaming role from the right flank.
As the second half started and Villa continued to apply pressure, it eventually all paid off; Gil’s cross was nodded in by the unmarked Jores Okore, who was impressive all game at the heart of the Villa defence. As the crowd roared the team on, it proved to be to no avail as the league leaders gathered themselves before finding the winner. Branislav Ivanovic striking after some good work by fellow full back Cesar Azpilicueta. On the whole, it was no less than Chelsea deserved as they made better use of their 48% of the possession, with 5 shots on target to Aston Villa’s 1 saying all that needed to be said.
In terms of moving on, Villa now face an important away fixture against Hull on Tuesday night, the outcome of which may well determine Paul Lambert’s fate. They may have managed to score a goal against Chelsea, the next challenge is to replicate that, potentially more than once, whilst staying solid at the back for 90 minutes. Sounds so simple, right?
