Aston Villa – Chelsea

1. Afternoon everybody, the action will be getting underway shortly, but first things first, here is the team news.

2. Chelsea are without the injured Frank Lampard and Zat Knight makes his debut for Villa.

3. New-boys Alex and Belletti start in defence for the Blues, while John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Luke Moore and Ashley Young will provide the main attacking threat for the home side.

4. 1'

   Villa kick-off and here we go. Can the luminous yellows get the point they need to top the league come 6pm?

5. 1'

   Wright-Phillips is wrestled down in the box in the first prominent move from Chelsea, while Ashley Young has a left-wing cross claimed by Cech.

6. 4'

   Drogba wins a free-kick on the left for Chelsea, and from the resulting phase of play Essien hits a shot from the edge of the box that Barry deflects wide. Close but no cigar.

7. 5'

   Both Carew and Drogba are making their presence felt, giving away free kicks at either end.

8. 7'

   Great effort by Agbonlahor! He took down Young's cross and unleashed a left-footed drive but Cech saved sharply.

9. 8'

   At the other end SWP tries a speculative effort from distance that is saved comfortably by Carson. A bright start to the game so far..

10. 10'

    Thankfully the contrast on my TV is turned right down or else those yellow Chelsea shirts would be playing havoc with my eyes..

11. 11'

    Wright-Phillips is looking lively in the opening ten minutes, Bouma having to guard him closely there.

12. 11'

    Corner for Chelsea after Belletti charged down the right, and Terry wasn't far off with his header, which just flew over the bar.

13. 13'

    There's that pesky SWP again, this time forcing Carson into a good low save. The resulting corner is cleared, somewhat unconvincingly I might add.

14. 14'

    Good chance for Villa this time, the ball breaking to Agbonlahor who shoots straight at Cech from 18 yards.

15. 16'

    It's time for the first tired cliche of the game - that Carew has got good feet for a big man. He links up play nicely and Agbonlahor rises well but heads wide from the resulting cross.

16. 18'

    Great turn from Drogba, but after all his hard work he fires well over from the edge of the box, his effort more suited to the Rugby World Cup than the Premier League.

17. 20'

    Villa really don't look comfortable at corners, and are thankful to Laursen who clears before Drogba shoots, then SWP again gets into a great position before screwing his shot wide instead of squaring for Drogba.

18. 20'

    An open first 20 miunutes it has to be said. This won't stay 0-0 for long, unless the online commentator's curse strikes now I've said that...

19. 23'

    Mikel has been very tidy in central midfield, especially with Reo-Coker snapping at his heels.

20. 25'

    A strong break from Reo-Coker leads to appeals for handball when his cross struck Terry but the ref waves play on. Then Bouma is well tackled by Belletti after a run down the left flank.

21. 26'

    Young has a run at Belletti, but the ex-Barca man does well, staying with him and forcing Young to put his cross out of touch.

22. 27'

    Good handling from Cech under pressure as Mellberg swings in a high ball.

23. 29'

    Drogba appeals for a free-kick after some rough treatment from Knight but gets nothing, then is flagged offside as Belletti tries to find him with a long diagonal ball.

24. 30'

    Great work from Reo-Coker, sliding in to dispossess Malouda and winning a free-kick for his efforts.

25. 33'

    My comments about goals being imminent earlier was foolish as the game has gone a bit scrappy ever since. SWP nearly gets to a long ball but Carson claims comfortably.

26. 33'

    Lovely move from Chelsea, Malouda feeding Essien who set SWP free, but his cross was poor. From the corner Alex nods over. Villa do look shaky defending crosses in this opening half.

27. 35'

    It's not quite coming together for Chelsea at present. They are having lots of possession but can't find that killer ball.

28. 37'

    Good interception by Alex when Young looked to go past him and then another half-chance for SWP at the other end when he nips ahead of Knight. He fires well over though.

29. 38'

    A spell of pressure down the left flank for Villa ends when Laursen heads out of play when trying to find Young. A bit poor really.

30. 39'

    Agbonlahor covers well as Ashley Cole looks to mount a meaningful break, then a lovely trick from SWP makes Laursen look like a bit of a turkey. Another corner...

31. 41'

    More unease for Villa from crosses. First the corner is cleared then Mellberg heads behind from underneath his crossbar.

32. 42'

    Then Malouda wastes yet another corner for Chelsea. Unforgiveable seeing how Villa have struggled to defend them.

33. 43'

    At the other end Laursen heads upfield and meets a cross but his header sails high and wide.

34. 44'

    Carew shoots while Mikel lies prostrate, but his shot is more worrying for the fella in Row Z than Cech.

35. 45'

    Terry's remonstrating with the referee earns him a smutty chant from the home fans in the Holte End.

36. 45'

    Another chance for Villa, a lovely cross from Young is cleared by Cole and then Luke Moore tries an acrobatic volley from the penalty area but fluffs it.

37. 46'

    Half Time - A bright 45 minutes, and plenty of half-chances but no breakthrough as yet. Join me in 15 minutes for the second half after a cup of tea.

38. 46'

    And we're off again. Let's have goal someone. Soon please.

39. 46'

    Carew does well to retain possession and then Cech tips over from Young's viciously swerving cross. Corner.

40. 47'

    GOAL! Guess who? Zat Knight, on his debut, rises and heads down past Cech. Great delivery from Barry. Game on! Villa 1-0 Chelsea.

41. 48'

    As you'd expect local-lad Knight was chuffed to bits with his goal, slapping his badge and wheeling away to the half-way line in delight. Good on him too.

42. 50'

    Terry intervenes in the nick of time as Moore looked dangerous. The blues (yellows) are reeling somewhat.

43. 51'

    Ashley Cole had a chance to clear the Knight header on the line the replay shows, but he went with his left instead of his right and the ball flicked up into the net. The ball was travelling mind.

44. 52'

    Pizarro is on for Mikel as Jose beefs up his attacking prowess.

45. 54'

    Drogba goes down clutching his face after an aerial tussle with Knight. The replay shows there was no contact at all. Poor old Didier.

46. 55'

    The home crowd are very pumped up now as you'd expect, any tackle or header won gaining loud cheers. Drogba gets a loud jeer as he comes back on after treatment for his phantom injury.

47. 57'

    Reo-Coker goes into the book, but the resulting Chelsea free-kick is wasted.

48. 58'

    Barry breaks into the Chelsea area but shoots from a narrow angle instead of crossing. Carew is not a happy chappy.

49. 58'

    Wonderful touch from Drogba to flick it round Laursen but Knight comes across to concede a corner. Again Malouda hits it too long. Jose does not look impressed.

50. 60'

    Another Agbonlahor cross is claimed by Cech before it can reach Moore.

51. 61'

    Great challenege from Reo-Coker as Malouda lined one up inside the area. Super move from Chelsea. Corner.

52. 62'

    Knight wins the ball in the air and Chelsea have a throw in, which Bouma clears.

53. 63'

    Malouda fires impossibly wide after the ball sat up nicely 25 yards out.

54. 64'

    Kalou comes on for Makelele and Joe Cole comes on for SWP. Surprising seeing as most of Chelsea's best attacking moves came from the right flank.

55. 65'

    Villa are sitting back now and Chelsea are enjoying lots of pressure. Another corner is met by Terry but his header zips just over the bar.

56. 66'

    Carew is flagged offside in a rare attacking forray, and the stat attack shows Chelsea are enjoying 65 per cent possession of late.

57. 66'

    Barry is carded for a little swipe at Joe Cole. Free-kick 40 yards out, easily cleared by Villa.

58. 67'

    Belletti shows his experience to get in the way of a Young shuffle on the left wing.

59. 68'

    Yet another Chelsea corner after Joe Cole flashes one across the face of goal.

60. 69'

    A bit of keep ball from Villa at present after they broke down an Essien charge. Just over 20 minutes left for Chelsea to salvage something.

61. 70'

    Drogba is carded to the delight of the home crowd after jumping into Martin Laursen, who goes down heavily.

62. 71'

    A bit of needle has crept into the game as Chelsea up their urgency. Carew piles into Essien and is carded. Then Agbonlahor is booked for something he said.

63. 73'

    Not much respite for Villa, who can't retain possession. It's wave after wave of fluorescent Chelsea attacks.

64. 73'

    Mellberg scrambles it clear after Kalou rounds him. Here comes the 12th Chelsea croner, and after about a kajillion headers Villa finally clear for a throw in.

65. 76'

    Joe Cole is becoming more prominent but Villa are throwing themsleves in front of everything. Carew nearly profits from a rare counter but Terry slides in.

66. 77'

    Drogba shoots when he had numbers in attack. It hasn't been his day at all. Yet.

67. 78'

    Carew is now up front on his own as a sliced Laursen clearance concedes another corner.

68. 79'

    Pizarro glances one just over from Joe Cole's corner.

69. 79'

    Petrov comes on for John Carew, who has worked very hard.

70. 80'

    Laursen makes up for his previous error by winning two big headers, both from Malouda crosses.

71. 81'

    Incessant pressure from Chelsea but tackles, headers and interceptions galore from plucky VIlla.

72. 82'

    Ten minutes or so left for Villa to hang on. It's real backs-to-the-walls stuff.

73. 83'

    Kalou drags a strike wide after robbing Petrov.

74. 84'

    Luke Moore is adjudged to have fould Alex and Mourinho instructs Terry to go forward for the free-kick. It falls to Cole who fires well wide.

75. 84'

    Terry remains up front as long balls are pumped mercilessly into the Villa box.

76. 85'

    Chelsea are spread now and Villa work an opening down the right. Agbonlahor's cross nearly makes Moore. Corner.

77. 86'

    Barry is dispossessed but Drogba can't collect Essien's through ball.

78. 87'

    Laursen just, and I mean just, hooks a leg round to clear after Drogba strode into the box. Great last-ditch scrambling from Villa.

79. 89'

    GOAL! Game over! A breakaway goal for Villa. Great work from Young who cuts inside and fizzes one into the area. Agbonlahor meets it with a flick and it races past Cech. Great goal. Villa 2-0 Chelsea.

80. 90'

    Abramovich got up and left as soon as the second went in, with a face like thunder. Watch yer back Jose...

81. 91'

    Time is up and we're into the second minute of stoppage time.

82. 93'

    Joe Cole's cross flicks the post after Malouda released him in the box, but it's surely too late for any sort of comeback.

83. 93'

    To add to Jose's woes, Drogba is now down clutching his hamstring. Not a good day for the Blues.

84. 95'

    And there we are! A deserved three points for Villa, who were clinical with their chances despite their lack of possession. For Chelsea Drogba's possible hamstring knack rounds off a miserable day. Bye for now.

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