Premier League - Brilliant Chelsea humble Villa

Eurosport - Mon, 06 Oct 11:35:00 2008

Chelsea produced a magnificent performance to claim a 2-0 Premier League win against Aston Villa that could have been much more emphatic.

2008-2009 Chelsea-Aston Villa Joe Cole scores Chelsea's first goal - 0

First-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka kept Luiz Felipe Scolari's side top of the table, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, but the manner of the performance provided a stark warning to Chelsea's title rivals.

They simply overwhelmed Martin O'Neill's highly-rated Villa side, unleashing wave after wave of attacks and racking up 27 shots.

And this was with three key components of their vaunted spine - Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba - missing through injury.

John Terry played after shrugging off a back injury, while Branislav Ivanovic replaced centre-back Alex, who has a buttock complaint.

Cole started the game and supplied the opening goal but, worryingly, went off with another injury just before the hour mark.

That could have significant ramifications with England playing World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus in the next 10 days.

Having drawn away to Romanians Cluj in midweek, Chelsea started like a side with a point to prove and tore into their opponents.

Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda both had early shots while Anelka squandered two good chances - all within the first 10 minutes.

Anelka then turned provider, setting the superb Frank Lampard up with a neat lob, but the midfielder headed just wide on 16 minutes.

But the goal was not long in coming. In the 16th minute Malouda intercepted a poor clearance. He found Lampard, who in turn slid a superb ball to Cole, whose finish was hard and true past the overworked Brad Friedel.

Soon afterwards Anelka hit the crossbar with a long-range piledriver and Lampard tested Friedel with a powerful free-kick. Relentless stuff.

O'Neill would have prayed to get into half-time just one goal down, but it was not to be.

Just over a minute before the break Ashley Cole pulled a low ball back to the edge of the box. Friedel parried Ballack's shot, then Anelka's follow-up, but could do nothing about the third attempt, also from Anelka.

Villa's best chance of the day came moments later, when Gabriel Agbonlahor had time and space at the edge of the Chelsea area but fired off a disappointing shot.

Villa brought on Carlos Cuellar - for the hapless Curtis Davies - and James Milner but the onslaught continued in the second half.

First Ballack fired over from close range, then teenage substitute Franco Di Santo went close, then John Obi Mikel.

Chelsea's lack of clinical finishing can be Scolari's only complaint - something denied them by Drogba's absence with a knee injury.

But still it was devastating stuff, cementing their status as favourites to retain their Premier League title.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Hull. Scolari's Chelsea appear ready to see off any challengers.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 4 - 23 of 83

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  1. "buttock complaint" ?

    im a chelsea fan, but that sounds a bit weird!

    From Greta, on Sun 5 Oct 7:50PM

  2. Well done guys. i was very worried before the game because of the number of injuries in the team, most especially with the difficulties Anelka is having playing upfont alone. I think we need to put more efforts not to lose points particularly at home to likes of Spurs-Totteham and others. We need to finish the business by December.

    Wishing the injured ones speedy recovery.

    Well Done FLS and well done Guys.

    -From Bee

    From Abiola, on Sun 5 Oct 7:47PM

  3. lucky lucky chelsea ,THE MIGHTY VILLA could ov won easily they just needed a few goals thats all

    From wayne H, on Sun 5 Oct 7:33PM

  4. A Shaun whatever has his brains up his japs eye, Chelsea are doing well so far long road ahead and Man u will do the deed, Scolari needs to get rid of that old Chelsea guard John Terry and co no hopers past there best sell them off and build his own team. Shaun your comments indicate your a are a bottom feeding molusc XX

    From Robin C, on Sun 5 Oct 7:22PM

  5. Chelsea is da bomb!!!all u haters beware.If una like make una carry referee join body we go still conquer.Blues for life.From Lungi.

    From Uwaifo I, on Sun 5 Oct 7:21PM

  6. well done chelsea!!!!!!and dont just give up

    From khaleedaashikin@..., on Sun 5 Oct 7:16PM

  7. fantastic,well done chelsea...the best team in he world,you just get better and better. Jan

    From wannywright, on Sun 5 Oct 7:04PM

  8. super blues once again:D

    From o0okazao0o, on Sun 5 Oct 6:54PM

  9. Now that's what I call Football :)))

    Bring 'em on boys and this is with quite a few injuries

    From H C, on Sun 5 Oct 6:27PM

  10. looks like another championship year for chelsea united cant play if lady boy is out or off form rafa will mess liverpool up by rotating too much as always (thanks rafa you make life for chelsea so much easer) & areshole winger has not got the players as arsenal will not pay enough man city dont yet have the squad & by jan they will be too far behind to challenge this year up the blues

    From U R SOLES, on Sun 5 Oct 6:20PM

  11. Chelsea 2 much anyday anytime. We dey a always represent. Up chelsea. From Osayich Ngr

    From Osayi, on Sun 5 Oct 6:15PM

  12. Erm, favourites to retain their title you say? Ain't it the Mancs who are chumps at the mo?

    From Martin C, on Sun 5 Oct 6:06PM

  13. Well done CHELSEA Well done

    From Jose, on Sun 5 Oct 6:02PM

  14. Well done CHELSEA Well done

    From Jose, on Sun 5 Oct 6:02PM

  15. Well done CHELSEA Well done

    From Jose, on Sun 5 Oct 6:00PM

  16. another fantastic win to keep them top of the premiership.
    from nikki

    From n.taylor926@..., on Sun 5 Oct 5:50PM

  17. blues forever!! even wit all the injuries we are still wonderful,BOYS KEEP THAT BLUE FLAG FLYING FRM EMY GH.

    From portiaama, on Sun 5 Oct 5:49PM

  18. Brillant football the blues and attack after attack well done just great to watch.
    Bernard
    Chelsea fan

    From bernardmchugh@..., on Sun 5 Oct 5:47PM

  19. Absolutely performance by Chelsea today again high rated Aston Villa..show how pure class they are even without 4 key player and unlike any some big 4 team who win helps by luck and referee..Unfortunately lack of clinical finishing cost they just 2-0 win..Chelsea should destroy Villa 4 or 5 nil if they didn't waste their chance. Chelsea is the best...

    From andrew, on Sun 5 Oct 5:47PM

  20. A Chelsea masterclass without their very best players, and the ones that played carried injuries. The scousers would be rubbish if they lost just Torres and Gerrard through injury.

    From Jim V, on Sun 5 Oct 5:39PM
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