Aston Villa vs Chelsea report: Blues beat hosts to remain in title hunt as returning Romelu Lukaku shines

It’s nonetheless a three-horse race. That’s the message that got here via loud at clear at Villa Park as Chelsea battled to a 3-1 win over Aston Villa.

The scoreline suggests a level of ease, however it was solely within the dregs of this match that there was any actual consolation for Chelsea, as soon as Jorginho had slotted the second of his two penalties on Boxing Day. The primary was an equaliser to Reece James’ personal aim that gave Villa a shock however deserved lead 28 minutes in.

But the lion’s share of the reward belongs to Romelu Lukaku, who returned to motion for a second-half cameo that drastically altered the size of this tussle. His header 11 minutes after the break gave Chelsea a lead they held till the tip, and led to a marked enchancment of their work within the last third.

It was Lukaku’s fourth league aim of the season however simply his first since 11 September – which additionally occurred to be in opposition to Aston Villa. And although he has not began within the league since a go to to Brentford on 16 October, his work, significantly the devastating dribble that introduced in regards to the second penalty, counsel he’s lastly preventing match.

Amid the maelstrom of Covid-enforced postponements, now was the time for Chelsea to crack on off the again of a league droop that has seen them not simply relinquish high spot however drop into third. One win of their final 4 video games and Manchester Metropolis’s 3pm demolition of Leicester Metropolis had them 9 factors adrift of first place earlier than kick-off. That benefit is now simply six, and in addition sees Thomas Tuchel’s aspect draw degree with Liverpool in second on 41 factors, albeit with the Reds having a sport in hand.

Chelsea’s prospects coming into this fixture have been a bit brighter with the returns of Lukaku and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who supplied the help for the previous’s aim having been felled for the leveller. The Belgian started on the bench whereas the latter featured in a three-prong assault that had Christian Pulisic as its center point of interest within the absence of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner. The American struggled to make an affect and was shifted to proper wing-back to make means for Lukaku when Tuchel withdrew Trevoh Chalobah and moved James into the appropriate centre-back place at half-time.

Aston Villa in the meantime, shorn of Steven Gerrard’s affect past Zoom calls and a continuing line of communication to assistant Gary McAllister, needed to make do with out the influential John McGinn and Ashley Younger, with Danny Ings returning to the XI together with a uncommon begin for Morgan Sanson in midfield.

These have been their solely two modifications from the 2-0 victory over Norwich 12 days in the past, and each elements have been mirrored with a vibrant and courageous begin by the hosts in entrance of partaking dwelling assist. The motion of Ollie Watkins and Ings allowed for a number of line-breaking passes that had Chelsea’s defence haring in the direction of their very own aim greater than they’d have appreciated or anticipated within the opening 20 minutes.

Because it occurs, the opening aim got here with yellow shirts set and seemingly in control of a harmful state of affairs. A cross from the appropriate was headed out of hazard earlier than being laid again into the trail of Matt Targett. The second cross was agency however into the primary man. Sadly for that man – James – his intervention merely served to flick the ball into the far nook over a sprawling Edouard Mendy.

The lead lasted simply 5 minutes: Hudson-Odoi blind-siding Matty Money to win a penalty that Jorginho transformed. It was the Italian’s fourth success from the spot for Chelsea this season, made all of the sweeter after Emi Martinez’s makes an attempt to place him off by scuffing the penalty spot. The Argentinian goalkeeper was proven a yellow card earlier than being despatched the mistaken means.

Certainly these two pictures within the arm gave either side encouragement to place themselves on the market a bit extra as much as the interval, even when the primary half ended with only a single shot on track between them. And Lukaku’s emergence on the break for his first look since a three-minute cameo in opposition to Leeds 15 days in the past urged a booster was on the way in which.

It arrived on 56 minutes. Hudson-Odoi’s check-back previous to a cross from the left allowed Lukaku to dip behind Tyrone Mings, then dart in entrance of him to information a header into the far nook.

Chelsea may need been dwelling with time to spare if Mount had saved his composure on 66 minutes. A run from deep on the appropriate was adopted by a contact inside to cross Martinez, who was left stranded on the sting of the field. Alas, Mount dragged a left-foot shot broad of the close to put up with each Lukaku and Hudson-Odoi open in central positions.

As an alternative, a one-goal deficit meant Villa preyed on the customer’s nervousness at solely holding a one-goal lead. And with Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante subbed out via harm and sport administration respectively (changed by Andreas Christensen and Mateo Kovacic), the Chelsea XI on the market held on wearily because the hosts freshened up their assault.

That being mentioned, Chelsea acquired the higher opening on the dying. One other likelihood to kill the sport was missed with two minutes of regular time to go when Hudson-Odoi was thwarted by Martinez after good build-up work from Lukaku and Kovacic. However a one-man counter from Lukaku introduced a second penalty as Ezri Konsa took a yellow for a foul that requested Jorginho to do it once more from the spot.

He had no downside making it 5 penalties in a row, even with Martinez guessing the appropriate means this time. And as Villa kicked off for a number of kicks earlier than the 4 minutes of added time elapsed, Chelsea may lastly breathe simple.