Aston Villa hosted Chelsea without their manager, Steven Gerrard who tested positive for covid and despite that, Aston Villa gave a spirited performance but their missed chances cost them as they surrendered to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea. A double penalty goal from Jorginho, as well as a goal from Lukaku, gave Chelsea their goals while Reece James' own goal gave Aston Villa the initial lead in the game.
Aston Villa showed more promise and even character more than Chelsea. They had better chances even though Chelsea had theirs too. Watkins and Ings were both guilty of wasting their chances and more so Watkins. Chelsea had wonderful chances also with Mason Mount and the notable one was the one that dropped on the crossbar. An inch short, the ball would have gone right into the back of the net.
Aston Villa kept the pressure on Chelsea and Douglas Luiz helped in the middle of the park to recover the ball well and also launch attacking moves. In the 28th minute, Aston Villa finally got the game rolling after Targett's cross into the box was attempted to be cleared by Reece James but he bundled the ball into the back of his own net with his head to give Aston Villa a deserved lead.
Chelsea wouldn't roll back and they got their effort's worth too in the 34th minute after Ben Cash clumsily clashed to the heels of Hudson Odoi and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot-kick. Jorginho stepped up and converted the spot-kick with ease to draw Chelsea level, 1-1. Reece James would be relieved there to see his own goal cancelled out after Jorginho converted his 23rd penalty in 26 attempts.
Chelsea up their game in the second half with Lukaku coming in for Chalobah while Thiago Silva had to go out to be replaced also by Christensen. Chelsea finally got ahead for the first time in the game in the 56th minute after Hudson Odoi's lovely cross into the box was headed into the back of the net by Lukaku with Mings clearly beaten for pace. Lukaku acted swiftly and instinctively with Mings culpable for not marking him well but you can't take away that from Lukaku who got his first goal in 109 days that he has been out.
Mason Mount missed a golden chance to further extend Chelsea's lead in the 66th minute after Jorginho's clever long pass found Mason Mount. Martinez rushed out of his lines but Mason beat him with pace and clever deft touch to knock the ball off him but Mason Mount fired wide despite that.
Chelsea had another opportunity in the 86th minute to add to their tally on the night after Lukaku fed Mason Mount, who dazzled his feet before he was stopped in his ranks and Alonso quickly had a shot but Konsa blocked it off for a corner kick. Chelsea was denied again but this time by Martinez after Lukaku played in Kovacic who gave another pass to Hudson Odoi but his low shot was expertly denied by Martinez to keep Villa within a fighting chance.
Lukaku won a penalty for Chelsea in the 92nd minute after Konsa fouled him inside the box. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot which Jorginho stepped up again to take. He converted yet again to give Chelsea a healthy 3-1 win.
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.

