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José Mourinho’s Chelsea tasted defeat for the first time in 18 matches in the English Premier League, losing 2-0 to Aston Villa at Villa Park. The result means that it is the only Premiership ground that Mourinho has never won at, Chelsea having not tasting victory at Villa Park since 1999.
With midfield talisman Frank Lampard out with a torn thigh, Mourinho switched from a 4-4-2 formation to a 4-3-3, for the first time this season. There were two full debutants in the defence, both Brazilians, with Alex replacing Tal Ben-Haim at centre back and Juliano Belletti starting at right back. Claude Makelélé made his first start this season in the defensive midfield position that has been named after him; Mikel and Essien made up the rest of the midfield. Malouda and Wright-Phillips were pushed into an attacking three, to support the lone centre-forward, Didier Drogba.
It took just four minutes for Chelsea - in electric yellow- to fashion the first opportunity of the game. Belletti did remarkably well to find space on the right, before swinging in a tempting cross. Martin Laursen’s headed clearance fell invitingly for Florent Malouda on the edge of the box, but his rasping volley was deflected wide by the charging Gareth Barry.
It was Chelsea’s goalkeeper Petr Čech who was called into action first however, as Young’s cross was neatly controlled by Agbonlahor on the turn, but the lightning quick reflexes of the Czech keeper kept out the powerful left footed volley. Chelsea’s keeper was called into action soon after, when the same Villa attacker struck a shot straight at Čech after Terry’s timely block in the penalty area fell kindly for the England u-21 forward, via a touch from Alex.
Chelsea attacked again, a long range effort from Shaun Wright-Phillips was well saved by Carson, and when the English winger was away again down the left, he shot into the side netting, with players in the box expectant. Wright-Phillips is playing with a new found confidence after his brilliant start to the season, and again he was one of our best. Ashley Cole’s back post header managed to keep Aston Villa out as the teams went to the break locked at 0-0.
Čech made another save, tipping a long range shot over the crossbar, but from the resultant corner, Aston Villa took the lead. Barry’s corner was swung in and Zat Knight rose above Drogba to head downwards towards goal, Ashley Cole preferring to swipe at a clearance with his left foot, resulting in him only helping the ball in.
A sublime piece of Drogba skill took him past Laursen, but only a corner resulted. Soon after, John Terry headed inches over from Joe Cole’s corner, the Chelsea number 10 having replaced Wright-Phillips and Kalou subbed on for Makelélé. Earlier, Pizarro had replaced Mikel; Chelsea playing an attacking 4-4-2.
Despite all the Chelsea pressure, Carson wasn’t forced into a save with the closest Chelsea attempt coming from Salomon Kalou in the 81st minute, when he dragged his shot wide of the far post from the edge of the box.
Villa put the game to bed with a sweeping counter attack two minutes from full time. Young skipped past Belletti on the left and advanced towards goal. His fierce right footed shot was touched past Čech by the alert Agbonlahor, to send the Aston Villa fans into raptures.
There was still time for Joe Cole to strike the far post with a left footed shot on the turn, but despite Terry moving up front, the game was over.
Mourinho commented that Chelsea’s errors cost them at least a point, if not three, the defeat eerie in it’s similarity to the Blues loss at Middlesbrough last season. However, nobody could begrudge Villa’s their victory, Martin O’Neill’s side proving that there is still plenty of room for improvement at Chelsea, if we are to win back the Premiership trophy this season.
Aston Villa (4-4-2): Carson; Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma; Agbonlahor, Barry (c), Reo-Coker, Young; Carew (Petrov 79), Moore.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Belletti, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel (Pizarro 56), Makelele (Kalou 63), Essien; Wright-Phillips (J Cole 63), Drogba, Malouda.
Referee Mark Clattenburg
Crowd 37,714
José Mourinho’s Chelsea tasted defeat for the first time in 18 matches in the English Premier League, losing 2-0 to Aston Villa at Villa Park. The result means that it is the only Premiership ground that Mourinho has never won at, Chelsea having not tasting victory at Villa Park since 1999.
With midfield talisman Frank Lampard out with a torn thigh, Mourinho switched from a 4-4-2 formation to a 4-3-3, for the first time this season. There were two full debutants in the defence, both Brazilians, with Alex replacing Tal Ben-Haim at centre back and Juliano Belletti starting at right back. Claude Makelélé made his first start this season in the defensive midfield position that has been named after him; Mikel and Essien made up the rest of the midfield. Malouda and Wright-Phillips were pushed into an attacking three, to support the lone centre-forward, Didier Drogba.
It took just four minutes for Chelsea - in electric yellow- to fashion the first opportunity of the game. Belletti did remarkably well to find space on the right, before swinging in a tempting cross. Martin Laursen’s headed clearance fell invitingly for Florent Malouda on the edge of the box, but his rasping volley was deflected wide by the charging Gareth Barry.
It was Chelsea’s goalkeeper Petr Čech who was called into action first however, as Young’s cross was neatly controlled by Agbonlahor on the turn, but the lightning quick reflexes of the Czech keeper kept out the powerful left footed volley. Chelsea’s keeper was called into action soon after, when the same Villa attacker struck a shot straight at Čech after Terry’s timely block in the penalty area fell kindly for the England u-21 forward, via a touch from Alex.
Chelsea attacked again, a long range effort from Shaun Wright-Phillips was well saved by Carson, and when the English winger was away again down the left, he shot into the side netting, with players in the box expectant. Wright-Phillips is playing with a new found confidence after his brilliant start to the season, and again he was one of our best. Ashley Cole’s back post header managed to keep Aston Villa out as the teams went to the break locked at 0-0.
Čech made another save, tipping a long range shot over the crossbar, but from the resultant corner, Aston Villa took the lead. Barry’s corner was swung in and Zat Knight rose above Drogba to head downwards towards goal, Ashley Cole preferring to swipe at a clearance with his left foot, resulting in him only helping the ball in.
A sublime piece of Drogba skill took him past Laursen, but only a corner resulted. Soon after, John Terry headed inches over from Joe Cole’s corner, the Chelsea number 10 having replaced Wright-Phillips and Kalou subbed on for Makelélé. Earlier, Pizarro had replaced Mikel; Chelsea playing an attacking 4-4-2.
Despite all the Chelsea pressure, Carson wasn’t forced into a save with the closest Chelsea attempt coming from Salomon Kalou in the 81st minute, when he dragged his shot wide of the far post from the edge of the box.
Villa put the game to bed with a sweeping counter attack two minutes from full time. Young skipped past Belletti on the left and advanced towards goal. His fierce right footed shot was touched past Čech by the alert Agbonlahor, to send the Aston Villa fans into raptures.
There was still time for Joe Cole to strike the far post with a left footed shot on the turn, but despite Terry moving up front, the game was over.
Mourinho commented that Chelsea’s errors cost them at least a point, if not three, the defeat eerie in it’s similarity to the Blues loss at Middlesbrough last season. However, nobody could begrudge Villa’s their victory, Martin O’Neill’s side proving that there is still plenty of room for improvement at Chelsea, if we are to win back the Premiership trophy this season.
Aston Villa (4-4-2): Carson; Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma; Agbonlahor, Barry (c), Reo-Coker, Young; Carew (Petrov 79), Moore.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Belletti, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel (Pizarro 56), Makelele (Kalou 63), Essien; Wright-Phillips (J Cole 63), Drogba, Malouda.
Referee Mark Clattenburg
Crowd 37,714
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