Chelsea See Red, Fall to Aston Villa

 1-0 

First-place Chelsea travelled to Aston Villa looking to stretch their fourteen game unbeaten streak in the Premier League.  Chelsea won the previous meeting at Stanford Bridge earlier in the season, but for whatever reason manager José Mourinho has never won at Villa Park.  Today it was the latter streak that held up as Aston Villa handed Chelsea their first defeat in fifteen matches.

Aston Villa have had a poor run lately, winning only one of their last five matches, but came out today with confidence and intensity.  The back line of Villa was especially on its game today and halted several Chelsea attacks by catching them offsides.

The first-half ended scoreless with each club only managing one shot on target, and a goal dis-allowed for Chelsea.  On a corner-kick Nemanja Matić put the ball in the net, but he controlled the ball with his arm and the goal did not stand.  The more important stat of the first-half proved to the yellow cards issued, most notably shown to Chelsea's Willian.

As the second-half progressed manager José Mourinho decided to make a few changes, but left Willian despite carrying a booking.  The decision turned out to be fatal as moments later Willian was called for a foul from behind and was shown a second yellow card leading to his dismissal (R.C. 68').

Now playing with a man-up advantage, Aston Villa were able to penetrate the Chelsea defense and score the crucial goal.  Fabian Delph stole the ball off Ivanovic to initiate the attack and played the ball wide right to Marc Albrighton in space.  Albrighton was able to send a return ball into the box for Delph and he got just enough of a heel-flick to beat keeper Cech for the goal (82').

Chelsea's fortunes did not improve as the match closed out and a second red card was shown to Ramires for a malicious foul on El Ahmadi.  Moments prior Ramires saw a yellow for verbal dissent, but for the foul he got a hard red and could face a lengthy suspension.

Today's loss snaps Chelsea's long unbeaten streak and the club will have to shake it off with a Champions League match coming on Tuesday.  Next for Aston Villa is another home league game against Stoke City.

Questionable Penalty Helps Liverpool Avoid Defeat

 2-2 

Liverpool welcomed Daniel Sturridge back into the line-up with Aston Villa coming to Anfield.  The striker has been out for the last nine matches and got to start next to Suarez today in the attack.

Despite playing on the road, Aston Villa gained all the momentum early in the match and kept Liverpool on their heels for most of the first-half.  Gabriel Agbonlahor was especially a handfull and helped the visitors take a two goal lead.  First Agbonlahor beat defender Kolo Touré to get a cross into the box that was finished by Andreas Weimann sliding into the shot (25').  Then Agbonlahor provided the cross that Christian Benteke finished with a header (37').  Benteke was helped out by Liverpool keeper Mignolet who missed his punch to allowed a free header on an open net.

Liverpool managed to get one back in the first-half stoppage-time to narrow the gap before the break.  Suarez made a pass to Jordan Henderson who used a heel-flick to play Sturridge behind the Aston Villa defense.  Sturridge was left onside by captain Ron Vlaar and beat keeper Guzan for Liverpool's first goal of the match (45 +2').

After half-time Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers replaced Philippe Coutinho with Lucas to help protect the defense.  This allowed Gerrard to push forward and get more involved in the attack.  Liverpool played better in this system and equalized when Suarez earned a penalty.  Aston Villa keeper Guzan came off his line to stop Suarez dashing forward, but missed the ball in his attempt.  Suarez went down rather easily to get the call and Villa players and supporters were shouting for a simulation yellow card.  Regardless Gerrard scored from the spot to level the match (53').

The rest of the match was left wide open with neither side taking control.  In the end though neither side could produce a go-ahead goal and the match ended in a draw.  The result was kind of win-win for both clubs with Liverpool recovering from a two goal deficit, and Aston Villa getting a point on the road.  Unfortunately Arsenal and Man. City won matches today and pull further away from Liverpool in the Premier League table.

Arsenal Edge Aston Villa, Back in First

 1-2 

Arsenal and Aston Villa were the last two Premier League clubs to play the round of 21, getting the lone Monday night fixture.  Right now the team to beat, Arsenal have been superb this season.  However, Aston Villa is one of the few teams that has beaten Arsenal this season, winning 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium on opening day.

Aston Villa initially had only three defenders in the starting line-up today with Clark, Baker, and Vlaar in front of keeper Guzan.  Before the defense was really tested though, Baker was knocked unconscious  by a shot from Arsenal's Gnabry.  The shot struck Baker in the head and the medical staff administered an oxygen mask before carrying him off on a stretcher.  When play resumed Leandro Bacuna replaced Baker and Aston Villa shifted to a four-man defense.

The extra man in defense did not help Aston Villa slow down Arsenal's attack and the Gunners scored two goals in a minute.  First fullback Monreal rolled a cross into the box for Jack Wilshere.  With his first touch, Wilshere controlled the ball before rolling the shot to the far corner of the net (34').  Immediately after Wilshere setup Giroud with a well placed early cross.  Giroud's first touch was perfect and gave him just enough space around defender Lowton to get a shot on goal (35').

Aston Villa saw very little of the ball in the first-half and only held possession 30% of the time.  The second-half was better for Villa as they managed to surpass Arsenal in attempts on target.  One of those attempts was successful in fact, closing the lead to one goal.  Lowton played a cross into the box and Benteke scored with a diving header at the far-post (76').  Unfortunately for the home side an equalizer was not produced and Arsenal claim another road win.

Today's win puts Arsenal back in first place in the league table.  Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool also won their matches keeping the points difference the same as it was last week.  Arsenal get Fulham at home over this coming weekend while Aston Villa go to Anfield for a test against Liverpool.

West Bromwich Draw Aston Villa, Level in Points

 2-2

Two mid-table teams met for the Monday night Premier League match with West Bromwich Albion hosting Aston Villa.  Coming into the match both clubs were even with fifteen points for the season and the goal differential slightly in West Bromwich's favor.

The home side were the better team in the first-half and grabbed a very early lead.  A deep pass from behind midfield by Chris Brunt found Shane Long in the box.  Long brought the ball down perfectly with his first touch before cutting to his left foot for the clean strike (3').  Minutes later Long got another clean shot when Villa defender Leandro Bacuna turned the ball over with a bad pass.  Long read the play and intercepted the pass to score his second early goal (11').

After half-time it was obvious Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert was not satisfied with his offense and made all three substitutions at once before the hour mark.  Agbonlahor, Weimann, and Delph all came into the match and the effect was positive.  Weimann got an assist when he flicked a cross from Bacuna on to Karim El Ahmadi in the box.  El Ahmadi got the final touch to beat the West Brom keeper and give new life to Aston Villa (67').

West Bromwich then conceded the equalizer when defender Goran Popov made a poor clearance out of the box.  His header was short and fell right to Ashley Westwood who stepped into the shot from distance and found the net (76').  West Brom chased the winning goal and took out Popov for striker Anichebe, but the match ended in a draw.

The two clubs share one point and neither make ground on the other.  Next weekend West Bromwich travel to Newcastle and Aston Villa will host Sunderland.

Aston Villa Own-Goal the Difference for Chelsea

2-1

Playing the midweek match at Stamford Bridge, Aston Villa caught a bad break early in the match, conceding an own-goal.  Chelsea's Hazard fired a shot from the left side that keeper Guzan had covered.  Guzan parried the shot away from his goal, but right at his teammate Luna who inadvertently sent the ball back into his own net (6').

Chelsea were well in control for the first-half with 70% of possession while holding Aston Villa to only one shot.  On top of that Aston Villa had to make a change to their back line when Clark received a gash on his forehead that required stitches.  However in the first-half stoppage time, Villa finally managed to get a shot on target.  Winger Agbonlahor made a strong run up the left side that forced Cahill out wide to defend.  With Cahill out of place Agbonlahor picked out Benteke in the box who found just enough space to slip his shot inside the near-post (45 +3').

Chelsea continued to maintain about 70% of possession in the second-half, and retook the lead from a set-piece.  Lampard delivered the free-kick into the box that landed perfectly for Ivanovic right in front of goal.  Ivanovic finished with a clean header, struck down to give the keeper no chance (73').

Aston Villa had a couple good chances to score themselves in the second-half, but twice Weimann was denied by keeper Cech who made two great saves.

Though the season just started Chelsea are off to a perfect start under manager José Mourinho.  Next will be a big test for Chelsea as they travel to Old Trafford to take on the defending league champions Manchester United.

R.V.P. Scores Hat-Trick, United Clench League Title

  3-0

Aston Villa traveled to Old Trafford for the Monday night match against Manchester United.  With a win United make the point difference to large for second-place City to overcome.  Aston Villa on the other hand are on the verge of falling out of the Premier League for the first time since it began in 1992.

Van Persie started as the striker for United with Kagawa playing behind him and Rooney back in the holding midfield position next to Carrick.  Rooney is not seen in this position often, but he seemed to take to the new role, distributing the ball well out of the back.  

Aston Villa had trouble defending this offense and let United score early and often.  The first came in the opening moments of the match when Rafael played a cross to the far-post that Giggs was able to lay down across the face of goal.  Van Persie was waiting for the pass in front of the goal and finished easily put United in front (2').

Van Persie scored again when a long pass from Rooney fell perfectly for him.  Van Persie let the ball come down over his shoulder then hit it out of the air for a stunning finish (13').  The Dutch international had more in him though, and completed the hat-trick before half-time.  The play started with a through-ball from Kagawa that put Giggs behind the defense.  Giggs could have shot himself, but instead played a square-pass to Van Persie who scored his third of the game (33').

The second-half was better for Aston Villa as Benteke, Weimann, and substitute El Ahmadi were able to test the United keeper and stop United from scoring any more goals.  However Villa could not produce any goals in the second-half and United finished 3-0.

Manchester United now cannot be caught in the table and have now won the twenty league titles.  Aston Villa still have a lot to play for as they are dangerously close to finishing in the bottom three.  The last four games of the season will have a huge impact on the future of the club.