Chelsea 2-0 Villa

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Chelsea F.C. 2 - 0 Aston Villa

October 5 2008, Premier League, Stamford Bridge, West London



Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka were on the score sheet as Chelsea breezed past Aston Villa.

The Blues were dominant throughout, and a rampant first-half display was deservedly rounded off when Nicolas Anelka touched the ball over the line, to add to Joe Cole's effort on twenty-one minutes. They could have scored many more, with Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard going close on a number of occasions, but the home side maintained their disciplined and eased to victory with a comfortable performance.

John Terry overcame the injury he sustained against CFR Cluj in midweek, but Alex da Costa missed out, allowing Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic to make his Stamford Bridge bow for the title-chasers. Joe Cole returned following a spell on the sidelines and the injured Didier Drogba was replaced by Anelka. With Deco and Michael Essien still out, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and John Mikel Obi completed the midfield, and Ashley Cole returned at left-back.

There was much talk of Villa possibly being the team to break into the top four this season, and that they could be the first team since Arsenal in February 2004 to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. However, Chelsea's professional display warranted more than two goals, and Martin O'Neill's side can be thankful they were not on the end of another Scolari mauling.

Despite having many key players missing, Chelsea showed their intent early on with a good spell of possession inside the Villa half of the field. The Blues were putting their Midlands rivals under intense pressure, forcing mistakes out of full-back Luke Young on a number of occasions, and but for a terrific save from ex-Blackburn stopper Brad Friedel, they would have been 1-0 down within seven minutes.

Lampard started the move, and a combination between the England midfielder and Michael Ballack saw the German unleashed a curling effort from twenty yards, which the American did well to palm away at full stretch. Malouda forced another good save out of the Villa keeper, and the early chances that fell to the West London outfit were a clear indication of the mood Luiz Felipe Scolari's side were in.

Mikel was in imperious form at centre-midfield, and was acting as the heart of all Chelsea's play. Breaking up random Villa forays into the other half of the field, the Nigerian was enjoying one of his best displays in a Chelsea shirt, and was overshadowing the attacking excellence of both Ballack and Lampard, who were slicing Villa apart at the seems with their inventive first-time passing. Bosingwa and Cole were linking well with the Chelsea wingers, and at times, Villa had no answer to the authority of Chelsea's play. The Blues were monopolising in possession and it was no surprise when they broke the deadlock with just over twenty minutes on the clock.

Joe Cole's goal was slick, incisive play from the title contenders. Florent Malouda threaded the ball to Lampard, whose control was brilliant. Spinning on the spot, he perfectly teed the ball up for Cole, who made no mistake from 8 yards; bulleting the ball into the back of the net in trademark fashion. Chelsea were 1-0 up and no-one inside Stamford Bridge could argue that they did not deserve the lead.

Chelsea were toying with Villa, and were unfortunate not to go 2-0 up when the exciting figure of Anelka smashed an effort off the crossbar. However, the Frenchman got the goal his first-half performance deserved, firing home from close range.

There was an almighty struggle inside the Villa penalty area, as Ashley Cole's perfect low cross found Michael Ballack, whose shot was saved relatively comfortably by Friedel. However, the ball came to Anelka, who fired straight at Friedel before whacking the rebound home to net his fifth goal of the season. The American goalkeeper berated his defenders for such slack marking, but Chelsea were clearly the superior side and the away side could not wait for the half-time whistle.

By the time the hour-mark had arrived, Chelsea were still in their comfort zone. 2-0 and cruising to their 86th game unbeaten at home in the Premier League, they could have guaranteed the points when they were presented with two glorious chances. Ballack fired too close to Friedel from 20 yards, allowing the big goalkeeper to make the block, after Florent Malouda had arrived just too late to turn home Lampard's ball across the six yard box.

Substitutes Franco di Santo and Salomon Kalou were enjoying a rare outing, but a bitter blow came when Joe Cole was forced off with an injury. Cole had only just returned from a spell on the sidelines, and received a standing ovation for the tireless performance he had put in for his team. Di Santo blazed over when in a good position and Kalou wasted a chance moments later, and Lampard had a number of chances denied by Friedel yet again.

Juliano Belletti came on with 82 minutes played and almost had his name on the score sheet, sending an acrobatic bicycle kick just over the top of the Villa goal. Lampard drove a low effort wide with two minutes left on the clock, but Chelsea played out the closing moments in their trademark swagger, spraying the ball about with ease.

It was another terrific win for Scolari's men, which keeps them top of the table despite Liverpool's dramatic 3-2 away win against Manchester City. With the Merseysiders the Blues' next opponents at Stamford Bridge, the home crowd will be hoping for a repeat score line and performance from the boys in blue.
___________________________________________________________________

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Joe Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka
Subs: di Santo, Kalou, Belletti

Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Laursen, Shorey, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Carew, Agbonlahor
Subs: Milner, Harewood, Cuellar

Attendance: 41,000

Star Man : Mikel