Chelsea’s poor form in the Premier League continued following their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
After Malo Gusto was sent off for dangerous play, Villa’s Ollie Watkins scored the game-winning goal with a bullet-like shot between Robert Sanchez’s legs.
Prior to Gusto’s red card for a poorly timed tackle that caught Lucas Digne on the ankle, Mauricio Pochettino’s hosts created numerous scoring opportunities but, as has been the case so often this season, failed to convert any of them.
Both Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling had excellent saves from Emiliano Martinez in a one-on-one situation, and Enzo Fernandez missed yet another golden opportunity.
Chelsea were also indebted to their own custodian, Sanchez, who made two spectacular fingertip saves to deny Digne and Nicolo Zaniolo’s well-struck volleys.
Even after Gusto’s dismissal, both teams had opportunities, and Watkins scored for Villa to move them up to sixth, while Chelsea remained in fourteenth despite failing to score for the third straight game.
The injury-plagued Blues will be cursing their luck after a second straight home defeat, making it just one win in seven games under Pochettino.
Although Levi Colwill did exceptionally well to block Watkins’ first attempt, the ball ricocheted kindly for the striker to squeeze home a fine finish at the second attempt, leading them to believe Villa’s winner was a bit fortunate.
Axel Disasi had a header at the end of the first half disallowed due to offside, adding to the Blues’ sense that nothing is going in their favour.
While Gusto’s red-card challenge was unintentional but poorly timed and thus destined to be upgraded from yellow when the VAR stepped in, the Blues’ finishing was once again simply not up to snuff.
Although Martinez did very well to win his one-on-one matchups against Jackson, Sterling, and even Ben Chilwell (who came on as a substitute), Chelsea should have scored on at least one of those opportunities.
Jackson’s suspension for their next game follows Gusto’s suspension for receiving a fifth booking in just six matches, adding to Pochettino’s woes as he already has about a dozen players out injured.
Villa continue to look like a club on the upswing under Unai Emery, while Chelsea are off to their worst start in eight years (since Jose Mourinho’s dire final season at Stamford Bridge).
While it’s true that Villa sat back for the majority of the first half and relied on a miracle from Martinez to keep Chelsea at bay, the team really stepped up their game after Gusto was sent off.
After a shocking loss to Legia Warsaw in the Europa League in the middle of the week, this victory will be much-needed, and Watkins’ goal, his first in 12 league games, will be especially welcome.
However, before that, the England striker had scored 11 times in 12 games, so Villa will be hoping his excellent finish here will spark another goal glut.
A clean sheet, earned by Martinez’s brilliance and some fine last-ditch defending, will be welcome for Emery as well before Brighton’s visit to Villa Park on Saturday. Their main problem has been keeping goals out at the other end, especially on the road, having shipped five at Newcastle and three at both Liverpool and Warsaw.
