There were fans with flares outside of Villa Park’s Trinity Road Stand turning the air claret and blue as the team coaches arrived. ‘On our way, on our way, to the Champions League, we’re on our way,’ they slurred after a thirsty Saturday build-up.
Even the bloke with a broken ankle was hopping on his one good leg to the chant. They expected a victory against a Chelsea team that have resembled a £1billion travelling circus at times this season, not least in their five-goal mauling at Arsenal in midweek.
It looked like that victory was on its way when Villa led by two goals, and yet, this Chelsea team as much courage as we have seen from them all season. From 2-0 down at half-time, they took total control, eventually scoring in the second half through Noni Madueke and then a Conor Gallagher curler which sailed into the top corner to equalise.
It was the least they deserved and they might even have won this match, too, were it not for VAR disallowing Axel Disasi’s header after a push by Benoit Badiashile on Diego Carlos.
It left Villa with a strange sense of relief and disappointment. Relieved that they did not lose, but disappointed that they failed to go a full nine points clear of Tottenham in their pursuit of Champions League football. Seven will have to do, though the way Villa performed here may concern Unai Emery, especially against such a depleted visiting team.
Chelsea’s Axel Disasi thought he had done enough to secure his side all three points
However, the referee checked the pitch-side monitor and said there was a foul in the build-up
As a result, the game on Saturday evening ended 2-2 after Chelsea initially went 2-0 down
It was terrible start of Chelsea and an even worse start for Marc Cucurella (pictured above)
Chelsea have so many men injured, you could name a nifty XI using a little artistic licence. Robert Sanchez in goal; Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana and Ben Chilwell in defence; Lesley Ugochukwu, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia in midfield; Carney Chukwuemeka and Raheem Sterling on the right and left behind Christopher Nkunku. Et voila: a crocked team that cost £486million to assemble and does not even include the club captain, Reece James.
Cole Palmer was back in the line-up at least, the club’s top goalscorer now over the illness which saw him miss their 5-0 humiliation at Arsenal. Just like that trip to the Emirates Stadium, however, Chelsea’s clean sheet lasted less than four minutes here.
It involved dire defending as a single pass from Pau Torres split Noni Madueke and Trevoh Chalobah, the right winger and right back who were not on the same page. That led to a cut-back by Lucas Digne for John McGinn, who bundled the ball over the line via Marc Cucurella.
Villa looked to shovel salt into Chelsea’s wounds after that own goal by scoring an immediate second, with Digne striking the side-netting while Ollie Watkins tested Djordje Petrovic.
Then, out of nowhere, Chelsea equalised – or so they thought. Moises Caicedo’s ball over the top was collected nicely by Nicolas Jackson, the now shaven-headed striker producing a confident finish over Emiliano Martinez. Villa Park was silent until the tannoy announcer confirmed VAR was studying whether Jackson was on or offside. Unfortunately for Chelsea, he was off.
That familiar feeling of lucklessness can only have washed over Mauricio Pochettino in that moment, though Chelsea started to create chances off the back of this. Trouble is, they could not find the finish required as their manager stood with arms folded in his technical area.
Mykhailo Mudryk sent at least two swerving shots embarrassing wide of Martinez’s goal, one of them so poor it landed at the feet of the assistant referee. Palmer fired another opportunity over the crossbar while Conor Gallagher could not find the target from 20 yards, either.
The worst of the wasted chances was squandered by Jackson when Cucurella’s hanging cross found him unmarked and he headed into the post from six yards.
The visiting supporters sang Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, insisting ‘every little thing is gonna be alright’. In the 42nd minute, however, Villa doubled their lead as Morgan Rogers scored through the legs of Chalobah from the edge of the box after Chelsea’s defence failed to clear.
Pochettino’s players had created more than enough chances to score. They had managed almost 80 per cent possession at Villa Park. And yet, they trailed 2-0 at half-time. Typical, Pochettino can only have thought as he trudged down the tunnel.
Ahead of this match, the statistics showed how in a Premier League table based on second halves only, Chelsea would be in the relegation zone. Instead of singing his young team a half-time lullaby, Pochettino needed to find some words of inspiration if they were to get back into this.
He scored an own goal in the forth minute of the game to see Aston Villa take an early lead
Morgan Rogers extended Aston Villa’s lead and performed the ice cold celebration (above)
Noni Madueke clawed one back for the visitors and ignited something in his team-mates
Worryingly for the 52-year-old Argentine, his substitutes’ bench screamed inexperience with the defender Axel Disasi his only senior outfielder. As well as two goalkeepers, there was Deivid Washington and Tyrique George, both 18, and Josh Acheampong and Kiano Dyer, each 17, but no one with a reputation for changing a game. It would largely be left to the players on the pitch.
At the start of the second half, Emery made a change himself, but not one we were expecting as goalkeeper Martinez was replaced by Robin Olsen. Cucurella tried to test his nerves within a minute of the restart but only blasted the ball into the North Stand.
In the 49th minute, Caicedo and Douglas Luiz engaged in a minor scrap, earning each a caution. Caicedo soon took his anger out on the ball but his rocket sailed into Olsen’s arms.
Chelsea started to create chances all over again. Madueke beat Digne when he cut inside but could not find the far corner. Thiago Silva, still going strong at 39, sent a header goalward but Matty Cash threw his body in the way to block.
Then, at long last, Chelsea scored. It started with Villa trying to play out from the back, only for Gallagher to show why he is the Premier League’s best presser by pinching possession off Luiz. That led to Madueke directing the ball into the bottom corner to half the deficit.
Chelsea were all over Villa with Olsen needed to punch clear Madueke’s cross-cum-shot. Villa Park was showing its nerves, unsure if they would hold on to this win.
Emery made changes as we entered the closing stages but Pochettino resisted, his bench being so scarce of senior players. Villa held on. A huge win, if not a pretty performance.
He was calling for his team-mates to get the ball and get back in action as soon as possible
Conor Gallagher scored a sublime goal to level the scores in the 81st minute of the game
